More Chan Hol and a bit of History

Well today we dove Chan Hol again...and you might be asking...aren't you sick of that cave. No Way, would be my answer. We took the History line ( one of the lines in the cave) and went left on every T and ended back at the Forza line....basically back to the entrance of the cave. We went through some pretty small stuff but again..that cave is just really special. Above are some photo's of us in our gear...and the puppies that greet us each time we arrive.

And now for a bit of history, we have been hearing about the "Maya fiestas" and I finally did some reseach on the internet and talked to Fernando about it. Bear with me as this ties to one of the cenote we are trying to get permission to dive. First the Maya fiestas is not prevelant all over Tulum as we were lead to believe by our gracious hosts at the hotel the first night...the hotel is directly behind the Mayan church so they are more affected by the "fiestas " than most. The celebration is for the cruzob Mayan religion (people of the cross) and includes lots of alcohol, lasts seven days and suposedly a trek through the jungle with either the cross or representations of it....and ends in Tulum. But that was all the details I could get.

Anyway, short version is in 1848 what is known as the "Caste War" between the Mayans and the Yucateaneans (everyone else) began and lasted pretty much in until 1930's, for a synopsis better than I can write click here....http://www.sac-be.com/the_caste_war_the_church_of_the_speaking_cross_and_the_cruzob_maya.html The Mayans were able to hold the others at bay for many years and hte story goes that the Mayans received inspiration at one point from a talking cross near a cenote.

The cenote we would like to dive in on Ejido land (communal Mayan property) and requires the permission of the head man of the Ejido. The cenote also exists near Chumpon (one of the places the cruzob (peopel of the cross) still exist. These people are not prone to any outside visitors and the opportunity to develop the land around the cenote and profit from a possible cave does not entice these folks...so we have our work cut out for us. Or at least that is what I have put together... maybe we just let it be and find anoher new cenote to dive. Which woudl be fine too.

Anyway...enough for now. Karen