The name Celestun means "heavenly", a big name for a small town to live up to. Celestun, the town, was not the glorious place I had imagined. They are currently in the middle of a huge construction project that involves tearing out the street all around the city center and the ambience factor is remarkably low. Also, the streets are small and the homes modest. However, they are sitting next to one of the most beautiful natural treasures I have seen on this trip.
After eating a very affordable lunch at the town market ($109 pesos) we chartered a boat at the pier. We had a boat and a guide all to ourselves. As we cruised up the river the kids held on to their hats. We felt like explorers! There were great blue herons and white egrets hunting all along the river. There were white and brown pelicans. There was a big flock of little gray ducks that took flight right in front of us. We could watch them right next to the boat running on the water as they took off. I was in heaven! And then we saw the orangish-pink color on the river horizon in the distance. Flamingos!
The flamingos stand on sand bars in the river and feed on algae. They make a lot of noise, although you can't get too close to them and they are such a beautiful color. Words are failing me to describe it. What a magical place the Yucatan is! Mayan ruins, turquoise blue water, flamingos. Wow.
On the way back we veered off into a tunnel through the mangroves. We have been studying the mangrove forests for home school and it was great to get to see them up close. The roots from the red mangroves have tannins in them, which turns the river a deep brownish red color.
Tomorrow (Sunday) is market day in Merida and will be another guys/gals day for the Voelkers. It's our last day in Merida before we head south along the Puuc Mayan Ruins route.
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