James Gaston

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Uxmal. 5 November 2018. Mexico Uxmal

Nov 5, 2018

Mexico, Uxmal

Uxmal panoramas. 1 December 2018. Mexico Uxmal

Dec 1, 2018

Uxmal, Mexico

Hacienda Ochil. 2 December 2018. Mexico Uxmal

Dec 2, 2018

Mexico, Uxmal

Uxmal

Mon 5 Nov 2018 Mexico - Uxmal

Uxmal

Mon 5 Nov 2018 Mexico - Uxmal

Today we visited Uxmal, an ancient Mayan city about an hour out of Merida. We hired a driver, Alex, to take us. He and his wife Joanna own Destino Merida tours.

Alex picked us up early in the morning so we could see the ruins while temperatures are at their coolest (least warm might be more descriptive) and when there would be few visitors. As promised, when we arrived we pretty much had the place to ourselves. Once at Uxmal he handed us off to a local fellow who guided us through the town. Afterwards Alex drove us to the charming Hacienda Ochil for a Yucatan lunch. Ochil was once a working plantation and it is well preserved; it's complete with extensive beautiful grounds, artwork, railroad, and even a cenote. As we talked with Alex we learned more about Mexico and the Yucatan and, this being US-election eve, we even talked a little politics. Alex is very informative and we had a nice tour. I'd highly recommend him.

For dinner tonight we walked all the way to the end of our block --- in other words, we barely moved --- where we ate at the Italian restaurant Oliva Enoteca. It's the fourth restaurant we've visited on the block. Each has been stellar.

The Pyramid of the Soothsayer

This three-level pyramid greets you as you enter Uxmal. It has unexpectedly rounded corners. A steep staircase climbs the eastern side. If you clap in front of the pyramid it is said to emit a bird-like echo.

The Pyramid of the Soothsayer

A very steep staircase embellished with carved masks climbs the west side.

The Pyramid of the Soothsayer

A very steep staircase embellished with carved masks climbs the west side.

The Pyramid of the Soothsayer

A very steep staircase embellished with carved masks climbs the west side.

The top of the pyramid

At the top of the west side the stairs reaches a doorway carved to represent the mouth of a serpent.

The top of the pyramid

At the top of the west side the stairs reaches a doorway carved to represent the mouth of a serpent.

The top of the pyramid

At the top of the west side the stairs reaches a doorway carved to represent the mouth of a serpent.

Steep stairs

Iguana

The grounds of Uxmal feature a lot of Iguanas. This one's maybe a couple of feet long.

Iguana

The grounds of Uxmal feature a lot of Iguanas. This one's maybe a couple of feet long.

Iguana

The grounds of Uxmal feature a lot of Iguanas. This one's maybe a couple of feet long.

Stone detail

The stone facades are covered with snakes and turtles, people, and representations of the water god, water being of special importance to the Mayans.

Stone detail

The stone facades are covered with snakes and turtles, people, and representations of the water god, water being of special importance to the Mayans.

Stone detail

The stone facades are covered with snakes and turtles, people, and representations of the water god, water being of special importance to the Mayans.

Stone detail

Stone arch

Uxmal

Pyramid of the soothsayer

Our guide, Gam

Uxmal

Uxmal panoramas

Sat 1 Dec 2018 Mexico - Uxmal

Uxmal panoramas

Sat 1 Dec 2018 Mexico - Uxmal

Both panoramas stitched with Microsoft's ICE.

Hacienda Ochil

Sun 2 Dec 2018 Mexico - Uxmal

Hacienda Ochil

Sun 2 Dec 2018 Mexico - Uxmal

Not far from Uxmal is Hacienda Ochil. It's a place where sisal was once grown and the leaves harvested then processed into fibers. It is now a restaurant and event space, as well as an open-air museum.

I'm listening to Brian Eno's An Ending (Ascent).

Abandoned mill with orange walls

Cenote turned amphitheater

The hacienda is now an event space, and events sometimes need an amphitheater. The owners created one from a cenote, which is a common geologic feature of the Yucatan. A cenote is a water-filled sinkhole that results from the collapse of limestone bedrock. They are sources of water but, as you can see, they can also serve other purposes.

Cenote turned amphitheater

Paul and Noema on tour

Paul, Noema, and Alex (from Destino Merida tours) tour the grounds where the sisal plants were grown, harvested, transported, then processed.

Paul and Noema on tour

Paul, Noema, and Alex (from Destino Merida tours) tour the grounds where the sisal plants were grown, harvested, transported, then processed.

Paul and Noema on tour

Paul, Noema, and Alex (from Destino Merida tours) tour the grounds where the sisal plants were grown, harvested, transported, then processed.

Restaurant serves Yucatecan fare