Day 3. 5 April. Cancun. Chichen Itza tour.

 Magnificent sleep 11.00 - 5.30.

Early up, short 15 minute window for breaky, ready for our 'Express' tour pick up at 6.45. Juan our driver is taking us out to Chichen Itza. 

After a little time on the same roads as yesterday, we turned right and headed off on a very straight road towards Chichen Itza, not a whole lot to look at and 196km of ragged jungle and some crumbling habitation and building along the way.

We arrived at 9.20. Juan arranged a guide, a Mayan man - Santo - who was excellent and filled our heads with so much information and great history and stories of Chichen Itza.

We were early to beat the heat, stall holders were still setting up. Before we were even in the place, the hat sellers were ready to go.

A strange device outside the banos (loos) took a pic. Later learnt it is the digger that the archaeologists used to excavate the Water well.

One of the structures.

Learning ALL about the very complex Mayan Calendar. Thanks Santo.

Zoned out for a bit and distracted by a bird in the tree above.

What is Chichen Itza? Mayan ruins - of a sacred  walled city, built here because of it's proximity to water, actually the Sagrado Cenote. Chichen Itza means Mouth of the Water well of the royal family, Itza.

The "Feather Serpent' was very important to the Mayan culture here. There are heads all over the place.

Rosewood tree in front of Priests grandstand, which overlooks the ballcourt.

Serpent. NB. see that ring on the wall? That is the hoop that the 7 players on the huge ballcourt had to get a 20cm rubber ball through (the hole is 30cm) They were not allowed to use hands or feet.

Some of the amazing carvings, here a warrior I think.

The Castillo. This is actually all about the Mayan calendar and the Feather Serpent.

The structures here were all housed within the walls, it was a Sacred religious site, no-one actually lived within, it was a place for worhip and ball games and sacrifice. Chichen Itza saw an arrangement between the peaceful Mayan people and the Mexican Warriors Tulpecs (?) 

There was lots of history, amazing stone building skills, religion, ball courts and games with rubber balls and hoops, resulting in the privilege of human sacrifice for the winner, all to ensure good harvests. 

The Mayans were obviously smart and designed the Mayan calendar, which is what the Castillo structure at Chichen Itza is all about, very complicated, but still 365 days in a year, with 19 months, and a 52 year cycle, to ensure 13 'leap' years are dealt with. All very interesting, but too much to retain and regurgitate here. The main thing I was left with was the wisdom and persistence of these people.

Here we are L-R Glenda, Margot, Suzie, Me.

The detail is unbelievable, there is no stone or step or terrace without some meaning relating to the Mayan calendar.

The site has many different structures and contains many many artisan souvenir stalls. 

Some of the many, many, many colourful plates, scarves etc.

We spent almost 2 hours looking around with Santos, then Glenda and I walked to look at Sagrado Cenote - the Water Well around which the whole city was based. 

Sagrado Cenote - the Water Well.

The Mayans stayed here until too many human sacrifices resulted in the pollution of the very water source on which they relied. The Cenote was large, but the water very green. Heard and saw a quick view of motmot bird.

We also saw many lizards and iguanas sunning themselves around the ruins.

Female.

Another one, think female.

Then we met Suzie and Margot, bought a couple of souvenirs 

More people as we left. Great call by Suzie to book us early and Express, no stopping at places along the way. 

and back to Juan and the van and off to Valledolid for lunch at Hosteria de Marques, where we enjoyed some typical Mayan juices and foods. 

The Hosteria courtyard.

Some of the 'stuff'' around the very old Hosteria de Marques.

Valledolid street from bus

more of Valledolid.

Then we asked Juan if he could take us out along the Zona Hotelera for a squiz.

The zone was amazing, hotel after hotel after hotels, some shops, malls, golf courses, manicured gardens, some nightclubs. All in all the party strip. Well worth a look and we got some nice shots of the beach and it's very blue tri coloured ocean. 

Zona Hotelera beach.

Obligatory photo stop.

Then back to hotel, sorting out some money, how many pesos do we need for 24 hours? 

A couple of hours break before dinner, we ventured back to same location as last night and went to a very nice place - La O11ce Gastrobar. Had fabulous meals and very good Sangria. 

Suzie and her Sopes.

Margot with crab soup and some sort of Pork Crackle, guacamole concoction.

Glenda with a massive salad with pears, and a mushroom dish.

Jeannie went for Salmon and Veg.

Mine was a crispy shrimp and udon noodles in honey soy sauce. Here we all are.

A bit of an issue with bill and tips, but it was sorted, but put a bit of a dampener on a really good meal and evening. Got our 'round trip' taxi home. Talked again about Pesos, we need more than we thought, these tips are the things that you forget to factor in. 

Back to pack a little as we leave tomorrow at 12.15pm for the airport and off to Cuba.