Edzna Archaeological Site

Now that we are in the area of Mayan culture, we took the opportunity to get out to one of the many archaeological sites.  Probably not the best place to be in 100 degree weather but we have to get used to it and it is going to get hotter, not cooler - if we want to do anything fun then we need to adapt to the heat ;)

This is mostly a pictorial blog today because the pictures tell the story (besides, I deserve some time off don't I?) - except to say that I have now fulfilled another bucket list dream.

Leaving town to head out to Edzna was an adventure in itself - these are two way traffic roads, not one way streets, but somehow we all get where we need to go.

You never know when you are going to find another church not what it is going to be like.

Enjoy the Mayan Archaeological site with us:  Actually since you won't have the mosquitoes, the heat and the humidity (sweat was pouring off us all the time we were there), I hope that you really enjoy this ;)

There were iguanas everywhere, it was like a little Jurassic park with all these tiny dinosaurs running all over the place - Iguanas are common all over Mexico but we have been more used to the bright green iguanas that mostly live in trees however these little gray and brown fellows dig tunnels in the ground

Notice how the rooms were built with smooth stone blocks on the inside and then covered on the outside with stones which often formed domes over those rooms.

I even found a snake - Ian, what is this?

But I digress ..

The 15 rooms on top of the North Palace seen above (looking like a set of bleachers) are believed to have housed administrative offices etc.

The city covered 25 square kilometers and once housed about 25,000 people.

Domed roof

Rooms in the Gran Acropolis

Gran Acropolis or Sun Point, a pyramid on top of a much larger pyramid substructure. 

Close up of the amazing bricks and one of the arches built into the Gran Acropolis.

The Temple of the Masks was uncovered in 1988 and has two small masks that have somehow stood the test of time.  Since they are made of stucco, not plaster, their preservation is quite miraculous because stucco is a very delicate and fragile material. One mask represents and honors the Sunrise God and the other the Sunset God.

Need a hand up the steps?

While driving back to town, we thought about how we need to continue to look after the Prius - it has faithfully carried us so far already and we don't want the poor old lady to end up becoming a Mexican car, she deserves so much more.