Tulum

Tulum

This photo is from the archeological site of Tulum, where the biological entity that restrain me spent his weekend.

Tulum is a very interesting mayan archeological site.

Someone once said to me it was rare for being the only mayan site, right next to the sea. (its not, I know of other two, one in belize, and another in Isla de Jania, but maybe they are not that close to the sea)
What it does have, is an outer wall to protect the city.

And the view from there is, just amazing, the blues of the caribbean sea, its amazing (I'll post one photo of just the sea soon)

One tip, if you plan to visit Tulum, the archeologial site, take a hat, or something to cover your head with you. The sun is way too strong there. And walking, jumping, going up and down, you might get heat stoke (sun stroke).

Kisses
Jessica.

Mayan Drawings

Mayan Drawings

Near calcetok there is another cave, smaller one
The important thing about this one is that on the roof there are some drawings, in theory made by the Mayans.
This Cave is special because the entrance is oriented to the north. thats probably why they selected as a sacred place, and they made the drawings.

Edzna

Edzna

I been showing the pics of flowers I took in Edzna, well, here is finally show, a photo of the Edzna archeoogical site.
Taken from the top of one of the side Pyramids of the Main building complex.

Also a video has been uploaded over here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8H0lzAoGTQ

Quite a good exercise to walk and climb all of it.

Kisses
Jessica

Maya God Face

Maya God Face

A carved face of a Mayan God.
Impressive

Cara Dios Maya

El rostro de un dios maya, tallado en la piedra
Impresionante

Main Acropolis Tikal

Main Acropolis Tikal

Well this two photos were taken in the Main Acropolis in Tikal.

The temple in the top one, is one that can be seen from above the jungle trees.

I posted a 360 round view video over www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiIXO3EA0FE

I enjoyed Tikal

Kisses
Jessica

Tikal Temple

This is one of the tall Temples in Tikal.
Wow, they are really, really tall.
Good thing, they put those wood stairs one can climb, thats a great idea, that way, the original stone stairs doesn't get destroyed by thousands of tourists.
And they found a way to put them, that they do not ruin the view of the Pyramids.
As you can see, it was a long, long climb upstairs.

But really it's worth it to go up

Kisses
Jessica

Tikal Sunrise

Tikal Sunrise

Now to start with the images from Tikal.

There was this tour that, you have to be ready to go, at 3:30 am, but you were to see the sunrise, from the top of the Sun Temple.
A marvelous opportunity, so I decided to go with that.

Its amazing to walk in the Tikal Jungle, when it is still dark, and hear the sounds of animals all around you, without seen anything except few parts of the roads, from the few lamps.
Then one has to go up the temple, by climbing some wood stairs, when it is still a bit dark.
But one you arrive to the top, the view is amazing, you can see the jungle from a above, and just the tips of the tallest pyramids.

Unfortunately it was a bit cloudy that morning, so the sun was seeable, after it was a bit above the horizon, still for a little time, skiy had a little hint of orangish tone.

But the other great thing about that, is the sounds.
To hear how the jungle comes into life, as the sun rises, is amazing.
Every second, more and more birds, singing, saying Hello to the new day. And the ocassional ones flying around.
The far away sound of the howler monkeys.
It's amazing.

The photos, top, one of the first ones, that got a bit of sun reflect in the clouds.
The bottom one, a close-up of the pyramids tops, above the jungle.

I am posting a video I took with the old camera, over here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAwnble1r4I
if you decide to look at it, its much better if sound is active.

Kisses
Jessica, the Sun worshipper.

Estelas Yaxchilan

Estelas Yaxchilan

One of the architectural beauties in some Mayan sites, are the Estelas (I don't know if there is a word in english).

Used to mark a date or event, or to honor a ruler, king, warrior.

The Amazing thing about them is the great level of details they have, the esthetical balance, all the artistic feeling they convey.

And sometime, some of them are huge, big.

Definitively the work of amazing mayan artists from the past.

And here are two of the Estelas, that can be seen in Yaxchilan.

Kisses
Jessica

Yaxchilan Pyramids

Here are a couple of pyramid tops from the Yaxchilan Archeological Site.

It's a nice archeological site, bit of climbing.
According to what it said, the rulers of Yaxchilan, also ruled over Bonampak.

Nice decorations on the Pyramids tops.

Must have been a really nice place, and with lots of riches due to a very fertile land, and being next to the Usumacinta River.

Kisses
Jessica

Bonampak Paints

Here is a couple of pics of the famous paints in Bonampak.

Located in a special room in the main piramid there, they are located in three smaller rooms.
They represent a religious ceremony, a war ritual sacrifice, and the marking of a noble child.

They are very impressive
Lots of colors, and pretty details.
Good to see they have been preserved so far.

Bye for today
Kisses
Jessica

Bonampak

Bonampak

So this weekend, it was time to go visit a few more archeological places.

Fist stop, Bonampak, in the state of Chiapas.
It's a small archeological site, only a couple of buildings
Still the main building is very impressive. Bit of climbing.
And as with all these places, being in the middle of the jungle, one can see lots of greens , and sometimes animals.

There is also the paintings.

Kisses for today
Jessica

Pyramids of Izamal

This weekend I Went to the lovely town of Izamal, and it does live to the name of "Magical Town" that tourist autorities give.

The town has a mix of 2 times, that gives it that special touch.
It has Mayan pyramids, so you can feel the energy of the ancient times.
It has Colonial Architecture, from the times of the Spanish Conquista and the old Haciendas.
It really is an interesting Mix.

So today, I will show you the first part, the Pyramids.
So the little booklet says that the Mayan City, was dedicated to Itzamna (which gave the name Izamal when put it in Spanish) the creator. It was also a place of cult to Kinich, the god of Sun.
It was one of the big CEremonial Cities of the Mayans, only rivaled by _Uxmal and ChichenItza.
There were supposed to be 7 pyramids there on the mayan times, I saw 5 visited them, another one is located under the church (that makes 6), The other one probably is still to be found, or lost.
There are houses, around the pyramids, Imagine how cool it would be to say "I live next to a pyramid".

Now to the pictures.

Top Left, Is the view of the Pyramid of Kinich Kak Moo, which is the third biggest Mayan Pyramid in Mexico. The Photo was taken from the top of the Piramid of Itzamatul
Top Right, Is a close Photo of the top Pyramid of Kinich. You can climb all the way, and get a super view of the town.
Middle Left, a detail of one Pyramid.
Middle Right, this is another photo of the top of Kinich Pyramid. You climb some stirs to a fits top of the pyramid, and there you see , that there is that second Pyramid back there, more to climb.
Bottom Left, is the side of the pyramid of Habuc.
Bottom Right, Is the pyramid of Itzamatul, also good one to climb, and with a great view.

Bye for now

Jessica, the Silly Archeologist.


To see the bigger image go here http://farm1.static.flickr.com/121/365985178_1b86678633_o.jpg