Chichen-Itza

	Most of the architectural ruins in Chichen-Itza are from the Maya-Toltec period, 10th-13th centuries A.D.  This is El Castillo or Kukulkan's Pyramid.  60 yards along the bottom at each side, there are 91 steps leading to the top.  Lots of symbolism here that represents the Mayan calendar and astronomical observations.
	Yes, they actually let you climb up this pyramid!  Look closely at the two triumphant climbers (Dad & Son) standing at the top of the stairs with arms raised.  It's a lot more difficult going down than up, since the stairs are only about 6 inches wide.  Of course, that depends on your perspective - those who ascended as human sacrifices probably would have appreciated the path down.  Linda and Sara were very kind to sacrifice their experience and remain down below to take this picture.
	This is the Ball Court, the largest in Mesoamerica at 189 yards long by 76 yards wide.  Some people think these games were for entertainment, and really didn't end in the executions shown in carvings.  Their doubts come from the difficulty in actually lofting a ball the size of your head up to and through one of the stone rings (without using your hands).
	This is an example of the carving along the walls of the Ball Court.  The guides describe that these carvings were done without metal instruments, but with sharper/harder rocks on the heated surface.  I'd like to actually see someone do what they theorize was done here.
	Michael taught us that this is what's left of an ancient Mayan merchant's store sign, used to attract customers for his products.  This particular store sold small round baked dough items, which the Mayan's would carry on their fingers by poking a hole in them when purchased.  Many centuries later, the great Mayan chief, Dunkin, took this idea to America, and the rest is a great commercial success story.  (just checking how closely you are reading this!)
	This is one of many snake or serpent heads that decorate this place.  Eventually, Quetzalcoatl (also known as Kukalcan) became the primary god, and the only god really worshipped when the Spaniards invaded.  His promised return, as a white man with a beard, was applied to Cortez.
	This is a stone that used to be part of a building.  It is interesting to see that their buildings are not always solid, shaped stone, but one square side and a taper end that "plugs" into place.
	This shows what the previous shaped stone plugs into - a wall of rubble that supports the structure without forcing the whole thing to be solid "bricks" like we might imagine.
	This is a wall of skeleton head carvings, positioned as if stacked four high on poles.  Guides believe this was used to represent their enemies, warn of their fate, and so forth.  Others think this was simply a burial decoration.  It's clear that Mesoamerican archeology is still in infancy, as we know so little and new findings are constantly change longer held opinions - that's why someone called it the "science of surprises."
	Our guide was telling us the story of how the Mayas invented chewing gum, and an English businessman used their idea commercially.  The gum he introduced was "Chiclets" and takes it's name from Chitzen-Itza - I looked down at the ground and found this Chiclets package - amazing timeliness, not to mention how cheap digital photos are - I'd never take this kind of picture with regular film!