We've taken a cab to the Playa ferry port but the roads immediately around the port are pedestrian-only and we have to unload our bags about 300yds from where we need to be and book a pedicab and driver.
Alejandro with a robust looking, luggage carrying trike, comes to the rescue - loaded up we walk alongside him as he slowly cycles and weaves his way through the Saturday morning crowds.
His first question rather threw us as he came to a halt and asked : "You like pole dancing?".... before we had a chance to reply, there were loud cheers from the immediate crowd around us and hundreds of cameras clicked.
We were looking at a pole, over 150 high, at the top of which were five men adjusting lines in readiness for their launch off the top. Once airborne, they slowly circled the pole on ever lengthening lines. The single man remaining at the top played the flute and drum throughout the process. This was Danza de los Voladores (Dance of the Flyer) - an ancient Mayan ritual created to ask the Gods to end send rain - but please, not today, tomorrow will be fine with us....
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| It started with them sorting out their long lines for descent .... |
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| they then eased themselves into mid air, attached to their line by one ankle, and began circling the pole upside down. They have it well timed as they can only circle 52 times before reaching the ground. |
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| Smart, modern ferries depart every 30 minutes for the island and they are nearly always full. Today the exposed upper deck will be too hot and windy and we opt to travel inside where the air conditioning is running at full pelt. There's also a tourist info film which runs on a loop and focuses on the eco aspects of the island which has many easily accessible reefs for snorkeling and diving. |
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