Chitzen Itza the Day Before the Equinox
Three generations of Hoeys headed for the Riviera Maya about 50 miles south of Cancun. It was spring break for George and Anna and the end of winter for the rest of us. There were more than enough 8 and 10 year olds in the pools and on the beach at our hotel to keep the kids amused and intrigued for all of their waking hours.
Being good parents/grandparents we needed to make this a special experience for all. We had been to the Mayan site at Tulum on earlier trips and read about, but had never seen the bigger one at Chichen Itza. First step, we called the AMEX Vacations office and lined up a good van and driver. We connected with a college educated guide who made a big difference in our understanding of what we were seeing.
The Drive across Yucatan
Once we got away from the beach we saw that this part of the Yucatan is pretty nasty. It was hot. The land is primarily limestone and there are no rivers and streams that run above ground. So we saw very few farms, not much vegetation bigger than bushes and not many people for an hour or so. Then it was another hour on the main road. There has been a lot of road building here recently and most of the roads are decent.
The drive is absolutely worth it. The site is huge and well maintained by the Mexican Government. Dominating the center of Chichén is the Temple of Kukulkan. This is a spectacular step pyramid, one of the biggest man-made structures in the world when it was built by the Mayans somewhere around 800 AD.
Spring Equinox and the Serpent
The design is connected to the Mayan calendar. Each of the four faces has 91 steps to the top platform. Counting the top platform as an additional step gives a total of 365 steps.
This calendar connection matters at spring break time. We were there just two days before the spring equinox. This is show time at the pyramid – and the day that draws some big crowds. On the spring and fall equinox the angle of the afternoon sun creates shadows that appear to slither down the steps on the side of the pyramid, ending at the big stone serpent’s head at the base of the stairs.
It is almost as memorable a day or two before and after the equinox and not crowded. Two days ahead of the crowd, it’s a great place to take pictures.
A Long Half Day Stop
While this is spectacular, there is a whole city here, reclaimed from the jungle. Temples, the Great Ball Court, lots of stuff. The Cenote Sagaro, at 200 feet across, is one of the largest of the sinkholes that occur in this limestone country. We spent a half day here, were worn out at the end, and could have done more. The grandkids enjoyed it and so did the rest of the family.
