Chichen Itza and Merida
We caught our bus to the ruins of Chichen Itza. The site was quite impressive - I found a good website telling you all about it if you want more information.
The best bits were the ball court where it´s claimed that the winners of the game won the honour to be a human sacrifice to the gods (no real incentive there then!).
The site is dominated by the the Pyramid of Kukúlcan. The Pyramid was designed in such a way that during the equinox the sun casts a shadow on the steps so that it appears as if a snake is crawling down to the bottom.
Originally each side of the pyramid had 91 steps and with the addition of the platform at the top there are 365 steps, one for each day of the year. This shows that the Myan year had the same number of days as ours.
There was also a well where they made more human sacrifices (the people were a lot more violent due to influence of another civilisation - the Toltecs). The well has been excavated and loads of bodies and artifacts were found.
After the tour we had time on our own to wander around the ruins - there was a lot to see and the ruins went right back into the jungle.
We left the ruins and headed to our next stop - the city of Merida.
We had decided to have a Pizza party on the roof of the hotel - however this was interupted by a very heavy rain shower.
Next day I got up for a walking tour of the city. The tour took us around the main square and Cathedral before finishing in a cool building full of Murals telling the history of the Mayans and the town.
After the tour I wandered around a bit. I found a market where they were selling live beetle jewlery - I bet that would be interesting to get back through customs!
I then had to mentally prepare for the long travel day the next day (9 Hours) to Palenque.
The best bits were the ball court where it´s claimed that the winners of the game won the honour to be a human sacrifice to the gods (no real incentive there then!).
The site is dominated by the the Pyramid of Kukúlcan. The Pyramid was designed in such a way that during the equinox the sun casts a shadow on the steps so that it appears as if a snake is crawling down to the bottom.
Originally each side of the pyramid had 91 steps and with the addition of the platform at the top there are 365 steps, one for each day of the year. This shows that the Myan year had the same number of days as ours.
There was also a well where they made more human sacrifices (the people were a lot more violent due to influence of another civilisation - the Toltecs). The well has been excavated and loads of bodies and artifacts were found.
After the tour we had time on our own to wander around the ruins - there was a lot to see and the ruins went right back into the jungle.
We left the ruins and headed to our next stop - the city of Merida.
We had decided to have a Pizza party on the roof of the hotel - however this was interupted by a very heavy rain shower.
Next day I got up for a walking tour of the city. The tour took us around the main square and Cathedral before finishing in a cool building full of Murals telling the history of the Mayans and the town.
After the tour I wandered around a bit. I found a market where they were selling live beetle jewlery - I bet that would be interesting to get back through customs!
I then had to mentally prepare for the long travel day the next day (9 Hours) to Palenque.
posted by Phil at 9:15 PM
4 Comments:
Live beetle jewellery - sounds cool - not bracelets?
Jen
x
Hi Phil,
Yet another great place you've been to!
You're looking more tanned and relaxed in each photo... but where are the dreadlocks?
By the way, who's Sirry?
Charlotte
Hola History Man,
Hope you got yourself a hammock in Merida - very useful in an English garden!
I was on crutches when we visited Chichen Itza, plus I had Jim as a handicap, so you can imagine how tiring that was.
Good luck with the "9 hour" bus journey being punctual. In Chiapas, they usually stop the bus looking for guerillas (not the furry kind). Of course, the white people are the most likely Mexican guerillas, so they'll be asking for your passport...
hey phil
r u going to watch england whip paraguay in the world cup?
i saw people of to the ecuador match 2day.
btw - any idea when ure returning to the uk
mel
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