Mexico - Cozumel and Tulum

After Costa Rica, the next stop on the cruise was Cozumel in Mexico. This is an island off the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, in the Caribbean Sea. 

I had hoped to go to the famous Mayan archaeological ruins of Chichen Itza, but the tour was cancelled. Instead I booked on one to Tulum, which was a bit of a disappointment. Tulum is on the east coast of the Yucatan, southwest of Cozumel. 

We arrived at Cozumel around 5.30 am. There was a full moon -

We were taken to San Miguel jetty to get the ferry to Playa del Carmen, but one boat had broken down so we had to wait. It was light by the time we left. A heron -

At Playa del Carmen we walked through the tourist area to get to the coach to take us the 60 km to Tulum. On the way I saw signs to several cenotes but couldn't actually see any of the pools.

We arrived at Tulum and it was a bit of a shock. Tulum is the site of a pre-Columbian Mayan walled city which served as a major port for Coba, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. But to get to the ancient part, we had to walk through the shops and stalls, then go into one for tequila tasting. Finally left there and walked to the park gate and had bags searched as plastic bottles and other plastic items are not allowed in. Then took a 24 seater buggy to the gate to the archaeological site. 

The entrance was very unimpressive, just a short narrow entrance, then a walk through a wooded area.

Finally came to the main site. I wasn’t expecting much and it wasn’t much. It dates to the 13-15th centuries. It is just a city, with no pyramids, so was a poor substitute for Chichén Itzá, especially as I wanted to see a pyramid. 

The guide hurried us past a few buildings then we stood on a grassy area and the other guide took over and talked and talked and talked. It was really hot and sunny and the talk was very uninteresting, so in the end I got fed up and went off on my own.

I went straight to the house of the cenote, but that was disappointing as there was no water in the small cave below the house. 

Walked along mostly on the cliff path, the breeze was lovely but I got fed up with all the people taking selfies. The ruins were nothing much at all, the best thing was the lizards sunbathing on the tops of the buildings. The views from the 12 m high cliffs were nice.

When I had had enough of the ruins and crowds, I got the buggy back and went to Starbucks for a coffee and wifi. Coffee was dearer than beer in Costa Rica beer. 

Back at Playa Carmen -

We took the ferry back to Cozumel 

As we sailed out we saw 4 large cruise ships at the main cruise terminal north of the city -

There was a nice sunset and later that night, an eclipse of the moon -

Scadbury Manor archaeological site, Kent

Scadbury Manor was a medieval moated manor house, located near Orpington in Kent. It is now an archaeological site. I'd never heard of it until I read they were having an open weekend in September 2020 so I went to have a look.

The site is being dug by the Orpington and District Archaeological Society (ODAS). Scadbury Manor estate was first settled around 1200. The remains of the early manor-house complex, surrounded by a moat can be still be seen. The estate has been held by a limited number of families over the years.

From the bus it was a short walk through Scadbury Park, a local nature reserve, and then across some open countryside and through some woods.

Visitors were able to follow a trail around the site and go onto the island to see the foundations of the Tudor Manor House (including the Great Hall and Kitchen). Social distancing rules against Covid-19 were quite strict, with visitors being kept well apart, and there was a queue to get in. Photos taken whilst queuing -

Main hall in centre and apple store to the right

Once inside, visitors followed a marked route. Looking at the main hall with the apple store behind. Note the corbels for the bridge across the moat in the foreground -

This is the remains of the undercroft, a cellar or storage room, often brick-lined and vaulted, and used for storage in buildings since medieval times. This dates to the Walsingham house, 1424. It was probably used for storing beer brewed locally and wine imported from France. The structure was repaired in the 1920s but much of the original remains -

Staircase from the mail hall -

Main hall with fireplace on left

Next to the great hall is the kitchen, though I didn't take any photos.

Tudor brickwork of the farm buildings - the bricks are original, from around 1500. They were made locally and held together with lime. Flemish brickmakers brought the techniques to England in the 15th century. Bricks were more fire resistant than wood. 

Going back through the woods

Scadbury Manor on Google Earth -

See more on Scadbury Park and a Wikipedia entry. Also the ODAS page on Scadbury.