Ruins and Cenotes, Yucatan, Mexico

We took a day to be real tourists and drove about 90 miles from Merida to visit the famous Chichen Itza Mayan ruins. We had a personal guide who spent two hours explaining the culture, history and purpose of each building. Here are some of the highlights

Over 1,533 years ago the Mayan pyramids 0f Chichen Itza were constructed. In the Mayan language Chi = mouth, chen = well and Itza was the name of the tribe inhabiting the city. In 2007 Chichen Itaz was named one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Today, only 35% of the site has been excavated with on-going archaeological digs.

As the Mayans did not have horses or oxen, every stone was carved, carried to the site and put in place by hand. This is the Kukulkan pyramid used for ritual sacrifice and official proclamations by the Mayan rulers.

During the summer solstice and the autumn equinox the sun shines through the door at the top of the pyramid displaying the shadow of a serpent down the steps.

On Sundays, athletes played a game on the ball field. The players were only allowed to touch a rubber ball, the size of a softball, with their feet, legs and hips aiming it through a hoop to score point.

No mean feat when you consider the hoop is about 20 feet off the ground!

From box seats high above the ball field, the Mayan ruler and his family would watch the game, as well as the sacrifice of the captain of the winning team. His sacrifice was considered a great honor.

The Group of a Thousand Columns was the central market place of the city.

The Observatory was used by Mayan astronomers to create the 365 day Mayan calendar.



The purpose of this building was never established and for lack of a better name, the conquering Spaniards called it "The School".

There are no lakes or rivers in the Yucatan. However, there is a huge aquifer under limestone. Local lore suggests that the many cenotes (sink holes) throughout the region were created by meteors hitting the earth during the time of the extinction of the dinosaurs.

The water in this cenote is over 40 feet from the opening above.
Great for swimming after a hot day at the ruins.

" Look Mom.....no hands!"

We're headed to the beach.......join us soon for swimming, snorkling and sand.

Ben & Lindy

Merida, Mexico

Merida, capital of the Yucatan, is our new home for the next month. The Yucatan has a different "flavor" than the rest of the Mexico, influenced by Mayan culture and the conquering Spaniards. Merida, founded in 1542 by the Spaniard Francisco de Montejo,

today is a cosmopolitan city of over a million residents.

The Palacio de Gobierno (the Governor's Palace) built in 1892, all decked out for Mexican Independence Day on 16 de septiembre.

Merida has several plazas where live, free entertainment is offered practically every night of the week. On Saturday evenings in the Plaza Grande, traditional dancers in Yucatan dress perform the jarana, which means "noise and loud fun of the common people"

The Anthropology and History Museum built in 1909 and once the residence of Governors of the Yucatan, is a magnificent example of Colonial architecture.


Shopping in Merida can be quite of trial. We decided that a good marketing slogan might be
"If you can find it, we'll sell it to you!"

Although we needed new flip flops, we just didn't have the energy
to sort through this pile for a matching pair!


Grocery shopping however, can be an orderly endeavor. As long as Ben is armed with a cup of coffee, he is game for anything!

Across the street from our house is "Tendejon David." Here we can find soda, bottled water, aspirin and chips - the essentials of life!


We ate at a gourmet restaurant overlooking the Monumento a La Patria. This sculpture represents the history of Mexico and is rich with Mayan symbolism. It was carved out of quarry block and took the sculptor Romulo Rozo, twelve years to complete.

The neighborhood eatery on the other hand, has a view of our street complete with laundry.

On a typical Mexican street, you never know what's behind a door. Although we must confess, we were somewhat relieved when our rental agent unlocked the door to the red casa!

Inside, the entire home has been renovated while keeping the integrity of the classic Colonial architecture. The tiled floors are all original and the 20 foot high beamed ceilings help keep the room cool.

Thankfully, the kitchen has been modernized!

The courtyard is a wonderful haven and the pool an added bonus with daily temperatures in the upper 90's.

Here we are pictured on the Paseo de Montejo, considered the "Champs Elysees" of Merida, an elegant tree-lined boulevard.

The Yucatan is famous for its Mayan ruins, beaches, colonial cities, caves and cenotes and we have gone, seen and conquered several...stay tuned.