My 12 yr. old daughter has written an article about her experience with her Dad on vacation on an excursion to Tulum, Mexico. They rode ATV's, snorkeled in a cenote, swam with dolphins, zip-lined in the jungle and had great fun!

Adventure exists all over the world, especially in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. In the summer of 2007, my family and I decided to take a break and travel to Tulum, a small town on the Mayan Riviera famous for it’s ancient pyramids and beautiful beaches. We stayed in a bungalow on the beach, relaxed, and took in some of the local activities. During my vacation in Tulum, I had many wonderful experiences that changed my opinion of what fun really is.

Two activities that I found very exciting were four-wheeling and snorkeling in a cenote near some Mayan ruins. This took place on a scorching hot afternoon in the middle of July, deep in the verdant jungle of the Yucatan Peninsula. Surprisingly, this was actually only a short drive from our hotel. Following a quick lesson from our instructor, Hector, on how to operate an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV), we were on our way into the jungle on a rocky, dusty trail. It was the first time I had operated an ATV all by myself, so, despite the dust, bugs, and exhaust fumes, I felt free and independent. After a challenging ride through the jungle past some ancient ruins, we arrived at the mid-point of the trail. From here, we hiked down a more narrow path, crowded by trees, vines and underbrush - a little spooky! At the end of the walking path, we came to the gigantic cenote, which is a sinkhole filled with crystal-clear water. Hector said, "just dive right in and see how refreshing the water is!" So, we grabbed our snorkeling gear and quickly jumped in. Almost immediately after my skin touched the sparkling water, I realized Hector’s true definition of "refreshing" - COLD! Ignoring the frigid temperature, I put my face into the "refreshing" water and my eyes were filled with amazement. I could see stalagmites and stalactites, plus all sorts of fish and plants. It was like a huge aquarium. We swam all around and explored this underground cave, and, just when my toes were turning blue, Hector informed us that it was time to head back. After some quick pictures, we hiked back to the ATVs and rode back to the starting point. All the way back, I was thinking about how great the afternoon had been.

On another day of the vacation, we went zip-lining, which is gliding high above the jungle floor on a thick cable. The rider is strapped into a harness which connects to a pulley that rolls along a cable stretched between two high platforms. It was an exhilarating experience, especially since I am afraid of heights! This adventure began with an early morning ride into the jungle, followed by a bike ride to the first platform. A new guide, not Hector, gave us helmets and harnesses. She also explained how to use a crooked tree branch as a brake if we wanted to slow down while on the cable. When it was my turn, I hooked my harness to the cable and grabbed my brake stick. My knees trembled and my heart pumped fast. I was so scared, I forgot to unhook my safety clip from the tower rail. The guide unhooked me and said, "push!" I could hear my dad cheering me on. Reluctantly, I pushed off with my feet and began my first glide. When I looked around, I could hardly believe my eyes. I was flying high above the tall trees and rocky terrain, and the dense jungle stretched as far as I could see. It was so exciting, I forgot all about being scared of heights. Before long, I arrived at the end, and, using my tree branch to slow me down, made a near-perfect landing on the second platform. After that first ride, I couldn’t wait to experience the remaining zip-lines. When we were done, we swam in another cenote - BONUS! After enjoying a lunch in the jungle prepared by native Mayans, we traveled back to the hotel and rested in hammocks on the beach, a perfect end to a perfect day.

Being a person who adores animals of all sorts, I especially enjoyed my final adventure in Tulum, swimming with dolphins! This event occurred at an outdoor aquarium, where I was part of a tour group. Most, including myself, had never touched a dolphin, so we prepared to get to know them. While waiting near the water, I saw two slick dorsal fins pierce the surface of the water, creating silent ripples that followed two gray shapes in the water. The dolphins, Lula and Jack, soon swam up and I quickly fell in love. They were so adorable, with gleaming eyes and gentle faces. All I could think about was the fun ahead. When it was my turn in line, Jack, a white-tipped dolphin, stretched out his flippers and gave me a big hug. Then, he gave me a big wet kiss right on the lips! Next, the guide told me to swim out into the open water and wait there with my arms spread out. Quickly, the two dolphins appeared on each side of me, waiting for me to grab their dorsal fins. I grasped their fins and they swam forward, pulling me through the water. After the ride, I was tingling with excitement, knowing the best was yet to come. I again swam out into open water and waited, this time with my arms and legs spread out. I stiffened my legs and soon felt the dolphins begin to push me with their snouts, faster and faster. Suddenly, I rose up out of the water, gliding along, propelled by two dolphin engines under my feet! It was a fantastic feeling.

The Mayan Riviera is a beautiful place to visit and it also a great place to pursue new adventures such as four-wheeling, snorkeling in cenotes, zip-lining and even swimming with real dolphins. I feel very lucky to have experienced these activities while there on vacation. Such activities are not part of my every-day events, are very were more exciting and special than the things I normally consider to be fun. One could even say that getting to participate in these activities changed my idea of what fun really is.