We spent a full day checking out one of the 7 new wonders of the world, then a cenote for jumping off a cliff, Valladolid for the church, then pizza at Sabrino’s.
Some fun facts about Chichen Itza
- It's 1,000 years old and dedicated to Kukulkan.
- My family and I visited it when I was a teen and we were able to walk up it, but five years ago, they shut down that option to protect the site.
- The Mayan calendar is divided into 18 months with 20 days each for 360 days and the pyramid represents this calendar. For example, there are 3 stages of pyramids. AND there's a pyramid within a pyramid. Kind of like a matroyshka doll.
- Chichen Itza was created to unify the people, merging people from the Yucatan with the Mayan society.
- They think the Mayans left because the God wasn't giving them the rain they needed as farmers.
- In 1527, the Spanish came but left because there was no wealth.
- Just 10 years ago through excavation, they discovered that the original level of the city is much lower, and the people had to build an entire huge platform for Chichen Itza. They believed the Gods lived on mountains so that's why they did this. This mountain was dedicated to reptiles and birds.
- They practiced sacrifice, either through someone giving their life willingly or taking a captive from a war.
- One day in March and September, there is no light except for one stream through the doorway (check out the photo below). It's amazing!
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