Day Three, Part Two: the Uxmal Mayan Ruins, Yucatan, Mexico

The Magician's Pyramid, side view. The Uxmal Mayan Ruins near Progreso. 

The ruins we decided to visit weren't actually in Progreso. They were over an hour away by bus. So after a fun-filled fifteen minutes of shopping at the tour hub — which turned out to be less buying and more like arguing in a language I'm not fluent in — we met up with our tour guide, Saul, hopped on our bus, and headed to the Uxmal Mayan ruins. 

There were over fifty of us in a group, which was unusually large, he said. Despite that, we all managed to fit comfortably on the bus. During the drive, Saul, who was friendly, organized and fluent in English, answered some of our most pressing questions, like, how do you pronounce Uxmal?

My money was on "ooks-MALL," but actually, it's pronounced "OOSH-mal." Don't ask me how the "x" was magically transmuted to an "h."

The view from the bus.

He went on to explain that there was a temptation for guides to claim Mayan ancestry, to give their tourists what they might perceive to be a more authentic experience. While he was a native to the region, he explained, it was technically incorrect for him to claim Mayan ancestry, as no one knows what really happened to them. They might be — but they might not be, also. 

Rather, he considered himself mestizo, of mixed Mexican and Indian ancestry. I really appreciated his honesty. THAT, my friends, is an authentic experience. 

Anyway, after about an hour, we arrived. 

The thing that impressed me most about the Magician's pyramid was its sheer scope. It was truly massive. 

The Uxmal ruins have been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. They represent a zenith of late Mayan culture. According to Wikipedia, "the name Uxmal means 'thrice-built' in the Mayan language, referring to the many layers of construction of its most imposing structure," that is, the Magician's Pyramid. 

Other structures stand, including the Nunnery Quadrangle and a structure called the Governor's House, which visitors are allowed to climb. Unfortunately, tourists are no longer permitted to climb the Magician's Pyramid. It's cordoned off, but you can still get some spectacular pictures. 

Further into the complex, you can obtain different views of the ruins, which are magnificent from every angle. 

The best picture of the day, in my opinion, was taken by Shannon on the point-and-shoot. 

Iguanas. Iguanas everywhere. 

And in case you were wondering if ancient peoples did really play the ball game shown in this scene of the Disney movie "The Road to El Dorado," they really did. 

The ball court. 

Though it wasn't so much a sport as a way of worshipping the gods, Saul explained. They didn't use their hands, instead moving the ball by bouncing it off their joints for religious reasons. 

The detail that went into all of these structures was incredible. Shannon snapped a shot of an elaborate rain-gutter, full of beautiful stone carvings. And that was just a rain-gutter.    

Detail shots. Top, the "goal." Here a coatl, a snake, decorates the edge of a structure. 

This day was probably my favorite part of the trip. I loved learning about the Mayan culture and exploring the ruins. Shannon and I also took a million cheesecakey shots. 

Shannon and I standing in the ruins

I highly recommend this tour. You will have a blast — just like we did.