From Mexico city we did a number of trips. One was to the ancient town of Tula where the temple has 6m high statues of warriors. They were originally designed to hold up the roof but now there is no roof! Miriam decided to conduct a basic ear examination, but got no response!
There were four of these amazing stutues and this picture give some idea of their size. Also at the site were ball courts and a massive palace complete with 40 or more pillars.
After moving on from Mexico city, we travel north to see El Tajin, another ruin. They conduct a ridiculous ritual (it’s a fancy maypole dance) outside the ruin each day. This involves 5 men which climb a 30m pole. 4 sit around the edge, while the 5th jumps up and down whilst playing a drum and whistle (with no ropes attached to him). After the tune, the remaining 4 fling themselves off the pole, attacted by ropes wound around the pole, and spiral round untill they reach the ground. Abit crazy if you ask me!
The ruin itself was a massive complex with many temples and buildings. The most impressive was the Temple of niches which had 365 niches for offerings. I counted them so it must be true. It was a Sunday so entry was free, this meant that lots of people including about 40 white clad, mat carrying yoga people came to ‘ommm’ at a highly spiritual place!
On our tour of ruins we stopped in a town called Oaxaca, which was a bustling market town with a beautiful square full of crap over-priced resturants, we paid 2 pounds each for a can of diet coke, more than in a pub in England!
Saw some great sites in the town, but one of my favourites was this graffitied beetle. I wish i had a car that i could let the kids at school do this to, as long as they would refrain from putting nasty things on it.
Another Ruin! Palenque is set in the jungle and as you can see it was very hot and humid (sweaty), but worth it. This is just one of the many temples set against the amazing background of the jungle.
In the museum it explained the way that the society lived. There were 3 classes nobility, middle class and peasants, artist were considered nobiltity of course. They didn’t have writting as such but used ‘glyphs’ to document things and artist were important enough to have there own symbol.
Our journey then took us in to Guatemala.
Hi, there is always Miriams car? OK 365 niches (you sad bugger) what hapens on a leap year? I bet you never thought you would get Mims to watch “pole dancing”!!!
By: GOG on July 14, 2008
at 9:44 am
Very nice!!
By: grisfaro on August 3, 2008
at 8:45 pm
Looks amazing!! You both look very well and CLaire and I are looking forward to hear some of your many stories. Sorry we havent been as prevenlent on your blog as s=we could have been, but we have been keeping one eye on you both from the good old Blighty.
The three men falling from the pole in Mexico is very interesting – The Incas had a ritual to manhood that was the first ever bungi jump and very similar to what you saw. They would have to make there lengths of rope from the ground estimating the distance scrable to the top, tie on and jump. Either death or manhood would await at the bottom ;0)
You have gone to some great places and off the well beaten tourist track, we hope you have had an amazing year are that are we are looking forward to your return
Matthew and Claire
By: Matthew on August 10, 2008
at 11:29 am