Uxmal

Uxmal, where iguanas now rule what was once (yet another) hugely important city, and yes, also Unesco World Heritage listed. This place was allied with Chichén Itzá for a period of its history, to the extent that roads were built connecting both buildings at the site, as well as with Chichén Itzá. It was another large place with many buildings, dominated by a pyramid now known as the Dwarf's Pyramid, or Magician Pyramid/House. Why? Because a well-loved and long-ruling king happened to be both a dwarf (they even had to re-build the steps so they were small enough for him to climb - the first attempt made them too far-spaced apart), as well as a talented herbalist and astrologer, hence people believed he had magical powers. 

Magician's temple

Abdul at the Nunnery Quadrangle. Can't recall why it was given this name (the contemporary name since nobody knows the name it was called back in the day). However I do recall that facing inwards are four buildings, representing North (royalty), East (priests), South (the community), and West (warriors/soldiers). Each building is decorated and was used accordingly.

Pretty little yellow bird I saw and couldn't resist snapping

A later ruler (from another Mayan tribe) took over Uxmal and because he wasn't so popular, he constructed this newer building on top of a hill so that he had a safe vantage point from which to make sure he was not going to be attacked by the people he had just overthrown

Kabah (in Mexico, not Mecca)

Interesting that this place (almost) shares its name with the most important pilgrimage site for Muslims, it was perhaps fitting that it was the last Mexican ruin we visited before we moved onto Cuba. In total we visited six ancient sites in Mexico, with each of them being unique and equally beautiful so its very difficult to pick our favourite, though this might just be mine. It was quite a bit smaller than the others, and I think I liked it so much because of the "Palace of the Masks", which is also known as the Codz Poop, meaning "rolled/woven matting". This façade is decorated with hundreds of stone masks of the long-nosed rain-god Chaac, giving it the appearance of woven fabric.  Repetition of a design in this way is apparently quite rare in Mayan art. The site also has surviving examples some rare Mayan hieroglyphics, so while it's small (and seemingly in receipt of less restoration funding - there were lots of signs around noting plans for future excavation/restoration, and plenty of piles of ancient rubble!), it's quite special.

The Palace of the Masks with its intricate stonework, repetitively using an image of the rain-god Chaac

Examples of the rare Mayan hieroglyphics

Chichén Itzá

After leaving Campeche we headed for Merida, and took a couple of days to acquaint ourselves with three spectacular Mayan ruins close(ish)by, namely Chichén Itzá, Uxmal and Kabah. 

Chichén Itzá was the biggest site we visited. Just enormous (including the queues to buy an entrance ticket)!!! Listed as one of the seven wonders of the world by Unesco, has a celestial observatory and dozens of temples, buildings, remains of houses, as well as the largest ball game court in Mesoamerica. It's worth googling to understand more of its history - too much to share here! 

Largest court in Mesoamerica for the infamous ball game

This is incredible... If you can't already guess from its shape, its a celestial observatory. Just like the ancient Egyptians, Mayans were brilliant with predicting celestial movements and constructing buildings in line with various moons, stars and planets. 

Not sure of the year (early 1900s I think), but this hole was created with a dynamite blast by a French archeologist... Who wanted to prove what was inside the pyramid. Nice work.

Sacrificial altar (as if you can´t tell by the carved skulls), dominated these days by iguanas who find it a fabulous spot to bask in the sun

Oaxacan Cultural Museum

Day three in Oaxaca and we visited the Oaxacan Cultural Centre to learn more about the region and see more relics excavated from Monte Alban. Unfortunately everything was in Spanish but it was still  amazing! The building itself is incredible - it's the monastery next to the Santo Domingo Cathedral. 

Inside the monastery

Ceramic sculpture and vase from Monte Alban 

Ceramic sculpture from Monte Alban 

Ceramics from Monte Alban 

Monte Alban ceramics

And more Monte Alban ceramics

Painted Monte Alban ceramics

More painted Monte Alban ceramics

The library