Camera confiscated at Tulum on the Yucatan
Tulum Mayan Ruins on the Yucatan
Tulum Mayan Ruins on the Yucatan
Me taking a photo from the rocky point I managed to climb down on. Photo by Steve Bly.
4:00 AM wake up call at the The Royal Real Resort in Playa del Carmen to make it to the Mayan Ruins of Tulum at sunrise. Steve Bly and myself had attained special permission to photograph the ruins at sunrise instead of 8:00 AM when they opened….. or so we thought we had permission. Instead of an orange sunny sunrise we were treated with the ominous storm clouds of Hurricane Ida looming over the ruins. It really was an amazing site! We wondered around the ruins all by ourselves for an hour before the light turned completely grey and headed back to the car. We took cover at the entrance to let a torrential downpour pass and while waiting we were accosted by the park rangers wanting our official paperwork proving we had permission to photograph this historical treasure. Within the English / Spanish language barrier tensions built. I was asking for five minutes to make a call on my cell phone and they were pressing to delete all of our photos and said we would have to pay a penalty. One of the men tired of the communication process grabbed my camera. We both struggled in a tug-o-war before I succeeded and released my camera. He locked in a room and said he would be back in two hours. Long story short many phone calls and two hours later I was able to get my camera and keep all the photos taken. Lessons learned 1.) Get permission in writing or have the person with you who gave you the permission. 2.) Wear briefs instead of boxers so you have someplace to stash you camera cards.
