Command Performance on the Great Pyramid
Trip Start
Jan 01, 2007
1
14
141
Trip End
Ongoing
Uxmal,
Mexico
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Uxmal (pronounced Oosh Mall) is a Mayan ruin site about and 1 hour south of Merida. The age of Uxmal is disputed: some experts contend it was founded by the Mayans from Guatemala in the 600īs AD; others believe is is even older. Uxmal grew in power and size around 850-900 AD. It was later abandoned in the mid 900īs after being defeated by the army from Chichen Itza. How in the world these experts know this stuff is beyond me...
It is a large and sprawling archaelogical zone. Many of the major temples and ruins have been excavated, but many more still lay under heaps of earth. After touring through the major temples with all the other fanny-pack toting tourists, Frank and I headed off the main tracks to view up close some of these unexcavated heaps and mounds of rocks.
Uxmal is one ruin site that still allows visitors to climb to the top of the Great Pyramid. Frank eagerly started climbing the pyramid, happy as always. I, on the otherhand, stood there eyeing the pyramid for several minutes. I have some strange fear of heights that is directly proportional with age - the older I get, the worse it gets! (It took several months before I would finally ride the escalator at the Rossyln Metro Station!). Normally, I sit happily on the flat ground and take pictures of Frank scaling these mountains. But this time, the Pyramid didnīt look all that high. Only 30 meters (about 100 feet) No biggie, right?
So this time, I followed Frank and quickly crawled up the pyramid. Very quickly. Didnīt even stop for a breath or to look around. Which was a BIG mistake. As soon as we got to the 1st landing (which was about 20 steps from the tippy top), I stopped and turned around. Oh Sheet! Geeze Luise! My jaw dropped and face went pale. Frank took one look at me and gave me some water. "Donīt Look", he said. Well...thereīs really not anywhere else to look. It was an AMAZING panoramic view of the ruins and surrounding forest. But I wasnīt ready for it after all. I sat on the landing, clinging hard to the step behind me with all my might. A couple from Luxemburg passed me and gave me a few kind and encouraging words. Frank finished the last 20 steps and returned back to my safe spot on the landing.
"Okay, letīs go down now, he said."
"Ummm Honey, I canīt" (clinging onto the step with all my might)
"Turn around and just look at me. Iīll go with you"
I cautiously walk to the edge of the platform, searching for the next step. Whoa Nelly! It looked nearly vertical! I donīt think so buddy. "I canīt! Oh what did I get myself into? I canīt go down!Ļ"
"Itīs okay, Kay, just look at me."
This conversation repeated itself for another 10 minutes, as I sat on the ledge, clinging for my life. Several groups of tourists climbed up and down past us. The Luxemburg couple passed us again on their way down. Jutta (pronounced You Tah) stopped and gave me several more words of encouragement. She coaxed me off my safety ledge and coached me as we clambered down the steps together. "You can do it, Kay. Just one step at a time. Thatīs it, you got it." She was such a sweet woman. When we finally made it down, I received a STANDING OVATION from an entire busload of European tourists at the bottom. Whew...
Above the trees
Jutta from Luxemburg - if you ever read this - THANK YOU!With wobbly legs, we made our way to the entrance to meet up with Sabastien and Guillium. The four of us then walked back to the main highway and camped on the curb with a dozen other backpackers, waiting for the next bus to pass and take us to Campeche.
Love, Kay
