The eternal dream of man has been to fly. See and feel what the birds enjoy gliding through the air.
Take some, plan, let yourself go to the rhythm of the wind. At times, focus your gaze on something that marvels. Integrate with nature from the sky. Moving forward and backward, turning, going up, down, suspended in the magical overworld of the Mayans, where the gods live, where they become aware of the smallness and greatness of the human being, and of the magnificence of the universe.
The possibilities of unknown Mexico are endless. The means it provides for launching its visitors into adventure span the sky, sea and land. How to share these experiences? How to make a suggestive invitation? The photographic camera materializes the memory of human looking. In this report, Unknown Mexico lets speak to one of man's most exciting inventions, which has revolutionized reality: photography. A combination of technology, personal sensibility and the fantastic time and place that linger in the image to motivate all the senses. The invitation is not only to look or the possibility of making a visit to the place; it is also an exciting motivation to imagine and dream ...
LET'S START BY THE SEA, THE BEGINNING OF LIFE ON LAND
In the communities of Mahahual and Xcalak, south of Quintana Roo, small boats sail more or less 22 km to reach Chinchorro Bank, a coral atoll, the largest in the Republic.
Surrounded by a barrier reef, it has an interior lagoon whose depth varies from 2 to 8 m. Numerous mangrove-covered islets emerge from it, some of regular extension, which are called Cayo Norte, Cayo Centro and Cayo Lobos.
The marine universe occupied by corals is made up of fringed reefs that border the continents and islands, by the barriers built on top of the continental shelf and by atolls, exclusive circular formations of the oceans that embrace small islands of volcanic origin.
Navigating between reefs is entering a labyrinth of surprises. From the heights we can appreciate the sunken ships whose captains were not skilled at finding the natural channels that the tides create between the coral structures.
Fly feeling the fresh and pure air of the heights, refine your gaze searching. In the distance we see a small island, called Cayo Lobos, with a lighthouse, a guide to the sea, that stands out among the waters. The seagulls know that the lighthouse keeper and his family live there; and that sometimes, when they finish the day, they tell their story.
Suspended in the sky, the horizon is magnified. Before crossing from the sea to the land, some small palapas built on the water tell us about the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. This small community of divers and fishermen becomes host to visitors who come there in search of new emotions.
The beauty and apparent tranquility of the sea that is perceived from the air does not prevent us from being concerned about how many beings live below the splendid range of blues interrupted by thick undulating lines of ocher and gray of the reef barrier, and the dry green color of the coral formations located at the level of the water.
From the sky, habitat of birds, we become reckless. We would like to dive, dive into the water, become small fish of colors and exotic shapes to explore the living marine architecture.
The turquoise blue sea of the Mexican Caribbean extends to the terrestrial jade sea of southern Quintana Roo. The thick and undulating vegetation attracts us. From the marine formations we enter those belonging to the great Mayan culture.
Only the magnificence of the cities of the Mayans would stop the free flight. Come down from heaven, step on Mayan land, enter the cities where the gods were worshiped: those of the underworld, gods of death; those of the overworld, gods of life.
The height of the Mayan pyramids exceeds the green mantle. That's how they were designed, with a stature of power. From its peak, the Mayans looked at the environment and dominated their territory, as if they had wanted to reign from heaven.
The dimension and configuration of the civic-religious centers speak of the life and cosmogony of those who inhabited them. They generally consisted of an acropolis with commemorative buildings, a ball court, squares and platforms.
The architecture of the Mayan cities of southern Quintana Roo recalls the “Petén style”, a way of perceiving the world and the power that was manifested in their particular way of decorating buildings. Stuccoed ornaments, such as masks, perpetuated the history of the ruling characters, while underscoring their superiority in bearing symbols of deities.
The air crossing of Unknown Mexico over Ka’an, K’ab nab yetel Luum, the sky, the sea and the land, will be imprinted in a sunset where the birds will continue their journey.
IF YOU GO TO BANCO CHINCHORRO
From Chetumal, the capital of Quintana Roo, you can board a ferry to Xcalak and from there to Banco Chinchorro. You can also take Highway 307 to Cafetal and there head east, towards Mahuahual, a small fishing village, where there are boats to tour the beautiful reef atoll. To visit the archaeological sites there are good roads and signs.
Source: Unknown Mexico No. 256 / June 1998
