According to many sources, Mayapan was the political and cultural capital of the Maya in the Yucatán Peninsula during the Late Post-Classic period from the 1220s until the 1440s.
A short drive down a driveway to the parking lot and the ticket booth... unbelievably the vista of Mayapan is within view!
I've included a map of the site to help you picture where things are!
The Temple of the Crematorium is unmarked on this map, but it's the one just above and to the left of the Templo Del Nichos Pintados.
There is also an unmarked cenote to the right of the Castillo De Kukulkan.
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| At the entrance with the ruins in sight! |
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| Structure Q-62 just inside the site |
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| The Observatory from the Temple of the Fisherman |
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| The Crematorium Temple from the Temple of the Fisherman |
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| Temple of the Niches |
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| The crematorium |
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| we were mostly totally alone on the site! |
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| Kukulkan Castle |
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| totally immersed and absorbed in the experience |
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| that'd be me on the Temple of Niches |
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| just inside one of the Niches was this enormous moth... wingspan ~8" |
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| Dave and Deb beside the Crematorium |
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| Kukulkan Castle |
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| The Observatory... |
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| ... the only circular... |
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| ... structure we've seen! |
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| Temple of the Warriors |
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| an ant's view |
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| some of the unique carvings |
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| one structure uncovered in front and one not... many more to be excavated |
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| the shelter protecting the wall paintings |
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| same shelter from the other approach |
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| These wall paintings... |
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| ...are estimated to be... |
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| ... 600-800 years old! |
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| Also to be found under the shelters... |
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| ...are three large stucco.. |
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| ... pictograms |
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| As with many of the major sites... |
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| ... their source of water was a cenote (now mostly dry) |
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| At the one end of the Observatory was found... |
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| ... a complex with several masks dedicated to the God Chac (the rain god) |
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| small carvings were also evident in certain walls |
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| The Challenge: Kukulkan Castle stairs |
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| Quiet contemplation! |
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| Davey already atop... Doug almost there! |
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| As Dora would say... "We did it! We did it! I can't believe we did it! |
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| Davey surveying his domain! |
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| Panorama showing the Crematorium... |
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| ... the Temple of the Niches... |
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| ... and the Observatory. |
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| What goes up, must come down! Very carefully, I might add! |
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| Safely back to the ground! |
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| Not to be outdone, the Deb and Elaine made it... |
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| ... part way up the Crematorium! |
Watch this space for our next blog post on a visit to Merida and Progreso with Deb and Dave.
Love to all,
-doug and elaine
-mom and dad
-nana and papa
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