Just two weeks ago I was among the media folks sailing on the new Silversea Expeditions’ Prince Albert II from Port Everglades, FL, on assignment for a national magazine to inspect the ship for readers. As part of the program, it’s true that journalists often get to do some interesting things one wouldn’t encounter sitting in an office cubicle.  I don’t feel too guilty as I work 18 to 20 hours a week, seven days a week most days. That said, there is the cherished perk of getting out and seeing the world. On this specific trip, I took two shore trips operated by the expedition folks to get a sense of what they do with guests onboard this smaller, 132-passenger vessel. This particular day the media and line’s guests headed for Tulum, the Mayan ruins in Mexico’s Yucatan. I must say I’ve been to Tulum twice before. Yet, it never ceases to enchant. For me, it’s the perfect combination of history and nature, with its dramatic temple ruins perched on the edge of the sea. Of course, this brings up the thread of this post. I’ve never met a ruin I didn’t like. Something about the past and wondering how people lived, what their daily lives were like, and what happened to their culture has always fascinated me. My favorite ruins? Angkor in Cambodia takes top honors in my book, followed closely by the Roman city of Palmyra in Syria; the Pyramids in Egypt; and the magnificent ruins of Rome, Arles, Athens, Delphi and beyond. Tulum certainly isn’t the biggest of all Mayan complexes, but it’s explorable on a short day trip, which makes it doable for cruise visitors. Mostly, the ruins are visited in the morning and quite crowded with tour groups. On this trip, a repositioning voyage, we docked at Playa Del Carmen and ventured out mid-afternoon, unusual for a cruise itinerary. As a result, Tulum was blessedly deserted. With an umbrella for shade and water (a must), I strolled amid the blocks of decaying stone; felt the salt breeze in my face; and watched bathers on the beach below. Iguanas scampered across the pathways. I rested for a time seated on a rock under a tree – chatting easily (hello in Spanish, the rest of the conversation in English) with Mexican families who smartly opted to avoid the crush of morning tourists. They were clearly proud of their heritage and their children, including one two-year old. He resembled the Energizer bunny — he kept going, and going and going. Finally, they had no choice but to follow up the hillside, waving at me as though parting from an old friend. Perhaps this is the life lesson. I love to explore ruins, for sure. But it’s the personal encounters — often brief but lasting — with fellow travelers that deliver the heritage with a modern twist. That intangible perk of the job is priceless. www.southerncruising.com