Palenque and Tenosique

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Astonishing is probably the best word to describe the Mayan ruins at Palenque. I'll not recreate all the info that already exists on the web about the ruins. This is a good starting point.  

We got to the ruins nice and early as we had read this was the quietest time of day. There were already a couple of coach loads of other visitors enjoying the ruins but it still felt peaceful enough. 

It was cloudy when we were there this meant that a) the temperature was pleasant and b) the jungle setting seemed enhanced. However, it did mean that most of our photos came out looking rather gloomy. I'll not add to many of them to this post - instead I'll encourage you to Google a few of the high quality pictures that there are on the web.

Seeing such huge, extensive and ancient ruins nestled in the jungle background was really something special. 

We spent the rest of the the afternoon hanging out at the campsite. We were staying at a backpackers resort which encouraged us to reflect on the different experiences that backpackers would have compared to cycle tourists. 

The backpackers were, without exception, staying in cabañas. The sole other camper was Tim from Nevada who was travelling by Moto. We spent a lot of time chatting with him and identifying experiences that were shared by cyclists and motorbike riders. Top of the list was Topes. This is the Mexican name for speed bumps. Every village has a few before and after. If there are lots of villages, one after another, then there can be an almost constant stream of them. They vary wildly in height, width and steepness meaning each one has to treated with caution as there is no way of knowing in advance if it will be a small gentle slope or a near square barrier. They are rarely marked by paint (but most have a small sign beside) and they are well camouflaged in dappled afternoon light meaning vigilance is needed at all times. If I fail to spot one then Rachel usually ends up getting launched off her saddle. Ouch.

We again had two options for our next day's ride: longer tarmac or shorter with dirt. This time we opted for the tarmac as it was not much further. We were heading for Tenosique, a small town within reach of the border with Guatemala. It isn't anything special but we are going to stay in an apartment for a few days before carrying on. We have been in Mexico for four months and we are ready for longer break from riding. This will allow us to recharge our energy levels, eat lots, make some plans for our route though Guatemala and chat to friends and family.

Google photos https://photos.app.goo.gl/p8J9ERd7iN2bGiZy9

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