You've got to go!

Posted by Panchita on February 05, 2000 at 23:11:14:

In Reply to: Has anyone visited Chichen Itza? posted by Rebecca on February 05, 2000 at 14:12:34:

Chichen Itza is absolutely amazing. I've been several times and each time I find something new to marvel over. It would help (if you're so inclined) to read up on a little of the history of the Maya - they had a very complex social and economic structure and have been compared to those in the Mediteranian and Asia in terms of development. They had a working calendar, and a sophisticated mathematical and astronmical system that were well-established when Europeans were living in the so-called "Dark Ages".
The architecture will blow you away, and the size of the site is incredible. If you can, stay at the Mayaland Hotel overnight (10 minute walk to the ruins) and visit the ruins in the morning before the buses get there. The site is so large that it's hard to be crowded unless you are there for the solstice gathering.
The large pyramid is built over a smaller one (common practice among many MesoAmerican groups)and sometimes they have the door open so that you can go inside and up the side of the internal building to the stone jaguar at the top - don't miss this but be careful - the steps inside are old and rough and the going can be precarious. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have - Chichen Itza encouraged an interest in ancient Mexico that has taken me to many sites around the country in the past 20 years - it's facinating! Tulum is also beautiful,being along the sea, but much smaller.
Bon Voyage!

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup