Do you miss the surprises of traveling, matching wits against a novel situation? I do. In 2005, we learned a lot on our trip to the Yucatan Peninsula. In Mérida, I was researching articles for a translation. I’ll save that story for another Thursday. When my work was complete, we bought bus tickets for the Sunday Ruta Puuc bus tour from Mérida. (Ruta Puuc means Hilly Route) This is an inexpensive, convenient way to see several Maya ruins in the Yucatan. The more recent fee per person is approximately $12 US for the bus trip (8 am to 4 pm) and $24 US in cash for the entrance fees.
On the bus, we felt like we were seeing the sights with the seasoned travelers. We met people from Spain, Germany, Australia and Mexico. The bus stopped for 30 minutes at several sites along the Ruta Puuc. Today I’ll cover Sayil and Kabáh. These sites were built by the Maya civilization 1000 to 1400 years ago. Here are a few highlights:
Sayil
Built around 800 BCE. It developed into a city of 10,000 people around the year 900 and was abandoned around the year 1000. Sayil is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
I think people were a bit shorter a millennia ago. I am around 5’8″ (172 cm).
Life in technicolor, or the vintage look?
On the second floor of the palace above where I’m standing as scale figure, you can see the Maya rain god Chaac who has a very large nose. A close up of him is on the header and footer of this post. To either side of him right and left are stylized corn plants sprouting (fertility). To the right of the face and corn are another series of small columns.
Kabáh
Built from 600 to 1000 BCE. Kabáh is now a Yucatán State Park. Below you will see sculptures waiting to be restored and placed on the façade of the building that Evan and I are standing in below. Each piece of stone fits above or below the circles that represent the eyes of Chaac. Good rain and good harvest were very important to the Maya. In their mythology, humans were made of corn.
What’s your favorite form of transportation when you travel?
Gracias for reading Fake Flamenco! I appreciate your comments and poetry challenge entries. ¡Olé! –Rebecca
Fake Flamenco 
30 minutes at several sites? Yuck, I’d have to find a way back to spend hours at a place like that!
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Now that the sites are more reconstructed, it might seem short. When we went it felt like a good introduction. There are guided tours that take a slower pace.
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It looks like people were shorter then.
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Yes, it’s startling to find architectural evidence of that!
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This architectural beauty resembles some in India and SriLankha… Beautiful…
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Thanks for your comment! Hope I have the good fortune to see the buildings in Sri Lanka and India. Interesting comparison.
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U will.. Once this pandemic is over…
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We hope to travel then. Even the Western US would seem exotic after this time at home.
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Haaa true😀… Like everything else this time too shall pass…
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I look forward to it. 🙂
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This brings back memories of our trip to the Yucatan in 1990. Fabulous ruins! We never returned, but now live in Mexico.
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Thanks, Kathleen! I just looked at your site and everything looks so tasty, especially the aguas. I’m now following your blog. 🙂
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Gracias a ti, Rebecca. I will enjoy your photos and explorations into new territory.
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And I your recipes. What city do you live in?
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Rebecca, we live near Mascota, Jalisco, between Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. We love it in the mountains. Wonderful climate, wonderful food, and best of all, wonderful people!
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The mountains must be beautiful! Cute name for a town, Mascota. I wonder if its origin has to do with pets or pumpkins? (Cucurbita moschata ) How high up is your elevation?
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