Mayapan

After a great lunch at Na Lu'Um near Tekoh, we headed down the road to visit the Mayan ruins at Mayapan.

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.

At the entrance with the ruins in sight!

Structure Q-62 just inside the site

The Observatory from the Temple of the Fisherman

The Crematorium Temple from the Temple of the Fisherman

Temple of the Niches

The crematorium

we were mostly totally alone on the site!

Kukulkan Castle

totally immersed and absorbed in the experience

that'd be me on the Temple of Niches

just inside one of the Niches was this enormous moth... wingspan ~8"

Dave and Deb beside the Crematorium

Kukulkan Castle

The Observatory...

... the only circular...

... structure we've seen!

Temple of the Warriors

an ant's view

some of the unique carvings

one structure uncovered in front and one not... many more to be excavated

the shelter protecting the wall paintings

same shelter from the other approach

These wall paintings...

...are estimated to be...

... 600-800 years old!

Also to be found under the shelters...

...are three large stucco..

... pictograms

As with many of the major sites...

... their source of water was a cenote (now mostly dry)

At the one end of the Observatory was found...

... a complex with several masks dedicated to the God Chac (the rain god)

small carvings were also evident in certain walls

The Challenge: Kukulkan Castle stairs

Quiet contemplation!

Davey already atop... Doug almost there!

As Dora would say...
"We did it! We did it! I can't believe we did it!

Davey surveying his domain!

Panorama showing the Crematorium...

... the Temple of the Niches...

... and the Observatory.

What goes up, must come down! Very carefully, I might add!

Safely back to the ground!

Not to be outdone, the Deb and Elaine made it...

... part way up the Crematorium!

We had a great time exploring Mayapan, but as it was getting late in the day, we left the remainder of the Convent Route for next year!

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

The Convent Route

One of the well known tourist routes in the Yucatan is the "Convent Route", which takes you south-east of Merida through a myriad of small towns and villages to visit the many churches and convent buildings from the colonial era.

Sprinkled along the route are some well known Mayan ruins as well.

Our tour started started in the small town of Acanceh, where we parked in the main square and headed to the church.

Across the street from the large church was a smaller chapel built to honour Guadalupe, the patroness saint of the Yucatan.

As with all Mexican towns the main square is always nice to explore.

a local Taxi

enjoying a quiet spot in the square

Acanceh in Mayan means 'moan of the deer'

market day in Acanceh

Now for the most interesting part of our visit to Acanceh.  Also right across from the church is several Mayan ruins.  These are very famous for the well preserved stucco masks that were uncovered during reclamation of the site.

a Mayan ruin next to a modern building on the main street

The corner has been partly excavated to show what was overbuilt

a second pyramid that's untouched with the church in the background

the stucco masks of the gods

our guide with the final mask

Our guide then led us on foot for several blocks to the "Palace of the Stuccos" which contains several elaborate friezes.

trees appearing to grow out of the base of the palace

the friezes were protected under a canopy...

... so we were able to see the many images...

... of people and animals

our guide showed us a map of the whole stucco frieze

Next time we'll think to where something other than flipflops to the pyramids!

On our way out of Acanceh, bound for Tekoh, we passed by the local bull fighting ring!

The road into Tekoh was lined with trees and rocks all whitewashed... very pretty.

On the square, in Tekoh, we parked and toured the quite large and ornate church.

the church grounds are built on the foundations of a Mayan pyramid

strolling the grounds

built in 1751

quite impressive for the size of town 

very ornate altar area

the square in Tekoh

the tree lined avenue

We left Tekoh and we, based upon the map in the "Yucatan Today" magazine, headed south out of town.  After 10 minutes of driving we agreed that the map was wrong and that our destination restaurant was actually on the bypass around Tekoh.  Oh well, it was worth the backtrack!

Na Lu'Um restaurant

beautiful grounds of the restaurant and the hotel

my X'Catik soup and Papadzules (soup was fabulous)

Elaine's X'Tabentun prawns (she want to go back!)

After our wonderful lunch, we headed on to visit Mayapan, but in trying to manage the length of these blogs, that'll have to wait 'til next time!

Watch this space for the next blog on Mayapan!

Love to all,

-doug and elaine
-mom and dad
-nana and papa