Mayan sites in Mexico's Yucatan

This week's mail brings 2 cards showing Mayan archaeology sites in the Yucatan. Happily I have visited both so the cards bring back vacation memories!

Uxmal is an interesting site just south of the old colonial city of Merida. It has unusual buildings and like other northern cities did well in the Late Classic period (around 800-1100 AD) as the southern cities were declining. The rounded central feature is known as the Pyramid of the Magicians and the steps are indeed narrow & steep, but the view from the top is wonderful. Decorative elements on the other buildings are quite interesting too

Chichen Itza is fairly close to Uxmal and is much better known (and more heavily visited). It was a large city, influenced by the arrival of Toltec merchant warriors in the Late Classic and Post-Classic periods. The large pyramid honors the Feathered Serpent and has been nicely restored. An inside stairway (which is narrow and hot in an Indian Jones way) leads to a small chamber with a jaguar throne. My favorite feature at this large complex is the Temple of the Warriors where this photo was taken from...it had an interesting series of stone columns which held a roof (something like an Egyptian hypo-style hall). British explorers Stephens & Catherwood photographed the site in the 1840s adding to its romance. The site also has a large ball court and a cenote, a naturally occurring limestone pool which was considered as a sacred gateway to the underworld. There is a lovely old colonial hotel nearby, used by archaeologists and travelers, and very comfortable especially on hot & humid days!