Mayan Ruins- Chichen Itza

After our tour of Tulum, we jumped into the van headed into the jungle to find Chichen Itza!!!

Ever since my 6th Grade Social Studies class with the best teacher ever, I have had a desire to travel and see the wonders of the world and the amazing creations of Heavenly Father and man! This was one of those places and i was soooooo excited!

It is AMAZING!!!

I was pretty disappointed that we couldn't climb to the top. Until about 5 years ago you were able to do so, but due to about 3 deaths a year from people falling as well as people tampering with things, you are no longer able to go inside or climb up.

The head of the "feathered serpent" which is at each side of the base of the stairs around the temple.

Chichen Itza has been dated back to about 400 A.D. However, some recent excavating (in 2009) has discovered what appears to be a basement underground. Scientists believe this dates Chichen Itza further back now to about 200 A.D. It has only been excavated on one side, and they believe it probably goes all the way around. So interesting!!!

Ruins behind the temple!

Carvings!

If you look closely, you can see a carving of "the white, bearded God" the Mayan's believed in!

The court where the games were played!

An alter from inside one of the temples. Carved to be in the form of a jaguar!

After visiting Chichen Itza, we made a quick stop at Cenote Ik Kil! A Cenote is basically an underground lake fed by underground rivers and streams. They are often in what appears to be a cave. They are soooo cool and fun to swim in!

This day was a fast moving day and full of so much information! It gave us such a love for the people and history of the area, and we will be going back someday!

Mayan Ruins- Tulum

 One of the days that was our favorite- BY FAR- was the day we toured the Mayan Ruins of the Mayan Riviera. There wasn't enough time to tour them all, which is why we will definitely be going back again, so we chose a few that were must sees! We found an LDS tour group that relates the ruins to the Book of Mormon, and we were not disappointed! This day was so full of information and stories that there's no way I can record it all or recall all that we learned, but we had the best time!!!

Justin ready to walk the steps to Tulum!

 The whole city was surrounded by the wall. The arch ways are the entrance to the town.

 What you see as you enter!

 Our tour guide was AMAZING!!! He was full of so much knowledge and information, he of course had Justin following him asking a million questions!

 Was once a home to someone of high status during Mayan times.

 Tulum up on the hill!

 The holes you see in the bottom of the pictures are tombs where theY buried the ancestors as they passed on.

 Temple of the Fertility Goddess!!!

 Carvings on the temple.

 The carving of the Feathered Serpent!

 Once you go around Tulum, this is the beach down below. AMAZING!!! We found it interesting that these ruins were located on the highest point in all of the area. Which is interesting since it's right on the beach.

 This place was beautiful!!! I was amazed at all we learned and how closely related their beliefs were to those that we learn of in the Book of Mormon!!! We will go back again some day and take our family to this amazing place!!!

 Next up... CHICHEN ITZA!!!

More Mexico!!!

During our stay at our resort, we went on a bike tour that the recreation group put on. It was a lot of fun! With as large as the resort was, we wouldn't have seen any of it had it not been for this tour.

 There were some beautiful flamingos in one area of the resort.

 I didn't sleep as well once we saw the crocodiles that are at the resort as well!

 There were also a few different restaurants around the resort. We enjoyed some poolside food several times during our stay!

 But our big splurge was an evening at the restaurant on the beach!

 Right next to our table was an open door with this view!

 After our delicious dinner they served us our dessert outside on the deck. It was a GORGEOUS night!!!

 Everyone asks when you stay at the resort the reason for your stay. With our 10 year anniversary coming up this Winter, this was the reason for our trip. One afternoon we came back to our room and found it decorated so for the occasion! It was very nice!