Uxmal was the greatest metropolitan and religious center in the Puuc hills in the late classical period. It thrived between the 7th and 10th century A.D. and its numerous architectural styles reflect a number of building phases.
This is the best site we have been to so far. We thought Palanque was #1, but now this is our favorite so far with Palanque coming in #2.
This is a cool picture. Looking through two different windows into a courtyard.
No this is not a scud missile. Believe it or not, this is the whipping stone. Yep, whipping stone. You bad, you get strapped and whipped. In Public.
Can you see the face on this?? At the light show in the evening it was so neat as they pointed out what each one met, and they showed the way the Mayans had carved symbols within symbols. Like this one (the face) is for the rain god, but there is a snake carved into the picture to, along with the lattice work for they symbols of unity with the earth.
This is a court yard. It is so beautiful the way the carving are on all the buildings.
More rain gods
Even "simple" building got something pretty put on them.
This is a Jaguar.
These steps are leading into another courtyard. This site is HUGH. I mean HUGH. This must of been a Hugh city for the Mayans. It also was one of the culture hubs of the society also.
These are steps. They did them so cool. They look like a patchwork but they are all placed so orderly. You could probably take a tape measure out and they would all measure the same height and width.
another court yard with more beautiful work.
These people believed in meeting places. This is another courtyard leading into homes. There homes are very very small. I think all they did was sleep, make and have babies in them.
This is another view of walking in the mist of the buildings.
This is me on top of a Hugh building holding it up after walking up the steps. Notice I now have a regular tee shirt. It is getting a bit cooler temps here then on the Q. Roo side. Also, look at the carvings on this wall. Have you noticed the Macaw on the right side of me? I thought it was a thunder bird until I read the sign to this place and learned it was dedicated to the Macaw birds.
Chuck took this while we were up on the top of the Macaw building. Is that not a cool view??
This scary thing is to worship the gods of rain and whatever. We were (are) in awe on how well some of these are preserved.
This is the governors house. Were they also did meeting and what not.
Another cool building. This was going into the Cemetery.
Notice the cross bones at this site. We are in the cemetery.
Are these not cool or what. They wanted to protect there dead, so they put pictures of the dead people after rotting to scare away any evilness.
I like this one. It looks more like something a pirate would have. I bet you a dollar worth of donuts that the pirates stole this design from the Mayans.
The resident Iguana guarding his pile of rocks.
This is the light show at night. It was way cool. Course, this time we rented earphones so that we knew what was being said. Sure made all the difference in the show!!!
This is when thunder came.
So, this was these ruins. Chuck will have to post of the others when we get another day he says. probably tomorrow after we do the cave and other ruins to.
I have to say that if anyone is planning on coming to Mexico to see ruins, the best way I think if your not going to drive is to fly in and rent a car at the airport. Drive to these ruins and see them with your own eyeballs. They all have hotels by them, and there are small mom and pop motels to fancy first rate ones all over the place. Don't get bogged down with a tour group. These buses come in on a time schedule. They herd people in and out on such a fast schedule that the people miss a whole lot. No one was ever at the graveyard, and the guides do not tell you about them as they want the money for the next group. Amazing how little time they get in the facilities. Remember, YOUR PERFECTLY SAFE IN MEXICO. Just like where you live now, lock your door when you leave and do not pick up hitchhikers. Pretty simple.
So until tomorrow, kiss your loves and hug them to.
Chuck, Dee Dee and Pancho
1 comment:
Where did you stay in Uxmal? We are progressing south, next stop is Catemaco. How many hours was the drive? We are a group of motorhomes.
Livin it up.
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