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The other day while headed to Ek Balam I thought I'd stop by and get a couple shots at Chichen Itza (means "At the mouth of the well of the Itza.) It was early so I thought I might get a few before the crowds from Cancun showed up. I walked in the gate 5mins after they opened.

Haven't seen the place this empty in about 10 yrs.

Anyway here's my morning-

Here's El Castillo, the main temple. Which is also known as "Temple of Kukulkan" (the Maya name for Quetzalcoatl)-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3298/...a4011b.jpg?v=0

You'll note there are nine platforms on each corner. The nine main platforms of the pyramid are thought to represent the 18 Uinal (Mayan month or 20 days) of the haab (Mayan year,) which creates 52 panels thought to represent the number of years it takes for a calendar round date to recur. Which equals 18980 days or in Mayan "Kins." If you count the steps on each side you find 91. Which makes 364 total, add the top platform and you get 365. Rather then use a leap year, as we do, the Maya threw in a Wayeb, or 5 day month, every now and then. They had this whole keeping track of time thing figured out. They also are some of the first people to have utilized the mathematical concept of "zero."

Notice all the bare ground, it was grass a few years ago. You used to be able to climb the 91 step on the north side. After a lady from San Diego fell to her death in 2006 climbing was stopped.

Next we see the Ball Court-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3307/...d09c1e.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/...bc93f0.jpg?v=0

This is the largest known ball court in the Mayan world. The sides are about 12 meters high. The playing area is 545 by 232 feet. Years ago it was thought that the losing team also lost their heads. More recent research has shown that it was the captain of the winning team who was beheaded. An honor and a one way ticket to join the gods. I think I'd be one lousy ball player.

On the front side of the court there is a small temple with a jaguar in it-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3382/...68ef7a.jpg?v=0

Much of the detail of the jaguar is lost to history but the columns on either side and the walls have much detail and some color.

Here's a shot where I tried to get my camera to capture the red in the walls. It didn't work so well but you can see two figure's. One, to the left, making an offering to the sitting royal (complete with erect penis) to the right-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3347/...452870.jpg?v=0

If you turn around from the jaguar temple you see the "Platform of the Skulls"-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3461/...17c5db.jpg?v=0

This is also known as the Tzompantli platform. I've heard a wide rage of lore that goes with this structure. From virgin sacrifice, slave sacrifice to medical clinic. So feel free to insert your own story here.

Next to the skulls you can see the Platform of the Eagles and the Jaguars-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3425/...f88936.jpg?v=0

I don't know what this is or was either. But on the sides if you look really close you can see carvings of eagles and jaguars eating what I'm told is human hearts. Why? Don't know, again insert your own creepy story here.

Keep going you come to a palapa they've built and have some glyphs on view-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3438/...e2f794.jpg?v=0

Here's a jaguar with three erect penis's. Makes sense, if you're really stoned. But the red color is preserved on the jaguar and there some blue still framing the glyph. back in Chichen Itza's prime, sometime around 600-900 AD, the entire city would have been brightly painted. Blues, reds, greens and yellows would have cover all the white/gray/black stone you see today.

Around the back side of El Castillo and down a path you'll find the observatory temple or "El Caracol"-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3411/...84fa66.jpg?v=0

That was my morning on Thursday. By 10am I was in my truck leaving. Leaving and watching one tour bus after another arrive from Cancun.