MEXICO: EL PANCHAN: Palenque mayan ruins

Trip Start Oct 01, 2008
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Trip End Ongoing


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Flag of Mexico  , Central Mexico and Gulf Coast,
Monday, October 13, 2008

we set our alarms early, hoping that we can walk into the ruins (about a 20 minute) walkm and catch the ruins as the sun rises.  all goes to plan until we hit some security near the main gate, and they advise us that the main gates dont opne until 8 am... we kind of guessed, but say we will walk on to the main enterance.  the boys then de-tour and go in a side enterance..i follow... and as we walk up to a waterfall, the security guard turns up with a gun and orders us to empty our pockets... we now agree he wanted a bribe... but just followed him out...knowing we then had an hour wait, and other tourists to wait for.

we decide on a short taxi to town and back for money and food, and an hour later we return... not such and empty and quiet start, but i cant wait.

you immediately walk into an opening in the jungle with  four main buildings, that look beauitful and very impressive. The templo de las inscripciones (which we no longer can get into) templo de las inscripciones
templo de las inscripciones
 contained a skeleton and a jade mask which we saw in the museum in mexico city.  a cool link.  this was pakal´ the king himself´s tomb. its very magestic, and stand solidly beside more tombs and the stunning palacio. 

the palacio is a maze of corridors and open spaces. el palacio
el palacio
 arches with carving still in the walls.  even paintings on the wall remain, and there is ´graffitt´on the walls from the 18 century spaniards! you can imagine the grandness of this building in its time, and must have looked so stunning.

we hike through jungle and find various other temples las cruces group
las cruces group
 where there is stone carvings still intact. templo de la sol
templo de la sol
   the views across the jungle are breathtaking, and we wander through a maze of jungle down past the queens bathing pool èl bano de la reina´, el baino de la reina
el baino de la reina
 and wonder what it must of been like in its rein about 400AD.  very calming i think.  they say only 1/4 of the site has been uncovered.  it must have been huge. and lovely to live in.  another favourite.
Where I stayed
chato´s cabanas
(Puerto Aventuras hotels)
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