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During Spring Vacation we took the Texaribbean Cruise offered by Norwegian Cruise Line. It left Houston, Texas on a Sunday evening, sailed across the Gulf of Mexico, and made its first stop at Calica, south of Cancun. We took the full day tour out to see the Maya ruins of Chichén Itza which was a three hour bus ride. It was a beautiful day and not to hot at this time of year.Since Grace teaches sixth grade, the pictures are for her student, and all other students and educators to use. They are, however, copyrighted, so please send an e-mail if you use them and let us know. |
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Chichen Itza is located in the central part of Mexico's Yukatan Peninsula. It was inhabited by the Itza branch or Mayas from possibly 435 B.C. to 1200 A.D. according to some experts. Some thing the name means "Mouth of the Itzas' Well" because chi means mouth and chen means well. |
This pyramid is one of the most recently excvated. It is much older than the main parts of the Chechen Itza location. It was reconstructed in about 1997. |
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The Observatory was built between 900 and 1000 A.D. The Maya, using their advanced knowledge of astromony and mathematics, developed a calendar of 365 days. Their religion and way of life depended on an understanding of the universe and the cycles and seasons that repeated. |
The Observatory sat on a large platform six meters high with a side staircase on the west side. |
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The Church was built between 600 and 700 A.D. It is called this because it sits so close to the Nunnery. It has one room inside. the decorations are elaborate and and symetrical. |
The scrolled nose is on a mask of the god of Rain, Chaac, on the corner of The Church. It is now thought that this depicts knowledge of elephants which could only have come from Asia. |
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The Castle, also called Pyramid of Kukulcan is the main and central attraction for tourists. It shows the influence of the Toltec, a later civilization. Go to the Top. |
The Castle build on a square base and is 24 meters high. The temple on the top has a small room which is decorated with symbols of gods. |
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The Castle is build on nine recessed platforms or stories, each representing a level of the underworld. At one certain time of year the rising sun strikes each of the cornes of the layers so that it looks like a serpant coming down the side of the pyramid. Go to the Top. |
There are four staircases, one on each side of the pyramid. Only two have been reconstructe to allow tourists to climb safely. The 91 steps to the top are symbolic to the Mayan people. It is a steep climb, but the safety chain up the center is helpful. |
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From the top of The Castle pyramid one has a great view of the entire area. The Temple of the Warriors in the background is built over an earlier structure. It is 40 meters square and 12 meters high. Go to the Top. |
The Castle was built over the top of an earlier smaller pyramid and temple. It was the custom to build over their temples every 52 years. |
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The Temple of the Warriors with the Temple of The Tables on the lest and the beginning of the Olonades on the right. |
The North and West Colonnades shown here is part of the Thousand Columns Group that surrounded a large square patio. Go to the Top. |
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The square columns are on the platform in front of the Temple of the Warriors. They have elaborade carvings from the Toltec and Mayan eras. Go to the Top. |
These are columns in theWest Colonnade in the Thousand Columns Group beside the Temple of the Warriors. |
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Elaborate carvings along the edge of The Temple of the Warriors. Go to the Top. |
Maya and Toltec figures decorate The Temple of the Warriors. |
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Elaborately carved columns in front of The Temple of the Warriors with The Castle in the background. Go to the Top. |
The Temple of the Warriors is 12 meters high. |
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Focus On Travel, Beaverton, Oregon. |
The cruise was aboard the Norwegian Star, a ship of Norwegian Cruise Line. |
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Updated 11/01 E-mail us at gcpitzer@attbi.com |
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