CHICHEN ITZA - PART DOs
After the El Castillo, the Ball Court and the Eagles and Jaguar we went to the Cenote. Chichen Itza is FILLED with vendors. I thought they were going to be along the walk way from the entrance to the Castle. They are everywhere, but I have to say they weren't too over bearing. Everything is a buck, Senor $1, until you see something you like and that's $10. Cenote is OK, no rope swing. Also no bathroom at the drink stand next to the Cenote, where everything is $100P. Back through the vendors on to the Temple of the Big Tables and the Temple of the Warriors and the Group of a thousand Columns, I didn't count, but it's closer to 200. We really need a bathroom at this point and I saw a guide who had just finished with an English tour. He told me los banos are in a green building next to the Temple of Coca Cola. My kind of guy. Now we are heading to the group of structures known as the Ossuary. Pro Tip (thanks Chad and Mindy), if I had to do this again, and I hope I get to, I would go to the right when you come in and do the Ossuary structures first. I found them more interesting and closer together. By the time we got to these structures, clocking in at around 3 and half hours, we were beat. Just my opinion. Time for more pics.


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Temple of the Warriors, there are some great carvings on the structure and all the way at the top, between those pillars is a reclining Chaac Mool.
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Side shot of the Temple of Warriors and some the columns
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This is the end of Las Monjas, which is a giant building and reminded the Spanish of a Monastery. This is the most ornate end of the structure
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La Iglesia, this is one of the most ornate and I think best preserved buildings at Chichen Itza. It's also one of the structures you can get pretty close to.
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These are the steps at the Ossuary or the High Priest Temple. They found human remains and jade and copper artifacts so they think it was for special people
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This stela is on the back of the Ossuary, very detailed and intersting
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El Caracol or the Observatory. This is the place where Mayan astronomer, Carl Chaac Mool Sagan discovered billions and billions of stars. Kidding aside this is one of the most unique buildings at Chichen Itza.
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This was the line when we left, again, we got right in at 9:30. I don't know if there is a season for Chichen Itza, give the heat and rain in the summer, I think this may be the season but we didn't feel overwhelmed.

YouCanToo Done!
So that's it folks, Jan. 5th - Jan. 31st, 26 great days in a wonderful part of Mexico. The people were great, so much cochinita pibil, lot's of pyramids and overall beautiful country. We met so many great travelers also, couples from Italy, France, Netherlands, England and even a couple of Americans. Over all we were happy with our routing, could have stayed longer in Campeche and Celestun, maybe a day or two less in Merida, but the winner hands down is Valladolid. We were so lucky to be here during La Calendaria and see the locals celebrate. Merida Fest was fun, big concerts outside. The weather treated us very kindly, was actually kind of cool because of the big cold front up north. The trip definitely fueled our hunger for more Mexico, maybe Bacalar or Palenque, definitely San Cristobal. Thanks for all of your comments. Until next time! (which will be England in May - June.

I'd say your trip report is in the Final Four of best TR's ever on Fodor's Mexico. Lots of time & effort, thanks.

Sorry it's over -- enjoyed the humor and the photos.

HIgh praise indeed from someone who I always turn to for great advice in Mexico. Final Four, I'm impressed, I always get beat by Duke or UCLA!

I'm sorry it's over also, but I am sipping a cup of coffee in my little apartment on Calle Amsterdam in La Condesa, waiting to meet friends from Edmonton, Canada, who we met in Zihuatanejo. I think I've seen a lot of Mexico but as I travel here I'm always meeting people who are telling of new places to explore. Thanks for following along.