Ek Balam

We had a change of plans and visited Ek Balam on the way to Chichen Itza so that we could have an early start at the major site.  Ek Balem is in the Yucatan interior, and is one of the largest Maya ruins in Mexico. It contains grand architecture and elaborate statues. We arrived on the seventeenth day of Zac on the Maya calendar..just the other day!

                                                                 The 17^th Zac

                                                               A Maya arch.

        

                                                             The Oval Palace

               

                                                       Gail visits the Palace

                                             This pair of buildings is called “The Twins”

                           The buildings are being cared for but there are no funds for further digs.

Most of the sites have a ball court. We have heard many contrasting tales of the ritual sacrifice after the game! It is possible that no one knows or that different procedures were in place at different sites!

                                                                  The Ball Court.

The 96 ft tall Acropolis once served as the temple for the ancient Maya village. It was a most impressive building.

                                 The Acropolis We climbed the tall steep steps to the to the top.

                                      Detail in the carvings on the Acropolis.

                                                       Fine work on the Acropolis.

                                                   Gail on the mid level of the steps up.

                                     The view from the top of the acropolis over the major buildings

We had a stop in Valladolid that was cut short by rain on our way to Chichen Itza and the end of this leg of our trip.