It is crazy some of the things we will do when we are young and foolish. On the other hand, as we grow older those are some very fond memories. This is the story of one of my favourite wild adventures; one that few people can claim to have experienced: making love on a cold stone slab on top of a pyramid.
When I was nineteen, I took my wild adventure; bought a one-way plane ticket to Cancun, Mexico and with only a few hundred US dollars in my pocket travelled to a country where I barely spoke the language. During the days I would hang out on the beach at one of the large Western hotels and at night I would fool around with the young man I met there.
On this beach was an interesting edifice. Facing the hotel, it was a well-preserved pyramid; about three stories high. Yet the side facing the beach had long since been destroyed by the wind and sea. From the white beach, it appeared more of a cliff rising out of the sand and waves. There were even wild grasses and bushes growing at odd angles out between the stones.
As we sat one day absorbing the strong Gulf sun and drinking too many beers, one of my boyfriend's mates challenged him to climb up the pyramid. Of course being young and perhaps a tad drunk, he accepted the challenge. What amazes me to this day is that I boldly joined him; given that I have a huge fear of heights.
Like I said, this was not some huge task; perhaps fifty feet high or so, but we were climbing without ropes or any safety gear. My boyfriend happened to be in the British army; stationed in nearby Belize. So he was both in top physical condition and trained in such things. I, on the other hand, was barely one hundred and ten pounds soaking wet and had not been in a gym in over a year. My only claim to regular exercise was the several times a day cardio workout that I got in the form of sexercise with him.
Surprisingly enough the climb really was not that bad. While it was almost a straight ascent up, the stones had worn in such away that there was amply wide purchase for both hands and feet. It took about ten minutes to climb those fifty feet to the ten by ten foot flat square landing at the top of the pyramid. My boyfriend went first and called instructions back to me. I was winded mind you when I reached the top of the climb, but the breath was equally stolen by the view.
From this height, you could look across to the hotel with its glittering bronze metal and glass façade. The pool was actually at the foot of the intact side of the pyramid. We could see guests sipping sweet drinks with funny umbrellas just below us. But it was the beauty of the ocean and its seemingly endless horizon stretching out on the other side that was most magnificent. The yellow sun, white sand and clearest blue waters was a spectacular sight from this perch.
