Sanctuary of a Mayan Goddess................

Tana and I just got back from a week on Isla Cozumel ..... we had to take a break and go somewhere to chill.........Tana especially. She works real hard at her job and has people on her all the time....all wanting something... Most of us can relate to that.....! Unfortunately, it rained  every day during our stay so beach time was very minimal. The normal underwater 300' visibility just wasn't there this trip. Little sun, wind whipped waves and sand and  intermittent showers all worked together to screw up our snorkeling......us and everyone else who chose this week to visit the island. Oh well, that's the Caribbean in the summer. Its a calculated risk visiting there this time of year....So what did we do ....you ask? ....Well.....We tried to learn about the island and its history and culture and drink tons of Mexican beer and sample the culinary delights of the island and sleep late and cruise around the island in our rent car and just "hang". Here's what we learned................
                                              



White Cozumel sand and Tana's pretty toes....

 



At 32 miles north to south and just 9 miles east to west, Isla Cozumel is the largest island in the Mexican Caribbean and the most populated island in Mexico. Hundreds of years ago Cozumel was believed to be the sanctuary of Ixchel the Mayan Goddess of Fertility. It was a major destination for  religious pilgrims who came to the island from all over Mexico and Central America to pay homage to their Deity, Ixchel. The Cult of Ixchel was introduced to the Island by the Itza' Mayans about 1000 AD. As it turns out Fertility was only one of this Goddess' areas of expertise. According to Mayan belief she was also the Goddess of the moon, sex, childbirth, beekeeping, water, writing, disease, weaving, and planting.

Tana in front of one of the temples to Ixchel- I told her not to stand too close...being a fertility temple and all...!!!



Ixchel was married to the Mayan Sun God, Itzamma' Kinich Ahau and had 13 sons. Two of the sons created the earth and everything on it. Cozumel was the Holy Land of the Mayan World for certain groups. In 1549 a Spanish Bishop wrote that the Mayans venerate Isla Cozumel as Christians do Rome and Jerusalem.

 

this guy was hanging in a local bar on the east end....

another bar-parrot

big bugs in the jungle- this guy was about 10" across !!

Tana with Angel a local of Mayan descent who was the waiter at the place we had breakfast every morning...a real nice guy who knew everything about Isla Cozumel......

Angel says the locals will sometimes have one of these big boys for eats on special occasion's....FYI eat the gray ones only as the green ones are toxic to humans....stand forewarned!!



Today Cozumel is a major tourist destination mainly brought about by the two cruise ship docks...... the cruise ships drop off about 2 million passengers a year here. They spend the 6 hours on the island a leave. The whole island economy is geared to the cruise ships now. I've been coming here for 30 years and even with the tremendous influx of tourists and diamond merchants and rolex dealers and gold impresarios, this is still an enchanting island.

our hotel was a small enterprise that was owned and managed by a local Mexican family.......

 

great ambiance......great cervazas

 

whats left of a lunch of pesca frita-  deep fried, locally caught grouper..Mmmmmmm yummy....with some ice cold cervazas and fresh made tortillas.......awesome

one of Ixchel's fertility temples.....WARNING!! don't get too close !

 

another temple in San Gervasio which was the Jerusalem of the Ixchel Mayans......and the holiest site on the island....

on ancient, Mayan Isla Cozumel, all roads led to San Gervasio....this one is 1200 years old!!!

 

If you have never been here,,,,go and visit.....the east end of the island is still funkadelic and  reminiscent of the Cozumel of old. The water is still beautiful. There are miles and miles of perfect, uncrowded, often deserted beaches with sparkling white sand and crystal clear water. The snorkeling and diving are superb. The people are still wonderful. The food is great. The sunsets... awe inspiring.  

 

The Beauty

 

The only town, San Miguel, because of the two cruise ship docks, is a tourist mecca like Nassau Bahamas or St. Thomas USVI but that can be good too for some things....

 

When it's all said , Isla cozumel is a very happy place.....

 

Take care my friends.