Chichen Itza

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Wednesday, up early and literally grabbed breakfast as soon as the buffet opened and then caught the shuttle to the bus tour which left the hotel lobby at 7:10. The tour left the parking bus lot at around 8:30 and we were on the road to Chichen Itza. With a stop en-route at the Cnote, a sink hole where the Mayan would sacrifice young women to the Rain God. If you happen to a bathing suit with you swimming was permitted, not so when I was here 33 years ago. I went down to the edge of the pool and watched others jumping into the pool which we were told is over 100 feet deep, climbing back up was fun but the view from the bottom had been worth it for sure. After this the bus made one more stop for lunch and a floor show, which was very well done. The young Mayan dancers were energetic and very well balanced, keeping a tray of drinks on their heads as they danced and jumped about. Then on ward to the ruins, once at Chichen Itza I found it very different from when I had been there previously. All the ruins are roped off so you can not get near them, 33 years ago I climbed the main temple. All around the ruins, both inside along walking paths and outside at the entrance, are vendors selling anything and everything you could ever hope for in Mexico, when I was here before there were no vendors on the actual grounds and very few at the entrance to the Ruins. Everywhere there were sellers approaching to see if you would buy from them. Lots of masks carved from wood or onyx, Mayan calendars of wood or onyx, clay whistles, chess sets, blankets, clothing and of course silver. I did a bit of souvenir shopping and after 3 hours on the site headed back to the bus. The parking lot was full of tour buses, as the ground had been full of tourists. An amazing place to visit but it no longer seemed the magical place it had been when I was first there and you could feel the presence of the Mayans of long ago, now you just feel touristy. We set off on the journey back to the hotels and I was the last off the bus well after 8 PM, it has been a long day.
A quick dinner in the theatre of the hotel, taking in the evening floor show – The Lion King – which was pretty good. I particularly enjoyed the giraffe along with Timone and Pumba of course.
Tomorrow will be another day in the ruins, this time Xel-Ha and Tulum.

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Photos

Photo 19
the Lion King, stage production at the hotel's dinner theatre

Comments

[Sandra O.]

Mexico Mystical Places
Your blog a the following video made me have the urge to visit Chichen-Itza!. Definitely I will visit Chichen-Itza this year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlZh2nwdRBY Best, Sandra O.