(Somehow this post got out of order…it should have been prior to the one about Caracol…)
Xunantunich is an ancient Maya ruin close to the border of Guatemala. The road to Xunantunich was fun in that it included a ride on a hand cranked ferry across the river.
Derek loading the truck onto the ferry.
Working hard on a hot day.
This orange guy is a male iguana. The females of this species of iguanas are green.
It was very hot that day so we asked the guards if we could bring in Piper. I told them how she was really good, very friendly, didn’t bite…eventually I must have worn them down as they agreed to let her in.
This is from the Wikipedia page on Xunantunich:
Xunantunich’s name means “Sculpture of Lady” in the Maya language (Mopan and Yucatec combination name Xunaan(Noble lady) Tuunich (stone for sculpture)), and, like many names given to Maya archaeological sites, is a modern name; the ancient name is currently unknown. The “Stone Woman” refers to the ghost of a woman claimed by several people to inhabit the site, beginning in 1892. She is dressed completely in white, and has fire-red glowing eyes. She generally appears in front of “El Castillo”, ascends the stone stairs, and disappears into a stone wall.
So, no ghost sitings, but we did get to see some beautiful ancient buildings in a beautiful jungle setting.
Ruins surrounded by palm trees.
Randi and Amy on top of the first temple.
Me and my niece Randi.
The view from the first structure we climbed, towards the large temple “El Castillo”
“El Castillo”
We sat at the top of “El Castillo” for a while, enjoying the view.
The view.
Carvings near the peak of “El Castillo”.
That night we stayed at the Clarissa Falls campground, where we had hoped to do some tubing on the river. Unfortunately we were told that the water levels were too high due to the recent rains. So instead we swung in hammocks, read, and Derek replaced the thermo-couple and the interrupter in the fridge, again. We had just replaced both around Christmas time so we didn’t think it was the issue already so soon, but when he got everything all back together, the fridge started on propane and stayed lit….we gave a small, quiet, tenuous “yeah” and a not too exuberant high five, as who knows how long this will last.
The camp owners had a great collection of peacocks, turkeys, ducks and geese.
Randi and Amy walking back to their tent from the on-site restaurant .
Our spot for the night. Behind the truck was a beautiful river.
Hey Piper and your pals,
The photo of towards the large temple you captured such a lush green carpet under a multi blue hued sky and the dense vegetation: a National geographic worthy “tableau”. I have not commented but have not missed a report: enjoying each and every one and also your photos- green with envy I am! I do check a few times each week to see where you are am getting to be a very adept spy finding you on Google maps! Now in San Carlos Sonora for another week visiting a friend and then the sad drive to US to see friends and home by April 10. Bon voyage….Adele
Hello Adele! We wanted to let you know that Derek’s little project has been put on hold. We gave our laundry to a woman recently and the shirt came back so white that he decided he had to leave it alone.
Hope the drive home goes well. Mexico will miss you.