Cancun Day 4

Day 4 was Monday and it started really early. Martin picked us up around 7 and drove us 2 hours to Chichun Itza, the ruins of a great Mayan civilization. Martin arranged for us to have a tour in English by one of his favorite tour guides, Fernando. Chichun Itza was incredible!
Since we got there early it wasn't too hot and it wasn't too crowded. By the time we left the place was completely packed. Fernando was actually of Mayan decent and spoke their language. He was very knowledgeable about all the archeology facts and even thing that aren't even in the history books. He had all sorts of additional pictures for us to see of skeletal remains and artifacts that were found at Chichun Itza. This picture is a picture of Choc Mool and our tour guide, Fernando. This may be really gross, so if you get squeamish, don't read on. The Mayan people did human sacrifice and when they did, they would lay them on an alter and break their back. By breaking their back it would paralyze them, a so called form of anesthesia I guess. Then while the person was still alive, they would cut out the persons heart and place it on a plate on Choc Mool and offer it to the gods. Gross, I know. Back in high school my Spanish teacher had a little Choc Mool statue that she used to pass out treats on his special plate. Very funny, Senora Lyons!
This is a picture of a warrior with another man's head in his hand. It's after a game of Pok ta Pok, their ancient game of war. They have a huge arena that warriors would play with a 7 pound ball made from the sap of a rubber type tree. Then they'd try to heave it through a small hole up on a wall by only using their feet, elbows, chest, etc. Once someone makes a goal then someone is beheaded. They're not sure if it's the winning or losing captain, but one of them dies.

Well, after we got through the Pok ta Pok arena we were 3/4 of the way done and that is when the jungle rains came through. We were completely soaked and decided to finish up the tour in the rain since we were already wet. There is nothing I hate more than squishy wet tennis shoes and that's what I had the rest of the day. Unfortunately my camera got wet even though it was buried in my bag and it wasn't working for 2 days so I don't have any pictures for the next few days.

After Chichun Itza, Martin took us to a town that was founded by the Spanish Conquistadors. It looks like a typical Spanish Colonial town. We ate at an awesome Mexican restaurant there, oh my goodness! If only people could make meat like that in the states! I so wish I could have had a little cooking lesson.

We got home from our adventures around 5 in the evening and I totally wanted a nice warm shower and some clean clothes and a small nap. I ended up having to wake Ryan up at 7 so he could sleep through the night so we tried a new restaurant at the resort and called it a night.