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Departing the Cancun
airport access road, a simple decision, a right or left turn
means the difference between an insulated, familiar experience
and one that will immerse you into the Yucatecan culture. On
our first visit to this ideal cycling destination, we opted
for the right turn, fully aware of our intentions for this tour.
Our experiences with the locals in the sleepy town of Puerto
Morelos, our first stop, confirmed that we had made the
best directional choice and assured us that our remaining month
amongst the warm and friendly inhabitants of this peninsula
would be a rewarding endeavor. Our off-the-beaten path route
took us through villages rarely visited by gringos. At the sight
of the lead rider, the villagers went on alert; pigs scattered,
and dogs lazily raised eyebrows, unwilling to move from their
spots in the middle of the road.
Even without the convenience of phones, somehow, it seemed,
the entire village lined the road to take in this spectacle,
unemotionally staring at this lycra-clad group of foreigners.
"Hola!" we shouted, and immediately the curious stares melted
into smiles and a reciprocated greeting.
VAYA CON DIOS
Everyday we passed through similar villages, usually stopping
to regroup at the main square, a typical feature, often dominated
by a church. Frequently, the locals approached us, wanting to
practice their English or to look over our multi-speed bikes.
Many rode along with us to the outskirts of town before bidding
us, "Vaya con dios".
The Yucatan offers many advantages to the touring cyclist.
First it is warm, but not too hot, during the Northern Hemisphere
winter months. Its location makes the travel time comfortable
and not overly expensive for visitors from the United States
and Canada. The terrain is gentle, but the scenery is certainly
not spectacular. The Maya ruins themselves, randomly distributed
throughout the peninsula, make up for the lack of scenery and
make good daily destinations.
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