When famous Hernández de Córdoba dropped his anchor at the shores of this part of the world in 1517, he encountered Mayan population of this region. Eventually, all communication broke down between the two peoples largely due to the language barrier. Hernández de Córdoba mistakenly named this region “Yucatán”, thinking that this is the actual name given to the peninsula by the Mayans. Today, Mayan is still the first language of peninsula’s inhabitants who have learned spanish as a second language.
Indigenous religious practices continue to persist within the region intertwined with some form of Catholic rituals. The Mayans dedicate themselves to corn production, fishing, hunting, farming and hammock-weaving, but most recently, and in great numbers, Mayans have joined the ranks of the tourism industry/development. Starting in the 1960’s Mexican government initiated a transformation of Yucatan peninsula into a main tourist destination. The Yucatan Peninsula’s eastern coastline spreads over two hundred kilometers, inviting the tourists to enjoy crystalline turquoise waters of the Caribbean. The Mayans support the tourism industry in Cancun, Mayan Riviera, Playa del Carmen, and Cozumel among other destinations in Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico by working in restaurants, hotels, and providing services as multilingual guides at archaeological sites.
The foreign and Mexican developers continue to expand through the construction of hotels, condominiums, commercial and residential investment properties along the Yucatán coast in efforts of transforming the “wild tropical forest region” into a luxury destination. The peninsula is divided by the following interstate borders; Quintana Roo is on the eastern coast and the state of Campeche looks towards the Gulf Coast to the west.
This part of the region is very abundant in limestone deposits and cenotes (freshwater underground rivers enclosed by naturally forming underground caves). There are no above-ground rivers in Yucatan peninsula because of limestone deposits which easily allow the water to pass through to the lower levels of earth. This suggests that due to poor water retention in the above layers of earth farming is difficult; the main produce grown in this part of the world is maize. Because of such poor water retention, the rain god Chac, was one of the most important Mayan gods. The rain season extends from May to late summer (October); when the rains don’t fall, the temperatures of the ocean water rise and tropical rainstorms and tornados are created. Such occurrences are more common now due to global warming and el nino and la nina effect of currents on the ocean.
Yucatán’s history, great climate and many wonders bring magnitude of tourists each year whose intentions are to enjoy the beach, explore colonial towns and jungles, caves full of cenotes, and Mayan ruins (main attraction is Chichen Itza) which are spread all over the Mayan Peninsula.
In my next articles, I will talk about Campeche and its place in the Yucatán peninsula; followed by my personal conquest of the tourist roads leading from Merida through Chichen Itza, through Coba, through Cancun, through Tulum, through the Mayan Riviera, to the famous strip of Cancun. I will describe the trips and events which might be pursued on your own or through organized trips. There are many investment opportunities to own a piece of this paradise along the Caribbean Coast in Riviera Maya, Mexico as well as other destinations.
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