By WALTER THOMPSON-HERNÁNDEZ from NYT Travel https://ift.tt/2U15bkx
Friday, November 30, 2018
Preserving Black American History Through Song in the Dominican Republic
By WALTER THOMPSON-HERNÁNDEZ from NYT Travel https://ift.tt/2U15bkx
8 ways to discover and enjoy Quito city center
Very few travelers know about Quito and its history. Visitors are often surprised to discover the rich heritage as they walk the ancient streets of this city, and many regret not spending more time there. Many travel agencies and tour operators offer Quito as a stopover before or after their trip to the Galapagos Islands […]
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Hotel Review: In London, Staying True to Local Roots
By JOHN L. DORMAN from NYT Travel https://ift.tt/2BJh1c0
Patrick Norton Says Listen Up- DTNS 3419
Starring Tom Merritt, Sarah Lane, Roger Chang and Patrick Norton.
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Starwood Hotels Confirms Massive Data Breach – DTH
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The Week in Tech: Facebook’s Three Big Problems
By KEVIN ROOSE from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2zyjep7
In Chicago, a Reclaimed Swedish Heritage for a New Bakery
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The best cities to celebrate New Year’s Eve
After packing away the decorations and preparing yourself to go back to work, it is easy to become deflated after Christmas. As the festive spirits slowly start to dissipate, you may be seeking another source of celebration. Why not perk yourself up by welcoming in the New Year in style? New Year’s Eve is a […]
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Thursday, November 29, 2018
Sheryl Sandberg Is Said to Have Asked Facebook Staff to Research George Soros
By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE and MATTHEW ROSENBERG from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2AC3UHw
Floyd Mayweather and DJ Khaled Are Fined in I.C.O. Crackdown
By NATHANIEL POPPER from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2PciWtb
Some Marriott Strikes End, but San Francisco Workers Stay Out
By KAREN SCHWARTZ from NYT Travel https://ift.tt/2BFHuqS
The ‘off-the-grid’ islands of the Cyclades
Perhaps the most famous group of islands in Greece is the Cyclades. The name derives from the Greek word “kyklos” which in English means circle (circular islands), hence the shape the islands form around the sacred island of Delos. According to Greek mythology, the God of the Sea, Poseidon, turned the Cyclades nymphs into islands […]
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Who Is Amazon’s Amazon? – DTNS 3418
Starring Tom Merritt, Sarah Lane, Roger Chang and Justin Robert Young.
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Airbnb Plans New Home Construction Business – DTH
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Is Geotagging on Instagram Ruining Natural Wonders? Some Say Yes
By LAURA M. HOLSON from NYT Travel https://ift.tt/2Q3YCz8
Visit the Riva Boutique for unique Christmas gifts
Riva is one of the most iconic brands in the boating world. The Italian company has a peerless reputation built on 175 years of excellence that extends beyond its legendary luxury speedboats and yachts. Since 1842, when the Riva boatyard was established on Lake Iseo in Sarnico, Italy, the name has become a synonym for […]
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Patti LuPone, From Broadway to the Open Road
By STUART EMMRICH from NYT Travel https://ift.tt/2raQ4aU
Microsoft Is Worth as Much as Apple. How Did That Happen?
By STEVE LOHR from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2KGOuXm
Travel video of the week: The Maldives in 4K
Watch this spectacular 4K video of the Maldives, totally shot with the DJI Inspire 1 aerial platform. This is Patrice Gaucher’s inaugural video with the Inspire 1 and we think he did a pretty amazing job putting together this beautiful two-minute production. If you would like to subscribe to our own YouTube channel, please do […]
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Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Stars and Bytes Forever – DTNS 3417
Starring Tom Merritt, Sarah Lane, Roger Chang and Anthony Lemos.
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That Virus Alert on Your Computer? Scammers in India May Be Behind It
By VINDU GOEL and SUHASINI RAJ from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2AvQMDT
Make Your Friends and Family Less Irksome This Holiday Season
By BRIAN X. CHEN from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2RrEgfO
Amazon’s Above-the-Cloud Satellite Service – DTH
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Covering a White House Where News Is Always Just a Tap Away
By KATIE ROGERS from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2rcJ6lD
Top 5 things to do in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
Karlovy Vary is the main city of the spa region of Czech Republic. I must admit I had not heard of it before visiting the area! Now that I have been there I cannot believe that such a stunning and interesting town has quite a low profile. So there is a great opportunity to experience […]
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How to Survive the Next Era of Tech (Slow Down and Be Mindful)
By FARHAD MANJOO from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2RqIyEc
Five Tips to Make Traveling With a Food Allergy Easier
By SHIVANI VORA from NYT Travel https://ift.tt/2DOZ9xC
European River Cruises Hit a New Obstacle: Not Enough Water
By TARIRO MZEZEWA from NYT Travel https://ift.tt/2zu7cNi
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Small Ads Cause Big Trouble – DTNS 3416
Starring Tom Merritt, Sarah Lane, Roger Chang and Scott Johnson.
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A Hot Seat for Facebook, an Empty Chair for Zuckerberg and a Vow to Share Secret Files
By ADAM SATARIANO from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2KBe2Fl
8 reasons why you should walk with a bushman
The Khomani San were a people who forgot their identity after they had been expelled from their ancient homelands to create the South Africa’s Gemsbok National Park in 1931. By the 1990s perhaps just fifty men and women remembered their proud heritage. For over 20,000 years the tribe had lived in the red sands and […]
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Exploring Chichen Itza: Mexico’s Wonder Of The World
The Ancient Mayan Ruins of Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza, Mexico
The history of Chichén Itzá is not for the faint of heart. These Mayan ruins are shrouded in mystery and have a way of haunting you long after returning home from Mexico.
