Sherrie and Steve's visit brought a ripple of excitement to our life in the Yucatán Peninsula. Their stay was the perfect opportunity to explore new corners of this tropical paradise we settled in for the past few months before hitting the road again.

We punctuated their visit with trips to some of the gorgeous cenotes dotting the landscape.

Cenotes, for those unfamiliar, are natural sinkholes filled with fresh groundwater. The Yucatán is home to thousands of these, each unique and stunning in its beauty. Many cenotes are considered sacred when they were used by the ancient Mayas for sacred rituals, including sacrifices.

The cenotes we visited were off the beaten path, lesser-known gems. Some, underground with an opening overhead, were cool and inviting, and when the sun beamed through their opening, rays of light pierced the depths of the water, illuminating the otherwise inscrutable depths of the cenote into a gradient of blue, from shimmering turquoise to cobalt and marine.

Watching the sun's rays penetrate the heart of the cenote like celestial spotlights felt like witnessing a private conversation between the elements. The water came alive as if infused with liquid light…

With their pure water and limestone cave walls, cenotes attract an abundance of wildlife. The motmot birds, "toh" in Maya, are known as the guardians of the cenotes and they took much of our attention; a quick look at the pictures will have you understand why…

The Yucatán Peninsula is a haven for bird species and, Steve and Glen with their camera in hands, we spent hours birdwatching.

Sherrie and Steve's visit gifted us not just the joy of shared experiences and deepened friendship, but also an opportunity to appreciate anew the natural beauty and rich cultural history of our temporary home. The fresh eyes of our visitors allowed us to explore the area with renewed curiosity and wonder, and for that, we are deeply grateful! As we get ready to move on to the next leg of our journey, we take with us the warm memories of our friends' visit!!