Chichen Itza

I had been to Cancun 14 years ago, and I missed Chichen Itza that time. So this time it top of the list to see...

We came out of the jungle onto a grassy plain. Rising from the center was the great Mayan pyramid. Various temples and dancing platforms are scattered about the area but you can clearly see where the attention was focused. It does not take much imagination to feel how a villager who had grown up never seeing more then a grass hut would have felt coming into the presence of this pyramid. No wonder they were considered great for their time.the far side of the field contains the remains of a large bazaar. This was a trading and cultural center in its heyday.

We took the short hike to the sacrificial pool. They had a nice concession stand there. The kids got a kick out of the fact that great treasure had been thrown into the pool to appease the gods and that it was sort of like Indiana Jones when they found it was down there.

I enjoyed this day more then any other in that this truly is an amazing part of history. Why did they build it? Why did they abandon it? The current take it that they were trying to control their environment with religion. I did not solve its riddles but it was really something to just be able to puzzle over them.

One caution, my oldest did get some of the travelers tummy and it could only have happened on this part of our trip. No idea which vendor or meal but it did happen and it was no fun. I had thought this was our greatest chance of getting some of this so it was planned for the end of the trip so that we would not lose tons of days. He was a trooper coming back or we would have been stuck in Mexico with limited travel plans. Thanks, big guy!

links to the other stuff we did while there:

Xcaret Occidental - Carmen Del Playa - Swim with the Dolphins - Xcaret National Park