The Mayan Ruins of Tulum

Leave it to me to insist on having a day of historical culture on the HOTTEST day imaginable. It also did not help that Ned was in the middle of reading a sci-fi thriller (now a major motion picture)about the very ruins we were traipsing towards. The jungle trail was so hot, dusty and long that the kids were too busy "dying" to truly appreciate the wonder of the ancient city; even the many lizards weren't moving very fast.

Tulum's greatest attraction is it's location. It stands on a 39 foot bluff facing the rising sun overlooking spectacular views of the Carribean Sea. In Maya, Tulum means "Wall". On three sides are enormous stone walls - the fourth side is bordered by the 39 foot cliffs that drop down to the Caribbean Sea.

A family grave site. When a new family member died, the bones from previous burials were removed.

Stone carvings told the history and religious beliefs of the Maya.

Tulum was a major link in the Maya's massive trade network for both maritime and land routes converged here. Artifacts found in or near the site testify to the contacts that ranged from Central Mexico to Central America and every placein between: copper rattles & rings from the Mexican highlands; flint & ceramics from all over the Yucatan; jade & obsidian from Guatemala and more. The Spaniards came to conquer the Peninsula unwittingly bringing Old World diseases which decimated the native population. So Tulum like many cities before it was abandoned to the elements.

The homes and buildings in the city were built to tell the calendar. Houses had small windows strategically placed to capture the the sun in corresponding months. So my window star might be light in September while yours may be placed to be lit in May.

There is a "square" in the center of the city that is flanked by the "castle" on the above mentioned bluff. The castle is the tallest and most famous structure in the ruins, commanding a view of the ocean and coast for miles in both directions. It is important to emphasize the importance of the beach area, where it is certain the Mayan ships, dedicated to trade around the

peninsula, would have docked.

After the super long hike to the top of the castle bluff, the cooler sea breeze and the promise of an afternoon at Xel-Ha brought relief & smiles.

Cancun continued...

While Ned & Cheyenne crashed in the hammocks for a little R'n'R, Calista , Elijah and I set off to roam the resort to see what we could see...

I've always loved the tropical flowers, but our dear friend, the late Linda B. Harter, taught us a deeper appreciation of their beauty. I'm awed by God's handiwork everywhere we go and they always remind me of her strong yet gentle presence.
It was really hard to get a good shot of this humming bird who obviously noticed the beautiful flowers as well.
Cali & Lij could not wait to wander into the crystal clear water. The dark brown right behind them is a ton of sea grass.
Is there anything more gorgeously inviting?

CANCUN!!!!!!

Welcome to the Moon Palace Resort in beautiful Cancun, Mexico! Every year Ned's company treats us to a fabulous all-expense-paid trip to someplace warm and wonderful. This year we opted to bring the kids (at our expense!) and are we glad we did! Banker's ALWAYS has an amazing "Welcome Dinner" when we arrive and this year was no exception. The kids were wowed by all the super fun things set up ocean side and posed for lots of pictures. Calista & Elijah especially like the carnival games. They were overwhelmed by the numerous buffet stations and had a great culinary experience roaming from station to station checking out the tasty fare.

Fire dancers dazzling the crowd...

Entertainment is always a priority and once again Banker's did not disappoint! There were fire dancers and a return by a Banker's favorite the group Then Again featuring Gina Glocksen. We had such a great time with them in Puerto Rico that they HAD to come to Mexico! Due to her new gig working for American Idol, Gina had barely made it in from Los Angeles for the Welcome night festivities before having to go on stage. After her first few songs she paused for hugs from and photos with her old Banker's friends and the girls couldn't wait to take a picture too!

It was great fun to catch up with "Mr. Bob" & "Miss Crystal" Birty from New Jersey and with the 1051 Gang from Ned's office who the kids do not get to see very often. After a few hours of laughter and dancing in the breezes of the Caribbean Sea, the kids were ready to turn in. It had been a long day of travel but what an exciting beginning to our vacation!

The next Ben & Jerry's?

Congratulations
Calista Kelso
4th Grader from Mary B. Sharpe Elementary School
your Choconutty Fudge Monkey won our First Ice Cream Sundae Contest! Unfortunately, Calista and her family will not be able to attend A Taste of the Arts to celebrate her sundae, but they were invited to Olympia Candy Kitchen on Wednesday to enjoy Calista's ice cream creation!
Thank you to the over 200 students who entered. We were thrilled with the response and hope to have another Ice Cream Sundae contest next year!!

-Tony & Will Pananes, Olympia Candy Kitchen





Getting started...
Tony taught Cali the secret to perfectly topped whipped cream.
... wouldn't be complete without a cherry!

On Wednesday, 30 April, we were trying to get the kids showered & settled while packing the final necessities for a family trip to Cancun. Wake up call was to be at 5 AM Thursday and it was already going on 9 - with everyone moving in slow motion. Calista was in the shower, Elijah couldn't find his shoes and the phone was ringing - which no one else in the house could hear. Cheyenne chose that moment to tell me that she "forgot" that she still had an important part of a group project that needed to be dropped off to another member of her group BEFORE we left - translation: NOW. I, sigh at her, and answer the phone to discover that Calsita won the ice cream sundae contest offered by Olympia Ice Cream Parlor as a part of the Downtown Business Council's "Taste of the Arts". Did I mention that I had just spent most of Tuesday and all of Wednesday pulling together a Teacher Appreciation Luncheon for the 150 CAMS faculty? Tony Pananes is excitedly telling me that he needs her to be there on Friday for this photo op, making her sundae. When I explain that we'll be out of the country then he asks if she could come NOW? So at 9PM we head off to Olympia - after dropping off Cheyenne's project. It turned out to be a lot of fun. They had her make her sundae - which she devoured! - took lots of pictures and gave her some T-shirts and candy. I even got some dark chocolate covered espresso beans! Thanks, Tony!! Calsita loved every minute of her 30 minutes of fame and through God's grace we made it home, got quickly finished and even managed 6 hours of sleep! So it was totally worth some additional craziness on an already too-full day!

Cali's sundae will be featured on the menu for at least a month - longer if it's a popular seller.

It consists of ....

a dollop of hot fudge on the bottom

1 scoop of Olympia's homemade banana ice

1 scoop of Olympia's homemade vanilla ice cream

drenched with hot fudge

and topped with fresh banana slices, whipped cream and toasted coconut

YUM!