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Published: August 9th 2007
We're obviously a couple of good omens. Just two days after we visited the fabulous Chichen Itza it was voted on the list as one of the world's New 7 Wonders. Along with Macchu Pichu, which we visited a little over a month ago. Not to mention The Great Wall that we've also covered on this trip.
We'll ignore the fact that Angkor Wat didn't get in, which we can only put down to a lack of Cambodian internet users to vote for it. The highly visible campaigns at both Macchu Pichu and Chichen Itza were conspicuously absent when we visited Angkor.
Once again, as we've no doubt mentioned countless times before, it was well worth dragging ourselves out of bed early to beat the crowds to Chichen Itza. By lunchtime the Cancun crowds had arrived and were matched in number only by the vendors offering a 'special price' for a seemingly endless amount of tat. Strangely it seemed everyone would get a 'special price' that day.
It's impossible to overstate how different these sites can be from one hour to the next. Not to mention the change in temperature from early morning meanderings to the kids playing
Palenque
Palenquein the water sprinklers by midday just to try to cool down a few degrees. Tempted though we were to join them, we decided instead to maintain our dignity and behave like responsible adults. There's a first time for everything, right?
Apparently modesty wasn't a virtue prized amongst the Mayans. The platform of the skulls was decorated with images of conquered enemies. Judging by the number of skulls they were a bloodthirsty lot.
Bloodletting wasn't confined to their enemies however, as we discovered at Bonampak where we saw images of self-mutilation. We won't mention which regions of the body were involved for fear of upsetting some of you more sensitive souls.
Sandwiched between Chichen Itza and Bonampak were visits to Palenque where the setting amongst the dense forest granted us an opportunity to watch as well as listen to the fantastically monikered howler monkeys and Yaxchilan which was accessible only by boat. Resulting in far fewer tour buses and far more biting insects of a variety too great to name. All varieties do seem to prefer Carolyn flavour to David flavour.
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Stevo
non-member comment
Scotchland
I'm beginning to think you two aren't coming home and have instead decided to be international playpeople for the rest of your days. Good on yas - better than sitting in an office on a gloomy Thursday!