eIrOcA

Merida - Chichen Itza - Cancun (Saturday 08/09/07)

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2019-01-19T16:07:07+0000

Merida - Chichen Itza - Cancun (Saturday 08/09/07)

Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza - “The enter of sorcerers wells” in the Mayan language.
Born in the classical epoch, Chichen Itza shows, however, due to different architectural styles, two distinct periods of Mayan history. The monumental pyramid “El Castillo” (also called the Pyramid of Kukulcan) of Toltec and Mayan influence, testify the rich cosmological symbolism: the four sides to a total 365 steps (the days of the calendar), 52 panels (the years of the century Maya ) and 18 terraces (the months of the religious calendar).
Thousands of visitors are interested to the Castillo in spring and autumn equinoxes, in these days, the sun lights up the pyramid creating a shadow shaped like a snake, which goes down the stairs to meet the head of a snake engraved at the base.
Close to Castillo sits the Tzompantli, a platform marked by stone carvings of human skulls. Close to the Tzompantli is the Templo de lo Jaguares. Nearby is the wonderful game of pelota.
From here a path leads to the cenote where human sacrifices took place. This holy well, represents for the Maya the most important place of worship throughout the territory. The name of Mayan origin was undoubtedly: “Uuc-jab-nal”.
Returning to the Castillo, we arrive at the Templo de los Gurreros (Temple of the Warriors). The figure, on top of the temple, holding a plate on which the human hearts were offered to the gods and to Mila Columns (the Thousand Columns).
Following the thousand columns we reach the market and continuing we arrive to steam baths.
Returning to Castillo and going south we reach the Caracol (Observatory), which dominates the area. From its dome priests observed the motion of the stars and made their rituals.
Not far away, the monastery with many rooms, built in the ancient Maya royal palace adjacent to the Iglesia.

Chichen Itza - The Pyramid

Tzompantli

Templo de lo Jaguares

Game of pelota

cenote

Templo de los Gurreros

Mila Columnas

Market

Steam bath

Caracol (Observatory)

Convent

Iglesia

Cenotes

The Yucatan Peninsula is one of the last parts of the continent to be emerged from the ocean. It's a great platform limestone where water seeps into the cracks to form underground streams, caves and wells (cenotes). In this way on the surface there is no water, no rivers, due also to to lack of hills.
During the pre-Hispanic times, these wells have been crucial for the installation of the populations (for example at Chichen Itza, the sacred cenote was used also for rituals).
The IK-KIL Cenote is very similar to those of Chichen ltza. It was fixed so we can go to the water for bathing. The depth is 46 meters and is certainly the most profound in Yucatan.

Valladolid

Valladolid

This small city is the second most important Yucatan. Founded in 1543 by Francisco de Montejo “el Mozo” (to distinguish him from his father “el Adelantado”) takes its name from its namesake in Spain. In Valladolid, you will see two buildings of the colonial era: the church of San Gervasio (seventeenth of the century) and the convent of San Bernardino (sixteenth century).
We recommend just two steps walk to the zocalo and to climb the first floor of City Hall to see the murals.

Valladolid - Murales

The adventure is coming to an end, this was the night before we expect the plane to Cancun for the fraudu home. So take a break under the trees that cool the Zocalo of Valladolid.

eIrOcA

Cancun

Great resort developed in 1967, when the Mexican government chose this narrow strip of sand between the sea and the lagoon as a favorite place to develop the tourist potential.
Cancun and the Riviera Maya has everything to seduce. It's hard to imagine a site with more rich in natural, historical and tourist attractions. For lovers of sun drenched beaches 20km of turquoise water of the Caribbean Sea and for lovers of history a vast region steeped in Mayan influence.
There are two great roads in Cancun: Tulum road, the main north-south km long gravity around which the city center and the boulevard Kukulkan that runs through the lagoon where is the hotel zone.

Greetings to all!

⇐ Day 14: Campeche - Uxmal - Merida

⇒ Faces of Mexico

Travels, Mexico, Chichen Itza, Cenotes, Valladolid, Cancun

San Cristobal and its surroundings (Monday 03/09/07)

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2019-01-19T16:07:07+0000

San Cristobal and its surroundings (Monday 03/09/07)

San Cristobal de Las Casas

This was the town that the more we liked.
Fully carpeted colors of the flag of Mexico (green, white and red … very familiar). Full of life and of wonderful shops and amber jewelry made with the Jada, which is mined here in Chiapas.

San Cristobal

Everything revolves around at the Plaza de 31 March, in which there are the Cathedral, built in 1528, demolished in the seventeenth century and rebuilt in 1696 and the Neoclassical Palacio Municipal.

San Cristobal - Cathedral

Palacio Municipal

Unbelievable but true, we were finally able to drink a cappuccino worthy of the name, but only because we have found the “Coffee, Coffee Museum”.

