On our second day in Mexico we went on an organised tour to some Mayan temples. This was a very interesting and informative day which we really enjoyed. It started with a really long bus trip but while we were on it the guide gave us some interesting information about what we would see during the day and about the local area.
We visited two different sites during the day, both had very good examples of Mayan temples and at these sites we could still climb up the steps on the temples to see the landscape around us. We did have the opportunity to visit Chichen Itza on the first day of this trip but the journey to it was even longer, and once there you can only look at it and not go on it.
The sites were not only temples but examples of buildings and settlements from that time. So in some areas you could stand and it didn't matter which direction you looked in there would be buildings of some type. One area was actually a game court where the winner of the game won the prize of being the human sacrifice, which was considered an honour.
Our guide would tell us about a certain site, what the buildings were etc and then leave us to explore and take photos. Then when he wanted us to gather together he made a very strange noise, which he said was the call of a howler monkey!
I love seeing the way that nature tries to claim back its land, we have seen so many trees growing on temples around the world.
During the tour the guide also told us about some of the trees growing around. This is black peppercorn in my hand which had come from a tree close by.
This is the peppercorn tree.
Wherever there are steps we seem to climb them, we must have the strongest thighs going now!
The steps are built steeper than what we are used to so it is hard going and coming down is really tricky. David likes running down, he says it's easier but it puts the fear of God into me, as they say.
The guide told us that the steps are built steeper, and remember the Mayans were generally shorter than us , which made it harder for them, for a reason. This is so when you walk up you naturally make a bowing movement and when you come down you have to come down sideways to help balance yourselves, so you are not turning your back on the gods. This means you are showing respect while ascending and descending. They obviously didn't think of David and his mountain goat routine.
One of the temples we went to had these amazing figureheads still on them. They were originally covered in gems like jade but these had been stolen long ago. They were impressive just in stone so must have been incredible covered in jewels.
As you can see there are steps everywhere and we went up them all. No health and safety regulations here!
This tree has cuts in the bark sloping diagonally up it. Gum is collected from this tree which eventually becomes chewing gum. So this is the chewing gum tree.
This is a close up of some steps that led up one of the temples. These steps used to have intricate carvings of prisoners on each step which you may just faintly see, we were shown photos of what it looked like. However, a company was brought in to clean the steps and used a substance that was too strong and it actually eroded the carvings. Oops!
The temple below was our final step challenge for the day.
These golden coloured trees were dotted around the forest, they have bark which peels off which you are supposed to put on sore bits of your body or cuts and it would heal them. There was also a tree which the guide took the leaves off and crushed in his hand. It was called the all spice tree and the crushed leaves did have a lovely smell. Apparently, people used to rub the leaves on their bodies to make them smell nice.
Now, you probably won't see it so will just have to trust me! In the photo below there is a group of spider monkeys making their ways through the trees. We saw them as we headed back to the bus, I do also have a video of them which is more impressive than the photo, I must admit.
Maybe the guide should work on his howler monkey noises,as we didn't see any of them!
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