Bacalar. Dzibanche. Part II

Ww visited another amazing Mayan site named Dzibanche. Both Dzibanche and Kohunlich, were very large cities. This is one of the main structures and the palapas cover the areas of excavation/reconstruction. Lots of work going on here as well. This city is complete with a temple, government buildings, upper class housing and even a convention center. We're talking a big site! The lower corner of this temple has been excavated to expose a tunnel that went to a burial chamber. You can also see three previous pyramida underneath. Mayans build over exisiting pyramids. One underneath had rounded corners and the one on top had angled corners; different designs at different times.

Here are workers cleaning a fresco. Some paint still visible. They use several different methods, including brushing with toothbrushes and a cleaning paste.

A security guard at the ruins took us back to where current excavation was taking place. Here you can see a fresco with the original plaster and red paint. Dzibanche, like Kohunlich, was painted entirely in red. The fresco is a continuation from the previous pyramid.

Original fresco with figures and original red paint. Intricate glyphs.

We didn't climb this although Ed really wanted to so that he could address his imaginary people!

A recently excavated area that contained living quarters. Probably for visiting athletes who played at the ball court or visiting dignitaries.

Here's Peggy taking a brief nap on one of the beds. People do seem to think that beds are too firm in Mexico.

This is the lower part of a fresco just excavated the week before we came. The bottom is perfect; original plaster and paint. The top was destroyed when there was a collapse of the higher part of the building. The rubble covered the bottom, protecting from weather and looters.

We were greeted by howler monkeys and spider monkeys. They were not happy when we arrived. The howlers let out huge roars; like a lion or tiger. Pretty scary. They scattered and went into the jungle. We were the last people to leave along with the workers. The monkeys returned and seemed glad to have us gone so that they could reclaim their city.

As we returned to Bacalar, Candalaria talked about his home and garden. He invited us for some fresh coconut milk. After arriving there and introducing us to his family, he put a homemade ladder to a coconut tree, climbed it, and whacked down fresh nuts with his machete. He washed them and then chopped off the tops, leaving a small hole for a straw. The milk was good and refreshing.

Here's Peggy drinking her drink and thinking about perhaps some vodka?

Among Candalaria's plants are pineapples. It's the season for them now. Many stands along the road selling them. Here are a couple of his plants. One is forming the fruit from the flowers. It takes 2 years before a plant produces fruit. We planted some at our house, but they never produced fruit. Could it be we don't know what we're doing?