⇐ Day 9: Tuxtla - San Cristobal De Las Casas

⇒ Day 11: San Cristobal - Palenque

Travels, Mexico, San Cristobal

Puebla - Oaxaca (Thursday 30/08/07)

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2019-01-19T16:07:07+0000

Puebla - Oaxaca (Thursday 30/08/07)

Oaxaca

Capital of the state, Oaxaca retains an air of provincial despite having about 600,000 inhabitants. The natives of this region are descendants of pre-Hispanic groups Zapolechi and Mixtec, who were the source of one of the most important pre-Columbian civilizations. The craftsmanship of this region, which is a true cultural mosaic, is exceptional: the black porcelain, carpets in wools and jewelry to name a few, have given many villages an international reputation. The zocalo is its glittering mirrors: spectular square, with flower beds and flowering trees, busy until late at night, beneath its porches (portales), cafes and restaurants.

Oaxaca

In the sides there are the most important palaces. To the south, the Palcio del Gobierno, dating to the early twentieth century, with a mural by Arturo Garcia Bustos on the steps that illustrate the history of the city. To the north, the Cathedral, built from 1553 and ended in the seventeenth century, with elegant baroque decorations on the main facade which fronts the Alameda. Northbound run the most characteristic Oaxaca streets, all perpendicular to each other, with the most significant churches and palaces, fully restored.

Cathedral of Oaxaca

Oaxaca

By day the whole city gravitates around the large Central de Abastos, the market for supplies. Mysterious herbs, love potions, sarapes, colorful ponchos, embroidered costumes and chapulines, crickets fried and crunchy.

Central de Abastos

⇐ Day 5: Mexico City - Puebla

⇒ Day 7: Oaxaca - Monte Alban - Mitla

Travels, Mexico, Oaxaca, Central de Abastos

Mexico City - Puebla (Wednesday 29/08/07)

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2019-01-19T16:07:07+0000

Mexico City - Puebla (Wednesday 29/08/07)

After the largest urban area in the world, we wnet to the magnificent colonial cities, several pre-Hispanic sites (Aztec, Zapotec, Mixtec Maya), the stunning scenery and indigenous regions still preserving their traditions.

Cholula

Located 10km west of Puebla, this small farming village is mainly specialized in the cultivation of flowers.
Cholula is one of the largest pre-Columbian ceremonial centers and enjoys of a terrible reputation: it seems that when the Spaniards arrived there, its walls were covered with the blood of sacrificial victims. The conquistadors, terrified, completely razed to the ground, killing all its inhabitants, and built in its place a new city with 365 churches, one for every saint in the calendar.
Remains the Great Pyramid of Tepanapa, taller than 120m, the highest in the Americas, in which the tunnels have been restored (8km) and the summit of which there is the basilica of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, which is accessed by strenuous steps.
From his yard the view is incredible and in clear day you can see the snow-capped Popocatepetl volcano.

Basilica of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios

Cholula

Popocatepetl volcano

Puebla

Capital of the state, it was founded in 1531 under the name “Ciudad de los angeles” in a very fertile valley. At 216 meters above sea level, it is surrounded by high mountains of which the best known and the “Cerro de la Malinche”. Towards the middle of the nineteenth century, Puebla was the scene of fighting between the Mexican armed forces and the United States agents who seized the city in 1847. On 5 May 1862, the General Laurence commander of French troops failed in his attempt to seize the city, having been defeated by General Ignacio Zaragoza (thanks to this victory 5 May has become the day of national holiday in Mexico).
Today this city has developed significantly, with its 3 million inhabitants, is square to the 4th place of the national ranks. Puebla is famous for its colorful colonial architecture through the use of multicolored glazed tiles, which are used in the majority of the domes of churches, as well as in wall coverings, roofs, bell towers. The decorations are inspired by the pagan myths as the artists was the direct descendants of the builders of temples and pyramids.
We must not forget the renowned gastronomy with the famous “Plobano mole” (sauce composed of many ingredients, among them the cocoa).
In Puebla there is the largest German community living in Mexico and it organize, in August, the festival of beer, which has nothing to envy to 'Oktober Fest' in Monaco of Bavaria.

Puebla

⇐ Day 4: Mexico City

⇒ Day 6: Puebla - Oaxaca

Travels, Mexico, Cholula, Puebla

Campeche - Uxmal - Merida (Friday 07/09/07)

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2019-01-19T16:07:07+0000

Campeche - Uxmal - Merida (Friday 07/09/07)

Uxmal ("Three times built" in Mayan language)

Uxmal is a site notable for the delicacy of its architecture and the end working of stone (do not forget that this civilization did not use metal to build) its peak is dated around the year 600 of our era.

Inside you can admire:

The Temple of fortune-teller, on which stands the Temple of Chenes whose entrance is the mouth of a huge animal.
The Quadrangle of the Nuns richly decorate.
The game of pelota.
The House of Turtles.
And the Government Palace.
The Great Pyramid where the view is superb. The name Maya is “Och Mal” (three buildings).

