Chichen Itza

Wow!! Even though there are so many different ruins here in Mexico, this one is very impressive. Maybe a little touristy and too well trodden, but very well restored and amazing all the same. It actually rained whilst we were there, but that didn't hinder the enjoyment and wonder about the place (although it did make climbing the 91 steps of the pyramid a bit slippery!!).

The main pyramid (El Castillo) is 25m high and reflects the Mayan calendar. Each of the nine levels is divided in 2 by a staircase making 18 separate terraces that commemorates the 18 20-day months of the Vague year. The 4 stairways (I only climbed up and down the north one, which was hard enough!!) have 91 steps, plus the top platform, makes 365 - the number of days in a year. During the spring and autumn equinoxes, light and shadow form a series of triangles on the side of the north staircase that mimic the creep of the serpent (snake). The serpent ascends in March and descends in September. This phenomenon happens because of the accurate design of the pyramid it's alignment with the sun. It demonstrates just how clever the macaw really were.
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Chichen Itza also has the biggest ball court of all the ruins in Mexico. The stone rings are still present high in the side walls and carvings can still be seen depicting how the game may have been played. It is thought that the two teams wore elbow and knee pads and hit a rubber 2 -3 kg ball down the court, but not using their hands. Hips, forearms and feet were used and the ball was only allowed to bounce once. The idea was to get the ball between the ring but apparently this rarely happened. The stone carvings depict beheadings after the game, which some say is the loser and some say is myth. Others say it was the winner that was beheaded and that it was a privilege to be offered to the gods!!


The other amazing thing at Chichen Itza is the huge sacred cenote (sink hole). It is 60m in diameter and 35m deep. Many skulls and burial pieces were found during excavation providing evidence that the Mayas (and maybe later the Toltecs) maybe practiced self sacrifice here. It is thought that people were cleansed in the steam bath at the top of the well, fed hallucinogenic mushrooms and threw themselves into the water, eventually dying. It is believed that the cenotes were an entrance to the underworld (life of the dead). Going to visit some more cenotes in a few days time and will explain how they were formed.
Of all the different ruins visited, each one has had something different to offer. Monte Alban was probably the most peaceful and it was amazing that the top of the mountain was flattened! Although Chichen Itza probably made me understand the most about the Mayan culture. I recommend that everyone comes and visits Mexico - it's such a great country to travel in!