Chichen Itza

Hello again! This is going to start a series of about five posts about our trip. No, I don't have to do that many, but I figured I would. There is so much to share, and I figured it would be better to split it up. So, that is what I am doing.

We went to Chichen Itza on Monday. It was raining that day as I have already mentioned. The pictures that I am going to post are the ones that were salvaged from the digital camera incident.

As some of you may know Chichen Itza is one of the Mayan ruins in that area. On our way there, we drove through "modern" Mayan cities. I say modern because they are not modern like the ones you and I live in. They live in bamboo type huts with banana leaf roofs. They sleep in hammocks. The children were very friendly. They would run to the street to wave to the tour buses as they drove by.

A Mayan hut

Children by the street

We stopped at a Mayan market outside of Chichen Itza. They had all kinds of stuff (I don't know what else to call it besides "stuff"). There was anything from statues made of obsidian to jewelry to hammocks to whatever else.

Us at the market

Chichen Itza was a lot larder than I had imagined. I thought it was the one large pyramid, but there is so much more to it than that. There were several temples spread all over the park.

Chichen Itza sign outside the park

Depending on where you stood around the large pyramid, when you clapped you would hear different sounds coming from the top. Sometimes you may hear what sounded like a bird, sometimes nothing. BUT, when you stood on the side with the other temple pictured you heard a bird then a snake. Our tour guide said that is one reason why that sight is now one of the seven wonders of the world. They had snake statues everywhere. The large pyramid forms a snake coming down (because of the shadows) twice a year. Josh wants to go back sometime to see this happen.

Large pyramid

Another temple

The ball arena pictured below is kind of neat. There were seven people on a team (seven seemed to be there magic number). Six stayed on the ground while the captain stood on a ledge. The game is sorta like soccer in the sense that you couldn't use your hands. However, if my memory is correct (which I'm sure Josh will correct me if it isn't), you couldn't use your feet either. The goal was about 25 feet off the ground and the ball was compared to a bowling ball in size and weight. The object of the game was to get the ball through the goal (duh...). The winner was killed (seemed strange) and to them became a god in their next life. If you notice the large temple looking building in the background, that is where the high priest would sit.

Ball arena

We really like our visit at Chichen Itza. We found it interesting to hear that the land is owned by one family. When they bought it and found stones on the ground they used them to build one of the building for their hotel that is near the property. Those stone belonged on one side of the large pyramid. If you look at that side now, it looks nothing like the others. There are about ten full sets of stairs and the rest is nothing. It is kind of sad if you ask me. Josh researched this family to find out that some of the members are wanting to sell the land to the Mexican gov, while others want to keep it for themselves. Yet one says he already tried to give it to the gov and they didn't want it at the time. I guess it wasn't making enough money for them then. Oh, well.