Chichen Itza
Today, I took a day tour to visit Chichen Itza, the most important Mayan ruins on the Yucatan Peninsula. I had a really great tour guide––Amancio. He is a foreign language student at a university and his English was excellent. He gave the tour in both Spanish and English as we had a family from Chile with us. My other tourmates were from California (4) and from St. Louis (2). Photo: The famous Castillo in Chichen Itza.
Chichen Itza
On the Way to Chichen Itza
Seen on the way to Chichen Itza.
On the Way to Chichen Itza
On the Way to Chichen Itza
Seen on the way to Chichen Itza.
On the Way to Chichen Itza
On the Way to Chichen Itza
Seen on the way to Chichen Itza. These orange trees were just starting to bloom and we saw them everywhere. Quite a sight.
On the Way to Chichen Itza
On the Way to Chichen Itza
Bathroom stop at a large souvenir store.
On the Way to Chichen Itza
On the Way to Chichen Itza
Close–up of the mural in the last photo.
On the Way to Chichen Itza
On the Way to Chichen Itza
Females to the left; males to the right.
On the Way to Chichen Itza
On the Way to Chichen Itza
So much for sale at this store.
On the Way to Chichen Itza
On the Way to Chichen Itza
More for sale.
On the Way to Chichen Itza
On the Way to Chichen Itza
And more.
On the Way to Chichen Itza
On the Way to Chichen Itza
This embroidered blanket (tablecloth?) was beautiful but I didn’t even try to get its price––too many pesos for me. But I did buy a much smaller embroidered pillow cover.
On the Way to Chichen Itza
On the Way to Chichen Itza
More for sale.
On the Way to Chichen Itza
On the Way to Chichen Itza
I remember buying a chess set like this one for my son when we drove down to Puerto Vallarta from LA many years ago. I hadn’t seen one of these sets in other stores.
On the Way to Chichen Itza
On the Way to Chichen Itza
I had to resist buying this.
On the Way to Chichen Itza
On the Way to Chichen Itza
Upscale merchandise.
On the Way to Chichen Itza
On the Way to Chichen Itza
Mexican dolls.
On the Way to Chichen Itza
On the Way to Chichen Itza
Very large bottle of tequila.
On the Way to Chichen Itza
On the Way to Chichen Itza
A small village.
On the Way to Chichen Itza
On the Way to Chichen Itza
A cute hut.
On the Way to Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
We are now at Chichen Itza––view from the parking lot. We were only one of three vehicles in this parking lot––Amancio said that usually, in non–swine flu scare times, this lot is almost full. You can see the top of the observatory in the background.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Entrance of Chichen Itza. My sister and I visited Chichen Itza when we were between about 5 years old and 12 years old. Neither of us remember how we got here––by land or sea––or even if we were here together. She has a photo of her and my father at Chichen Itza. So when I was asked if I had ever been to the Yucatan before, I said yes but I didn’t know when. When we were at Chichen Itza, you could climb on the pyramids and temples and go inside them. Nowadays, you cannot. Access to the ruins was taken away about 3–8 years ago (I think different ruins became off limit at different times.) I was told that there was much vandalism including graffiti undertaken by the tourists.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Map of Chichen Itza. We visited the old section on the bottom left first. Chichen Itza was founded by a priest named Lakin Chan (he is also called Itzamma) in 514 A.D. In 600 A.D., the Temple of Kukulcan (El Castillo) was built. In 800 A.D., the Mayans settled here, and 300 years later, the Toltecs invaded and the Toltec and Mayan cultures were combined. Chichen Itza was abandoned permanently in 1000 A.D.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Going through an very old arch.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Part of an old wall. There were low walls dividing different sections of the ruins.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
A stella (stone writing tablet).
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Close–up of the markings on the stella.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
This should be the old Ossario section of Chichen Itza. I have been looking at websites, etc., to get names of all the ruins. I believe I am matching photos with the correct names, but I’m not 100% sure. The front ruin in the photo is the Platform of the Tombs, the middle ruin is the Platform of Venus, and the one in the far back is the Ossario Temple.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Platform of Venus.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Close–up of the Platform of Venus.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Even closer–up of the Platform of Venus clearly showing the markings on the stones.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
The Ossario Temple.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Another view of the Ossario Temple.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
It rained in Playa del Carmen last night so rain here wasn’t unexpected, but it wasn’t heavy and it didn’t last long. Vendors line many of the pathways––in this photo, you can see many of the stalls covered up.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
I believe we are now in the Central Group of the ruins, but I don’t have a name for this temple.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
The Observatory (the Caracol). Modern day observatories seem to be designed similar to this one. The Observatory was used to track the equinoxes and also to decide the best times to plant. It also was used to track Venus.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Close–up of the Observatory.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
The Las Monjas Complex, also called the Nunnery. It was the elite quarters of the Mayans.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Close–up of the upper part of the building showing designs in the stone.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
An even closer–up photo showing designs.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Part of the Las Monjas Complex.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Close–up of the upper part of the building in the center of the last photo.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Another close–up.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Another close–up.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
And another.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
This should be La Iglesia.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Close–up of La Iglesia.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Another building in this complex.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
And another.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Close–up of the last building.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Another temple.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Serpent at the bottom of the temple.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Mayan jacuzzi? It was part of a bath system.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Another temple.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
More souvenir vendors.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
At one of the souvenir stalls: See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil monkeys.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
And another set of monkeys.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Before arriving at Chichen Itza, Amancio told us about a 4–year–old Mayan girl who is sometimes at the ruins and who can sing the Mexican National Anthem in Mayan. Amancio found her here with her mother and she sang for us. I have put the Mexican National Anthem first sung in Spanish by Amancio and then by the little Mayan girl on this website: Go to Movies, Mexico, “Mexican National Anthem.”
