Palenque Ruinas

 

The first Mayan ruins ever, for me, and having heard so much about them, the ruins lived up to all of the great reviews, from tourists to professional archaeologists.

 

You've seen this, and there is an important reason to show it again. The headdress of the Maya points down the street that leads to the ruins, That's where you, on the right side, down the way a bit, stand to wait for a collectivo to take you to the ruins. Or take a taxi. The ruins are about 10 Km from this corner. Go early, to get the best light, or go late, for the soft and warm evening light.

 

 

And there it was, the magnificent temple of the scull. Can it get better than this?

 

 

While on a roll here, where light and scenery went, I shot the temple next in line. What a magical place it is.

 

This second temple has stucco carvings next to the openings, and tunnels inside

 

 

 

Next, and you can see it behind me, comes the royal palace

 

On top, the decorated royal courtyard and some of the carvings, depicting vanquished enemies

 

 

 

About those floral pattern remains

 

Below left, a model-pretty girl posing for a photogrpaher. And I was going to walk by, holding a camera in my hand? On the right, the outer hallway running along one side of the palace, shaped by the Mayan arch (Aztec, too)

 

 

A copy of an original plaque that was under a cover, but the path was closed at this time.

 

A view of the next temple group. These with their roof combs nearly intact

 

And up close

 

 

Didn't even remember that I had captured this from a wall in near darkness

 

Behind the palace, the Pelota, the ubiquitous ball court.

 

No stone hoops, and it is suspected that here they used hoops made of wood

 
The final group of five temples (yes, five, there are two tiny ones sandwitched in there - see plaque)

And the temple 'of the count', below the two corresponding plaques

 

 
The Palenque ruins are easily accessible, have many interesting features, and are beautifully situated

 

 
And a little voice from the rocks that whispers: 'Please, go away.' And so I did.

 

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