Whirlwhind Ruins Tour

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Yesterday went on out to many of the ruins on the Rura Puuc. Really wish i had a digital camera to share photos with you, but for photos you can google Ruta Puuc or go to this spanish website

http://www.yucatan.com.mx/especiales/rutapuuc/

(If you google it you can get a translation into English)

Puuc not only refers to a style and period, but from what I understand the hilly area where the ruins are about 60 km south of Merida. Took the public bus that stops at many of the small ruins / Labna, Sayil and Xlapak / all small sights were we spent 30 minutes each. Unlike at Chichen Itza, we (the 10 people on the bus) were the only tourists visiting so it was very peaceful seeing the structures in the jungle. The sights were smallers / a couple of buildings and simple / a person collecting money at a hut or thatched roof tiny shop. The feeling of all the ruins was also different / softer, rounder, the stones more yellowish/orangish / made me realize the influence of the Toltecs on Chichen Itza.

Labna was a small village of 1500-2000 people around 750-1000 ad and had a magnificent palace and arch. Xlpakak is the smallest, least restore sight with several mounds and partially restores palaca and many cisterns which you cant see. At Sayil I felt rushed as the sight was spread out, wander down narrow jungle pathes to happen upon a ruin - the main structures was the Palace of the Ants. Again wonderful and quite just a few of us, the jungle and the ruins.

We then went to Kabbah which is much larger and grander - and again would have like more than the 40 minutes. A grand palace that like the others you can climb to get a great view, a walk of noses, and across the road a huge arch that marked the entry to the city. A road connected the cities - not sure how much of it you can traverse.

Finally on to Uxmal - the grandest ruin in the area and my favorite. A much bigger sight with more people but still tranquil compared to Chichen itza. You can climb the Grand Pyramids with narrow steep stairs - easier to get up than to get down - for views of the sight, enter into rooms and climb other buildings. My Favorite was the Quadrangle of the Nuns - i seem to like the nuns places - an enclosed courtyard. Look at web pictures to get a view.

Getting back to town I was tired and a bit taken aback by the noise, and busyness and less fresh air. Another free performance at night - Mayan dancers in the main square. Well off for a free walking tour, to the museum and to do some errancds.

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Comments

[stefano]

excellent wiritng!
Hi Alice, that's some great writing, much better than mine. All i write about is about me, not really what i see. How's Alice? Enjoying your trip, I'm sure. See you on the flipside...your victoria friend Stefano

[AliceWanderingLand]

Problem with subscribers
Hi, there seems to be a problem with subscribers being contacted.

[Sue Brown]

Hi - February 15th, 2007
Just to let you know - I am printing the journals for your Mom and she is enjoying travelling through your eyes. Having just returned from Mexico - I now realize just how much I missed - a week is never enough - please continue to enchant us with your excellent journals.