Chichen Itza: December 12
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The first temple you see upon entering the several-acre grounds of Chichen Itza, the Mayan ruins.
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A pillar.
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Charming curlique.
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One of the lesser temples. Only the priests would walk (climb) up the very steep stone steps.
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The overall temple complex.
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A side building.
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Hieroglyphs, my favorite element of Mayan sculpture.
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Closeup.
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Marvelous glyphs all over the top of the building.
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Another ... closeup.
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Pillars AND outlying buildings.
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The main temple. It is not easy to climb up those steep stone steps. They put a rope in the middle that you can hang onto. 30 meters tall.
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In a more perfect world, I would remember the function of the circle of standing pillars around this building. There must be a web site.
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The stately, majestic temple.
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Guardians.
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I love the closeup.
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If you stare long enough, you might see a hundred images.
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A mythical beast is devouring a man?
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Some sort of grotto on the grounds of Chichen Itza.
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More of the wonderful glyphs. I can see where archeologists get transfixed and spend their lives deciphering.
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Gray and blue.
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The view from
the top of the main temple. I climed up - that part was easy.
Climbing down the steep steps was hard and I had to go one step at a
time, sideways, all my weight on my right outermost thigh. For the
next two days my thigh muscles were sore.
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Climbing down those steps.
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Little girls in traditional (Mayan?) dress, dancing in our restaurant, for tips.
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Beautiful girl.
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Mama balances a tray.
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On the way back to Playa del Carmen, our tour van stopped at this famous grotto. It's quite deep and people go for a dip. It was a hot day.
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A German dove in from ten meters, intimidating the Mexicans paddling around in the shallow end, hanging onto a rope. I think they couldn't swim.
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This day was Virgin of Quadalupe festival, perhaps the biggest religious holiday in Mexico. This cathedral was decked out with colorful flags.
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Closeup of the flags.
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Artshot (tm).
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Palm tree, tower and flags.
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A car decked out with Virgin of Guadalupe decorations. They drive around all day in convoys and kids run alongside, apparently or seemingly also all day.
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Funky lanterns.
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The best restaurant in Playa del Carmen is this Mayan traditional place - Yaxche. Don't ask me to pronounce it. I was fine with ordering off the menu.
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My hotel - Mosquito Blue - highly recommended (thanks Marc!)
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One of Mosquito Blue's two pools, at night.
Marianne Mueller
Last modified: January 5, 2005