Explore More – Chichen Itza

Many people confuse a traveller with an explorer.

I respect both as believe that everyone is different, however for me when I travel to a new location I just can’t help but explore.

One such place that springs to mind is Mexico, I know a LOT of people who have visited the commercial centres of Cancun and Playa del Carmen and never crossed over to the likes of nearby Cozumel, Tulum, Isla Mujeres or even the famous Chichen Itza.

In all honesty we were only in Mexico for a few days, but we made the most of it with trips to both Tulum and Chichen Itza. To me I can’t help but explore every single location – I think it’s in my nature…

I had always wanted to visit Chichen Itza as has a fascination with Mayan and Aztec history from my school days. There is a certain wonder and beauty about ancient relics from civilisations that we don’t fully understand.

I wasn’t aware how huge the site is, when you research you usually just see images of the completed temple, not the incomplete ruins or the archaeological discoveries below ground. It’s truly another world – a fascinating city lost to the ages.

Our visit was masked by tropical downpours which only added to the fun, especially with no umbrella in site. The edges of the city are most unexplored by travelers and a lot are still covered in foliage, there is even a number of cenotes (huge water holes) littering the countryside.

If you are lucky enough to have a tour guide or local showing you around the stories they share are also fascinating. The horrid truth that the human sacrifices occurred where we were standing literally. The fact that concrete rings still visible on many of the structures were used in a game similar to basketball was inspiring until we learnt that sometimes it was played with human skulls! Horrific! Wandering around these cultural ruins was simply a pleasure not to be missed.

This city is full of myth, stories and wonder – truly a Wandering Memory.

The lost cities of Central America are simply inspiring – read my previous post on Guatemala’s Tikal and take my advice… find time in your trip to Mexico to visit this wonder of the ancient world.

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