Palenque
From Merida we headed to Palenque - this was a long travel day and our bus was one hour late!
My choice at the group meal was absolutely minging - On the menu it said pork sausage and pork chops - so I thought I´d be getting like a mixed grill but what arrived was something cut into small pieces (including bones) and then smeared in greasey cheese - lovely!
Next morning we headed out to the ruins.
Now I know some of you (especially you Mr Purkiss) are enjoying my visits to the ruins and have requested some additional information about each one. Well I will be holding a number of slide show presentation evenings where I will discuss at great length my extensive photo collections of each site - I will also be discussing the similarities and differences between the Maya and Inca civilisations!
Palenque began as a farming hamlet, perhaps some time around 100 BC, that is, during the so-called Formative Period [2500 BC - 300 AD]. Over the Early Classic Period [300 - 600 AD] the village grew, and in the Late Classic [600 - 900 AD] became the city which ruled much of what is now the states of Chiapas and Tabasco. At that time, Palenque's development peaked, as evident in the complexity of its architecture, ceramics, and particularly its inscriptions.
The ancient city itself holds over 200 buildings of varying size and complexity, all adapted to a landscape extending 2,800 yards from east to west, and 1,100 yards from north to south, giving it a total area of some 620 acres.
There were a couple of temples to check out. On top of each temple was a stone tablet with a glyph (pictures that the archaeologists have translated) which tell the history of the site.
After visiting the ruins there was a good walk back to the museum through the forest past a waterfall.
The museum was pretty good too as it had lots of stonework recovered from the site and it showed you a bit about how the glyphs had been translated.
After the ruins we headed back to the hotel then went off on a trip to Misol Ha and Agua Azul Waterfalls.
On the way to the falls we got stopped by Zapatistas who had blocked the road - they had a story about raising money for a boy who was knocked over and needed medical treatment but they had ropes tied accross the road as well as a plank of wood with nails which they wouldn´t move till we paid them 50 pesos. There was also a lot of them hanging around by the roadside and although we didn´t see any guns they were probably armed. Fortunately we paid a small amount each and they let us continue (See the comment about guerillas under the Chichen Itza and Merida entry).
The first fall was impressive and you could walk around behind the fall. You could also climb up to a cave that had another waterfall inside it. The second falls Agua Azul (Blue Water) weren't as good and because of all the rain should have been called brown water!
We got back to Palenque to get ready for an early start next morning.
My choice at the group meal was absolutely minging - On the menu it said pork sausage and pork chops - so I thought I´d be getting like a mixed grill but what arrived was something cut into small pieces (including bones) and then smeared in greasey cheese - lovely!
Next morning we headed out to the ruins.
Now I know some of you (especially you Mr Purkiss) are enjoying my visits to the ruins and have requested some additional information about each one. Well I will be holding a number of slide show presentation evenings where I will discuss at great length my extensive photo collections of each site - I will also be discussing the similarities and differences between the Maya and Inca civilisations!
Palenque began as a farming hamlet, perhaps some time around 100 BC, that is, during the so-called Formative Period [2500 BC - 300 AD]. Over the Early Classic Period [300 - 600 AD] the village grew, and in the Late Classic [600 - 900 AD] became the city which ruled much of what is now the states of Chiapas and Tabasco. At that time, Palenque's development peaked, as evident in the complexity of its architecture, ceramics, and particularly its inscriptions.
The ancient city itself holds over 200 buildings of varying size and complexity, all adapted to a landscape extending 2,800 yards from east to west, and 1,100 yards from north to south, giving it a total area of some 620 acres.
There were a couple of temples to check out. On top of each temple was a stone tablet with a glyph (pictures that the archaeologists have translated) which tell the history of the site.
After visiting the ruins there was a good walk back to the museum through the forest past a waterfall.
The museum was pretty good too as it had lots of stonework recovered from the site and it showed you a bit about how the glyphs had been translated.
After the ruins we headed back to the hotel then went off on a trip to Misol Ha and Agua Azul Waterfalls.
On the way to the falls we got stopped by Zapatistas who had blocked the road - they had a story about raising money for a boy who was knocked over and needed medical treatment but they had ropes tied accross the road as well as a plank of wood with nails which they wouldn´t move till we paid them 50 pesos. There was also a lot of them hanging around by the roadside and although we didn´t see any guns they were probably armed. Fortunately we paid a small amount each and they let us continue (See the comment about guerillas under the Chichen Itza and Merida entry).
The first fall was impressive and you could walk around behind the fall. You could also climb up to a cave that had another waterfall inside it. The second falls Agua Azul (Blue Water) weren't as good and because of all the rain should have been called brown water!
We got back to Palenque to get ready for an early start next morning.
posted by Phil at 9:16 PM
4 Comments:
A blog entry - woo woo! Worth the wait - you really know your stuff - uncle travelling phil!
Jen
x
All right boss
Did you ask the Dick Terpin wannabees if a Dingo had stole there babies?
Normally goes down well!
Now that you've dealt with the evil Zapatistas will you be changing your name to Indiana Phil and threaten all those who cross your path either with a session in your temple of doom or a raiding of their lost ar...?
Mel and I visited Auntie Rita this weekend for her 30th Birthday, she sends her best wishes. Karen just went 'yeaaaaah'...
Charlotte
rita sue and bob too....
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