Chitzen Itsa

[Mest Lover]

Fascinating. I have always been interested in the Mayan zigarats.

We climbed Chitzen Itsa. Amazing that anyone could both design this, and build it.
Recently saw a documentary about clapping and hearing an echo of a bird.

Add knowledge, facts, info I can never get enough of this structure.


The layout of the site.

from afar.

on my way to climb it.

My wife and I at the top with the Mayan observatory in the back.

Looking down the stairs from the top. I had to lie down to get this shot, it was too scary to stand near that.

[Judee]

Incredible photos ML, thank you so much for sharing them! What an amazing experience it must have been to be there, and to climb that magnificent structure!! Your wife and you were pretty brave. I'm not sure I could have done that!

[Mest Lover]

Incredible photos ML, thank you so much for sharing them! What an amazing experience it must have been to be there, and to climb that magnificent structure!! Your wife and you were pretty brave. I'm not sure I could have done that!

Sorry about the quality, Pre-digital tech, I had to scan them from our photo album.

It was amazing, my wife said she wouldn't climb it, but when I started videoing from the top I was doing a 360 and there she was to suprise me.
We had a great tour and explanation of all the structures there. Way worth the $ to go there. Also visited an amazing sink hole near the site.

[maryals]

Awesome....thank you so much for sharing

Mary and Baby

[Alpha]

More than totally awesome ML.

It is one of my dreams to actually have the physical experience that your and your wife did.

The photos you posted make the longing even greater.

What did it feel like, other than hard climbing work?...did you feel anything "different"?

If you can locate that doc that you are referring to in your initial post, I and I'm sure others would love to see it.

Please post it, if you can locate it.

Thanks so much for sharing with us!!

[Mest Lover]

More than totally awesome ML.

It is one of my dreams to actually have the physical experience that your and your wife did.

The photos you posted make the longing even greater.

What did it feel like, other than hard climbing work?...did you feel anything "different"?

If you can locate that doc that you are referring to in your initial post, I and I'm sure others would love to see it.

Please post it, if you can locate it.

Thanks so much for sharing with us!!

here is a youtube of the sound it makes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFXKsJUBklE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvJGRpaqaV0&NR=1


here is what I saw, it was on the History channel:

http://www.history.com/topics/maya-p...f-chichen-itza

here is a good video:
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/...a-temples.html

[Krepta3000]

Cool, thanks Mest Lover. Too bad I can't possibly climb up anything like that. No hiking possible. And traveling always makes me so very sick. But I do like to see pictures and stuff.

[Dera]

A friend and I went to Cancun back in the 80's when it was still a relatively new resort and they were still learning how to be a resort. We went in October without realizing that it would be so very hot and humid! Whew. We arrived after dark and believe it or not, our hotel did not have an elevator! We took a lot of luggage with 'way too many clothes that we didn't wear. We wished we had just packed shorts, T-shirts, sundresses, and bathing suits and mostly FOOD! We couldn't really find any snacks anywhere and the meals were just so-so.

When we woke up on the first morning we could not believe the deep aqua blue of the water and the snow white sand, plus there were iguanas all over the grounds. What a fabulous view we had--so gorgeous we couldn't believe our eyes.

We spent most of our time on the beach, but did some sightseeing. We took a tour bus to Chichén Itzá. It was a little scary for me as the driver went flying through the jungle on a narrow two-lane highway with buses screaming the other way seemingly inches from us. We saw everything in the wonderful pictures that Mest Lover provided above, and my friend, more sprightly than I, climbed up the pyramid while I sat in the shade. I knew I couldn't make it in the awful heat and humidity of the jungle! She came down slowly on her tush. She said it was just too steep to stand up and walk down.

Our guide never mentioned the clapping and chirping! I'm disappointed about that. Everything was very green with green grass thick everywhere. We did hear about how the "snakes" looked during the equinoxes. They didn't have Diet Coke (says this city gal) and their Coke was yucky sweet like pancake syrup. We ordered Screw Driver drinks from the bar in our hotel and they made them with some kind of orange soda pop!

On our bus trip through the jungle we got to see many native huts and to see how the people live there. Very interesting.

We went to downtown Cancun on the bus with the local citizens. My friend could speak a little Spanish. The ride cost us five centavos! We shopped at an outdoor bazaar kind of place and ate at a downtown restaurant which was good (except they didn't seem to mind flies). I bought a terrific leather hobo-style handbag and a big bottle of Kahlua. She bought one of their beautifully embroidered blouses.

It was my idea to go there to see the ancient ruins, etc. I'd like to go again (when it is cool--if ever) with a better guide altho' I think we did manage to see just about everything including the grizzly ball court.

Do go if you ever have the opportunity. It is a wonderful trip. Try to go in the dead of their winter, however, and make sure your hotel has an elevator and good AC!

[Judee]

Dera, your story made me feel like I was right there. You were so fortunate to have been there, and to have experienced what you did. I've never been there, so I envy you.

[DarkoMarco]

ML,,,,,,,,,,,great story and thanks for the pics. :

[Mest Lover]

We went in March of 1999.
Beautiful 80 degree weather every day.
Our hotel, Club Las Velas, had all inclusive benefits, all you can eat and drink free of charge.
We hardly went off the grounds, we didn't need much else. We swam with dolphins at Isla Mujeres and went to Chitzen Itsa.

All this was provided by Apple Tours through our travel agent.

It was totally beautiful, exotic and restful and wicked cheap.

[Mest Lover]

Here is the video I edited of the climb up, I have other stuff to edit from the area also.

[Project]

Here is the video I edited of the climb up, I have other stuff to edit from the area also.

great job friend! It is like being there...