2012 is not the end, start the party!
We’re back in Vancouver, Canada, although living in a downtown hotel until January 1, when we will be moving into a new apartment. So in a way, we feel we’re still “on the road” for week 52, making it legitimately a full year away from home.
Just before returning to Canada, we toured a number of ancient Mayan cities in the Yucatan Penninsula, from small and quiet Kabah to hyper-active Chichen Itza, which we visted on the day the Mayan Long Count calendar came to an end, December 21. We posted a day-by-day report under the tab labelled “dispatches from the end of time” (above this post).
Here now are the photos from that tour — sorry they aren’t formatted as a gallery– WordPress changed how users must upload and insert photos, but without new instructions so we’ve done our best — enjoy!
Tulum – noble’s house
Tulum – temple of the wind
Tulum – noble’s house
Tulum – temple of the paintings
Tulum – pre-Columbian lighthouse
Deborah with our wonderful guide, Ricardo
Tulum – iguanas everywhere!
Coba – riding a “tricycle” across the site, powered by Israel
Coba – Nohoch Mul
Coba – view from top of Nohoch Mul
Coba – Nohoch Mul (42m pyramid)
Coba – Xaibe Palace
Coba – ball court
Coba – ball court hoop
Valladolid market
Sign showing Ek’Balam glyph (like a city crest)
Ek’Balam – oval palace
Ek’Balam – stone carving
Ek’Balam
Ek’Balam
Ek’Balam – glyphs at acropolis
Ek’Balam – tomb of The River King
Ek’Balam – tomb of The River King
Ek’Balam – tomb of The River King
Ek’Balam – our crew
Ek’Balam – tomb of The River King
Ek’Balam – view from top of the acropolis
Ek’Balam – arch at entrance to the city
Old sisal factory near Merida
Old entrance to hacienda near sisal factory
Uxmal – pyramid of the magician
Uxmal – pyramid of the magician
Uxmal – representation of Mayan rain god Chaac
Uxmal – representation of Mayan rain god Chaac
Uxmal – entrance near top of pyramid
Uxmal – stone macaw
Uxmal – more Chaac masks
Uxmal – view of nun’s quadrangle
Uxmal – snake/serpent carvings above door
Uxmal – stone carving
Uxmal – nun’s quadrangle building
Uxmal – macaw
Uxmal – house of the turtles
Uxmal – ball court
Uxmal – double-headed jaguar throne
Uxmal – governor’s palace
Uxmal – view from the governor’s palace
Kabah – Kodz-Poop structure
Kabah – Kodz-Poop features 250 Chaac masks
Kabah – blocks from Kodz-Poop structure
Kabah – Kodz-Poop structure
Kabah — rebuilt entrance arch
Visit to Mayan home – extracting fibre from sisal plant
Visit to Mayan home – tortilla making
Ricardo translates description of Mayan ritual
Our tour group at Mayan home
Sunset on the last night of 13 b’aktun
Chichen Itza – first view of El Castillo (The Castle)
Chichen Itza – platform of the eagles and jaguars
Chichen Itza – venders along the pathways
Chichen Itza – Tzompantli (wall of skulls)
Chichen Itza – El Caracol (observatory)
Chichen Itza – ancient steambath
Chichen Itza – the “church” building
Chichen Itza – east annex of the “nunnery”
Chichen Itza – the ossuary, tomb of the great priest
Chichen Itza – platform of venus
Chichen Itza – Tzompantli (wall of skulls)
Chichen Itza – platform of venus
Chichen Itza – platform of venus
Chichen Itza – platform of venus
Chichen Itza – morning sun over El Castillo
Chichen Itza – famous Mayan shaman being interviewed
Chichen Itza – temple of the warriors
Chichen Itza – serpent heads at foot of El Castillo
Chichen Itza – with the crowd on December 21
Ik-Kil cenote near Chichen Itza was open for swimming
New Mayan museum in Merida
Stone figure at new museum
Ring from Pok Ta Pok ball court
Inside the new Mayan museum in Merida
Reproduction of the Dresden Codex at the new Mayan museum
Last stop: Dzibilchaltun
Dzibilchaltun – Deborah climbing structure 44
Dzibilchaltun – top of structure 44
Dzibilchaltun – view down ancient road to the observatory
Dzibilchaltun – the seven figures found in the observatory
