The day is starting out real crappy. I can’t find my iPod. At first I assumed that it was packed somewhere in my luggage. I couldn’t look for it at the motel because we are blocking traffic in the street while we are loading and attracting the attention of a local policeman. As we pull away from the motel a police pickup pulls alongside us and we joke with them about how neither of us has air-conditioning.

Outside of town we stop at a gas station and I go through my luggage and still no iPod. ARGH. Maybe it’s back at the hotel or in the parking lot. Don previously thoroughly went through the room, but with no luck. I have to go back and check.

It’s harder to get back into town than to get out, but we still don’t find the iPod. Oh well, I guess it’s my gift to Mexico. At least we know the way out of town, but get lost again. People are very helpful and we find the libre (free road) which is not what we wanted, but will work anyway.

AAA hasn’t found this place because we are ‘out there.’ This can’t be the road, can it? Even the towns have wild names like Tixkobob and Izamal. These towns are a bit worn and come with their own version of topes. They place a large pipe across the road with concrete on either side. There is no way to avoid scraping as you go over unless you can scoot around what accounts for a shoulder. The only noise louder than the scraping comes from my teeth grinding together. Fortunately, the town’s people are wonderful.

The cuota appears and gets us to Chichen Itza quickly where we find the Delores Alba motel. This is a great place with low prices and a natural pool. The bottom of the pool is an old coral reef.

Before a dip we head to the ruins and are flabbergasted. No wonder the site is one of the new wonders of the world. How can I describe it without falling short? Between the pyramid, ball court, which still has both hoops, observatory, pillars, and sacred cenote we overuse the work “wow.” Crowd size indicates the popularity. In El Castillo is a jaguar statue we hope to see, but the pyramid is closed and only opens at certain times of the day. When we are there, you cannot climb the pyramid.

Back at the motel we jump in the natural pool and the skies open up. Cool rain contrasts nicely with the warm pool water. My small toe has developed the worst blister I’ve ever had and the water eases the pain. The toe was so bad today that I rode in tennis shoes and would continue to wear a tennis shoe for another week until it healed.

At night there is a light show at the ruins. Our afternoon pass gets us in for free. A guard asks me if I want headsets to listen to the show in English. Not me, that would be too smart. Maybe I expect too much from the show, but I was disappointed. It would have helped to hear the hour long talk in English, but the lights did little to give you a feeling of awe. That’s ok though and I comment to Mike that we are in the jungle in Mexico watching a light show in a Mayan city. What could be cooler except for the exotic bird sounds?