chichén itzá

another day. another incredible set of ancient ruins.

monday morning we took a two-hour bus from merida to chichén itzá.

there, i found an incredibly touristy spot (it's only a few hours from cancun and playa del carmen) that was yet again amazing and humid and hot to a point of irritation.

but the ruins and famous, large, pyramid were astounding. there was an incredibly well-preserved court for the juego de pelota that i remember learning about in school (notable in my memory for the execution or torture of the losing team).

the large pyramid was immense and imposing. it was such a sight to behold in that i had been seeing recreations of it for years, especially in the last few months. and there were so many small details of the pyramid that were incredibly interesting. there is an odd echo when anyone in the grassy area that surrounds the pyramid claps their hands. there is a strange squeak that is emitted from the top of the pyramid. really weird. and i loved the long serpents that were carved into the pyramid sides, with the head of the snake protruding from the base.

just an amazing place to see in person. yet again. i feel terrible that the last two weeks, and months in general, have left me jaded to seeing such historically-rich and beautiful places. i have been spoiled by what mexico has had to offer me. i'm sure it will hit me the second that i sit down on the plane monday morning to come home that i am no longer within short driving distance of pyramids and art museums and the history that i have ultimately come to claim as my own. i know how lucky i am to have seen everything that i have in this country, and i am so amazingly grateful.