Ek Balam

After visiting Chichen Itza we drove to Ek Balam.

 Ek Balam is similar to Chichen Itza in the fact that there are Mayan ruins but different because they let you climb the steps of the buildings.

 It is a complete hands-on experience that brings a whole new element to your tour of the ruins.

 The first building we saw was the observatory. We got to climb to the top and look out over the city.

You can see the temple in the background behind me. This temple had a thatched roof. I'm not sure if that was to make it more authentic or if it was to protect the amazing sights beneath the thatching.

I had to grab a picture of Boyd as he climbed down the steps of the observatory.

The steps were steep and a little scary. Basically you prayed the entire time you walked down.

This building had the most intricate carvings. The carvings all represent something but since most of the records of the Mayan people were burned in 1562 we can only try our best to figure out what the carvings represent.

Boyd hates this picture but I love it.

This is a picture of the beds that the people slept on.

It brings a whole new perspective to firm mattresses.

We walked over to the temple. If you climb about 60 steps there is a walkway that you can go and see what is under the thatched roof.

It is quite a sight to see. It is known as the Jaguar's Mouth because there is an enormous mouth of a Jaguar with carvings above, beneath and in-between the teeth.

This is one of the paintings that was to the side of the Jaguar's Mouth. It is a white man teaching people who have dark skin.

There are about 110 steps to the top of the temple. They are steep and irregular. You don't look up or down as you are climbing...you just look at where you are placing your foot to prevent yourself from falling.

Our neighbors son said that the steps are irregular because you can't climb straight up or straight down. You have to turn sideways and zigzag your way up or down.

He said that this way you never look directly at God, nor turn your back completely to Him.

This is Boyd and I at the top of the temple.

As we looked over the landscape, we could see mounds out there in the jungle. They were actually buildings that had been completely overgrown by plants.

Just wanted to give you a bird's eye view from the top of the temple looking down the stairs.

Me, halfway down the stairs.

I was turned completely sideways as I climbed down and held on to the steps above me the entire way. I was literally shaking in my shoes.

This was a narrow pathway in between buildings. The house with the stone bed is on the left.

We were able to spend a lot of time looking around these ruins.

You can see how well the stones were fit together and squared off so well.

It was amazing to see the original cement that held the rocks together.

Our guide told us that archaeologists believe that these stones were carved with obsidian because they didn't believe that the Mayans had metal tools.

He said that he had tried to cut a rock with some obsidian. He got a hammer and hit the obsidian as he tried to cut the limestone.

The obsidian shattered.

Yep. These people had metal tools.

Another interesting fact is that through the more recent years, as people were building homes, they discovered these buildings with wonderfully square stones.

They realized that it would be so much easier to build a home with stones that were already squared off. Because of that many of the buildings have been pilfered and stones taken from them to build other homes.

One more thing: As we were looking at these ruins you could see small plants growing in among the stones.

If they are not pulled out and the buildings maintained, the plants will grow and break up the cement that holds the stones together and also break the stones.

If no one takes care of the building, it can be completely grown over and covered by jungle plants in only 50 years.

We saw several mounds that were completely covered with jungle.

Hope you are enjoying your tour!

Tomorrow: our favorite: Tulum!!!