Temple of the fortune-teller

Temple of Chenes

Quadrangle of the Nuns

The game of pelota

The House of Turtles

Government House

Great Pyramid

Uxmal

Along the way we have always been accompanied by iguanas, Uxmal seems their reign.

Iguana

Merida

Founded in 1542 the area of the Mayan city of Tiho, by Francisco de Montejo, called the “ship's boy” is often also called the Ciudad Bianca, the white city.
After the glorious era at the beginning of the century with the production of “Sisal” agave, Merida knows the difficult times during the revolution of 1910. Today, Merida is back to being the main center of the region. It's a university town, agricultural, industrial and with the birth of Cancun 30 years ago, has found a new momentum to position itself among the most urbanized city in the country.
Do not forget to visit the zocalo, the murals on the first floor of the palace of the governor, the Hall of marriages (beautiful style Porfiriato “inspired by the French at the beginning of the century), the market (on the corner of routes 56 and 57), the Paseo Montejo and the Archaeological Museum (closed on Mondays). Check with your hotel on the cultural activities taking place on different squares of the city according to the day of the week. You can do after the Zocalo of carriage walks (beautiful at night).

⇐ Day 13: Palenque - Campeche

⇒ Day 15: Merida – Chichen Itza - Cancun

Travels, Mexico, Uxmal, Merida

Oaxaca - Tuxtla Gutierrez (Saturday 01/09/07)

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2019-01-19T16:07:07+0000

Oaxaca - Tuxtla Gutierrez (Saturday 01/09/07)

So far our journey has proceeded in mountain areas (Mexico City is located at 2240m above sea level), but this 550km shift has led us to the capital of Chiapas only 542m above sea level, the thermal shock was considerable and the humidity stifling when we crossed a vast wetland.

Tuxla Gutierrez

Toward Tuxla Gutierrez

State capital of Chiapas since 1892, busy and modern town that is 85km from San Cristobal de Las Casas. The name of Tuxtla, in the language of the Indians, means “where rabbits abound”.

For us this was only one stage of shift that has allowed us to better deal with the stage of the next day and quickly reach San Cristobal de Las Casas.

⇐ Day 7: Oaxaca - Monte Alban - Mitla

⇒ Day 9: Tuxtla - San Cristobal De Las Casas

Travels, Mexico, Tuxla Gutierrez

Mexico City (Saturday 25/08/07)

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2019-01-19T16:07:07+0000

Mexico City (Saturday 25/08/07)

Welcome to Mexico City, capital of the country, considered as the largest city in the world with its approximately 23 million inhabitants, all is well positioned at a high altitude, 2240m above sea level, this means that even in warmer periods in Mexico City the temperatures are very mild.

Città del Messico

Mexico City

During the pre-Hispanic times, this marsh city was the capital of the “Aztec” or “Mexican” empire.
Founded in 1321 with the name of “Tenochtitlan” by the priest “Tenoch”, Tenochtitlan in the indigenous Nahuatl language means “the city of Tenoch”. After the Spanish conquest, will retain its role of capital, to become today the largest urban concentration in the world. Mexico D.F. (Federal District) is the administrative, political, economic and social country; all is centralized in the capital, even if the government tries to create local agencies.
With its 23 million people in this enormous city knows the real problems of circulation, sanitation, insecurity and above all pollution. However Mexico City remains a beautiful city with an history immensely rich.

After 12 grueling hours of flight, we arrived at the airport, collected our luggage and took the car (unfortunately with automatic gear), then we settled into the hotel. To drive the car is better to know “something” for driving in Mexico (recommendations for driving).

⇐ Faces of Mexico

⇒ Day 2: Mexico City

Travels, Mexico, Mexico City

Djerba

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2019-01-19T16:07:07+0000

Some pictures from Tunisia…

Djerba

Djerba is the largest island in North Africa, located in the Gulf of Gabes off the coast of Tunisia. Djerba is a popular tourist destination, especially for French, Germans and Italians tourists. Its capital is the town of Houmt Souk, which has about 65,000 inhabitants. It is one of the few places in Tunisia where the Berber is still spoken (in the village of Guellala). The island is connected to the hinterland through a road that runs through an artificial land strip of Romanic period. In Djerba there is also a small Jewish community with a synagogue very ancient (600 BC).

El Kantara - Romanic dam

Guellala

Houmt Suok

Synagogue

Chennini

Chenini is a Berber troglodyte village in the district of Tataouine in southern Tunisia.

Chenini

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Chenini

Ksar

Ksar is a fortified village located in the Maghreb. The base element of the village is the Ghorfa (room in Arabic), which is a room used for storing food in anticipation of periods of drought.

Ksar Hedada

Medenine Ksar

The Ksar have something familiar? Perhaps because Hedada ksar were used as a set of Star Wars I.

Tataouine

Tataouine is a city in southern Tunisia, capital of the governorate of the same name.

Market

Panoramas

Desert

Red desert

Salt desert

Beach

Travels, Tunisia