As we disembarked our ship in the little town of Progreso, Mexico my friend Ivana and I were looking for something interesting to do to fill our short day in this sleepy yet cute little town. We hadn’t ventured out here yet and we are both pretty keen for a look around at this little seaside village. Little grass huts line the beach front with tourists casually sipping cocktails soaking up the Mexican sun.
We wandered around and came upon some local markets where treasures of all kinds were up for sale. Fancy a hammock to a hat? What about a tour pretty lady, you look like a movie star? Or just something cool to drink whilst you have your photo taken with a tame iguana, dressed in all it’s finery complete with red lips. Sellers wander the streets laden with wares stacked up. Need a hat? The man walking towards us has twenty or so stacked upon his head. Another man is laden with colourful handmade hand bags and baskets, hanging off every possible space on his body.
We settle on a tour that will set us back fifteen US dollars and promises that we will see Flamingos and a Mayan temple. It will commence in exactly twenty minutes and we pay up. We choose to go in search of a cool drink and happen on a small beverage stand. The ice tea looks interesting and we both get a small bottle, keen to sample something local. Cracking it open it just so happens that this is the best ice tea that both of us have ever drank in our whole lives. It is simply amazing. With just a few moments until the tour leaves we purchase two more, this time full litre ones.
We board the bus to our tour and pull out of the little town towards the Mayan ruins and flamingo sighting. The Mayan guide informs us that first of all before we stop at the Mayan Temple that we will be experiencing an ancient Mayan Salt Mine. We disembark the bus and we are surrounded by bright orange pools of water, fenced off into perfect squares with ancient rotting wood. The mines were in use until recently and pink salt was mined here. The same chemicals that stain the salt pink also give the local flamingos the pink color they are well – known for. The guide leans down and expertly plucks a chunk of salt from the glistening water handing it around for the small group to sample. We spend several more moments at this spectacular place and I am enamored, taking as many photos as I can. It’s like nothing on earth, red water juxtaposed against blue rocks, in natures perfect contrasting colours the surrounding ground shimmering like diamonds.
We re-enter the bus heading towards our destination happily sipping on our ice tea and chatting. We keep interrupting our chatter to remark on how wonderful the tea is and to this day I have yet to sample a tea quite as good and it is a taste I will remember forever.
it’s another twenty minutes to the final stop and by the time we reach the ruins our bladders are full to bursting. We rush around looking for the bathroom so that we can enjoy our time at the ruin. Running past market stalls in our desperate bid to find a bathroom it is sweet when we finally do find it.
A large temple looks down on us imposingly and we decide to mount it to the summit. We stop along the way at intervals to take photos so that we can remember this day for years to come. Reaching the summit there is an unusual surprise of a crucifix at the top. It’s old and has been bound together with twine. We take our photos and head down stopping to collect a few token souvenirs from the locals – some hand -made handkerchiefs.
On the way back the guide asks if anyone has any questions and I gingerly ask where are the flamingos that we were promised as I have neglected to see them. He asks the driver to stop the bus for us and we get out. He points to the horizon to a group of small pink dots and informs us that they are in fact the flamingos that we were promised on the tour brochure. No wonder we didn’t notice them, they were several kilometers away. In the tour advertisement we saw close up pictures and that is what we thought we were going to see, flamingos close up. We are a little let down, but the Mayan Salt Mine was such a wonderful surprise that we are not that upset.
Heading back towards the town, with quaint little Mexican houses passing us by we are quite happy with the tour and all that we have seen. The Mayan Salt Mine was a surprise and a rather nice one that we will remember for some time. Spending the remainder of the day wandering around the local market browsing the local wares. For quite a small little town we had quite a big adventure.
Recommended Gear:
Central and South America really are places that you want to avoid showing off any expensive gear or looking like a photographer. For this kind of location I would recommend the Tenba Skyline V2 12 Shoulder Bag as you can be incognito and be safe. With the bag opening from the top you can get your gear out quickly and get your shots in no time.
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