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
The Mayan women and little girls sell embroidered hankerchiefs. One of my tourmates is holding up one of the hankerchiefs that I bought from the Mayan girl––$1.00 each. I bought four of them.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
We are now in the Central Group section and this is El Castillo, the Temple of Kukulkan, built in 600 A.D. In 2007, the Temple of Kukulkan was named one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Each of the fours staircases have 365 steps. The pyramid also has 52 panels and 18 terraces. During the spring and autumn equinoxes, a shadow resembling Kukulkan, a plumed serpent, falls on the pyramid.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
When I was first in Chichen Itza, you could climb up El Castillo. I was gung ho to do so but started getting dizzy about 1/4 of the way up and came down. But at that time, the inside of the temple was also open to visitors. We entered the pyramid through a door and climbed up a narrow, steep stone staircase. At the top of the staircase, was this jaquar. I remember it looking fierce and having glowing jade green eyes. It is really a sight that you never forget as it was spectacular. The jaquar is still inside the temple, but visitors cannot view it. Photo taken from the Internet.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Inside the temple is also a choc mool statue. I don’t remember seeing it. This is a photo of a choc mool statue that was originally at Chichen Itza. Photo taken from the Internet.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
If you clap hard in front of this staircase of the Temple of Kukulkan, you will hear the chirped echo of the Mayan sacred bird, the Quetzal. I have put a movie clip on this website of Amancio clapping in front of the temple. If you listen very carefully, you will hear the chirp of the Quetzal. Go to Movies, Mexico, “Chichen Itza Quetzal.”
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Looking upward.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Serpent at the foot of the temple.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Two of the serpents at the foot of the temple.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
The Temple of the Jaquars near the Temple of Kukulkan.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Serpent at the side of the temple.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
The rear of the Temple of the Jaquars.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
The rear of the Temple of the Jaquars faces the Great Ball Court, the largest ball court in Ancient Mesoamerica. It measures 545 x 232 feet (166 x 68 meters) and it walls are 39 1/2 feet high (12 meters). At the far end of the ball court is the Temple of the Bearded Man.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
The ball ring on top of the wall of the ball court.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
At the base of the ball court, there are slanted benches with sculptured panels.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
More of the panels.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
More of the panels.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
The Temple of the Bearded Man at the end of the ball court.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Older Mayan woman selling embroidered hankerchiefs. She asked me to buy one from her––I would have but I had already bought seven and I didn’t have any more dollar bills. I felt kind of bad that I didn’t buy one from her.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
A wall of the faces of hundreds of ball players.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Another Platform of Venus.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
The Temple of the 1000 Warriors.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
At the top of this temple is a choc mool statue. A close–up of the statue.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Columns of the 1000 warriors.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Another view of the columns.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
I had become separated from my tour group as I was wandering around taking photos. We had two tour guides in Chichen Itza––Amenico, who was giving the Spanish language tour, and Luis, who was giving the English language tour. I was walking to my tour group my Amenico spotted me and he told me to wait where I was as he wanted to clap for me in front of the Temple of Kukulkan, which he did (see above). Luis walked the rest of the tour to a hotel for lunch (the Lodge at Chichen Itza), so that left Amenico walking only me back to the hotel. On the pathway, I saw a green and white stick moving across the path––I realized that the stick was a snake, but only about 12 inches long. I am deathly afraid of snakes and I am surprised to my reaction to seeing it: I first analyzed in what direction the snake was moving, jumped from the path in the other direction, and told Amenico why I was doing this. He followed my lead. And then I was completely calm afterward. So this is my story of how I saved my tour guide from a snake––that is, from stepping on a snake. I bet the snake wouldn’t have liked being stepped on. Amencio saw another snake on our way back to the hotel––I didn’t look at it. Photo: The dining room of the hotel where we ate lunch
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Close–up of the wall mural. I ordered the chicken for lunch, but it turned out to be the same uninspiring chicken fajitas that I had for my last two lunches.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
During our lunch, Mexican dancers performed for us. I have put a music clip of these dancers on this website: Go to Movies, Mexico, “Mexican Dancers at Chichen Itza.”
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
The female of the dance pair.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
She was in charge of the music.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
The dancers––there were two sets of dancers but I only took a movie clip of one set of them.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
View of the ruins from the hotel.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
A peacock near the dining room waiting for the outdoor eating area to open.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
The peacock showing off his feathers. I took a movie clip of the peacock moving in a circle with his feathers spread out. It is on this website: Go to Movies, Mexico, “Chichen Itza Peacock Dance.”
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
The peacock’s backside.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
A fountain at the hotel.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Close–up of the fountain.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
An iguana on the hotel’s patio. The rest of this day’s tour appears on the next album––Cenote Sak Muu Ja & Valladoid, Mexico.
