fstopandsee

A picture cannot capture how large a whale shark is. To swim next to one of these animals is simply something else, and I’ve never experienced something else like it.

I immediately forgot about the long, rough boat ride as soon as I spotted my first whale shark. A wide angle lens masks just how massive these guys really are. Despite their size, they weren’t very interested in me, and swam on by looking for more tiny bits of food to filter out of the Caribbean Sea.

The amazing Cathedral of San Gervasio in Valladolid Mexico occupied much of my time on my visit. Who wouldn’t be taken by the structure and the dramatic sky in the background? I arrived just in time to get a couple of shots before a huge bus pulled up and parked itself right in front and people were swarming everywhere. I guess timing is everything!

Ancient Mayan ruins at Tulum looking out at the Caribbean Sea.

From this vantage point the old columns surrounding the ruins of Chichen Itza seem to go on forever.

A quick walk around Valladolid was anything but boring. The brightly colored buildings, the old cathedral in the distance, the mopeds everywhere. I loved it, and it was hard to leave.

The Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. A shot that has been taken many times before, but when in Rome, er Mexico, you do what you gotta do.

My favorite lunch spot in all of Mexico! Well, at least my favorite lunch spot in the greater Playa del Carmen area, the Turtle Bay Cafe! Everything was fresh and delicious. This festive table also made for a great lunch before snorkeling in the bay with sea turtles.

A ferry ride home from Cozumel made for a great trip, and a view of some interesting cloud formations such as these four offsetting the moon.

..and then there was an ocean. I think the ocean won this battle.