Once you finally get past an army of local vendors at the entrance, the ancient stone carvings of fearsome creatures and bloodthirsty warriors at Chichen Itza inspire awe and trigger unease at the same time.
This pre-Hispanic city (and UNESCO World Heritage Site) has a fascinating 1,000-year-old history. It is the second most visited archaeological site in Mexico, partly due to its close proximity to Cancun.
Located in the Yucatan Penninsula, the ruins are extensive and cover 740 acres. Many sections have still never been excavated.
While wandering around the massive archaeological site, I kept wondering what hidden treasures lay undiscovered beneath my feet.
Jaguar Head Sculptures
Temple of Kukulcan
History Of Chichen Itza
One thing that makes the Chichen Itza so intriguing, other than the giant stone pyramid, is the mysterious decline of the Maya people themselves.
By the time of the Spanish conquest of the Maya, this great city and others like it were virtually ghost towns.
Historians have several theories as to why. Overpopulation may have depleted environmental resources. A great drought or another catastrophe may have wiped out the civilization.
Competing city-states were constantly at war too — the Maya may have simply done themselves in.
In any case, Mexico’s most famous ruins are astonishingly well-restored site compared to other Mayan ruins in the region. Which is why it’s considered one of the New 7 Wonders Of The World.
El Castillo Pyramid at Chichen Itza
Pyramid Temple Of Kukulkan
Once you enter Chichen Itza, you can’t miss the Temple Of Kukulkan (aka “El Castillo”). A large 98-foot-tall pyramid which dominates the northern part of the city.
Kukulkan is a feathered snake deity in the Mayan religion. The pyramid is guarded by enormous carved serpent heads at the base of the stairs.
The Mesoamerican fascination with stars and planets mean the four stairways of the pyramid represent the four points of a compass. There are 365 steps, one for each day in the solar calendar.
Nine terraces probably symbolize the Maya belief in a nine-level heaven too.
If you REALLY want a treat, visit the pyramid in March or September during the annual equinoxes. At sunset, a play of light and shadow creates the eerie effect of a snake gradually slithering down the staircase!
Scientists recently discovered that this pyramid actually has two more pyramids inside it.
Hall Of A Thousand Columns
Temple Of The Warriors
Temple Of The Warriors
The Temple Of The Warriors is another impressive structure at Chichen Itza. Some of the 200 columns on the south side depict warriors in bas-relief.
The columns once supported a roof system that is long gone.
Also known as the Hall of the Thousand Columns, this grand space might have been a meeting place or an indoor market.
A Chac Mool tops the broad staircase, distinctive statues found throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. Reclining figures holding bowls with their heads turned at a 90-degree angle and propped on their elbows.
They might represent temple guardians or slain warriors bearing gifts to Chac, the god of rain.
In Maya religious ceremonies, stone dishes probably held offerings such as incense, tobacco, tamales or tortillas. In Aztec rituals, they more likely held human hearts.
The Mesoamerican Ballgame
Oldest Sport in the World?
The Maya Ball Court
Off to the left of the main pyramid, you’ll find the famed Maya ball court. While many sites include ball courts, the one at Chichen Itza is the largest in the world.
Maya athletes played a game where the object was to put a rubber ball (representing the sun) into a small stone circle perched very high on a wall, without using your hands OR feet.
Some carvings suggest that the winning team’s captain was decapitated, which was a sign of honor. The ball game is over 3,500 years old, making it the first organized game in the history of sports.
Some of the games were played to resolve arguments between rival cities or as an alternative to all-out war.
The Sacred Cenote
Cenote De Los Sacrificios
Chichen Itza means “mouth of the well of Itza” in the local Maya language. One possible translation of Itza is “enchanted water.” The Yucatan is covered in cenotes — distinctive limestone sinkholes that form natural pools.
Cenotes have deep spiritual significance for the Maya. Many scholars believe Chichen Itza was built solely because of the large cenote located here, which provided people with fresh water.
Cenote de los Sacrificios (also known as the Sacred Cenote) measures about 200 feet across with sheer cliffs that drop to the water’s surface. During severe droughts, worshippers tried to appease their rain god Chac by sacrificing special items or people (!) they weren’t very fond of.
Dredging this cenote uncovered thousands of artifacts made of gold, jade and copper. Numerous human skeletons with sacrificial wounds littered the depths as well…
La Iglesia Structure
The Wall of Skulls
More Cool Archeological Structures
Tzompantli means “wall of skulls,” and this next attraction lives up to its name. The large platform supported stakes on which decapitated human heads were impaled on top of each other.
The unfortunate victims were enemies defeated in battle or prisoners of war sacrificed to the gods. Whimsical skull carvings around the base are a nice touch.
This exhibit would have scared the living daylights out of would-be enemies.
A more elaborate platform nearby is known as House of the Eagles. Its motif is similarly creepy. Eagles and jaguars, symbolizing Toltec sacrificial warriors depicted clutching human hearts.
One of the most interesting structures is El Caracol, which functioned as an observatory. There are many more fascinating stops at Chichen Itza, so plan to spend at least 3 – 4 hours to see it all.
Popular Cenote Ik Kil
Less Crowded Cenote Zaci
Swimming In Cenotes Nearby
While you can’t swim in the cenote at Chichen Itza itself (unless you want to join the skeletons at the bottom!) there are others nearby where you can.
The closest cenote, and most popular with tour buses, is called Ik Kil. While it’s a pretty one, it’s always packed with people and feels like a tourist trap. I’d probably skip it.
If you want a more authentic cenote experience, I’d recommend cooling off in the cenotes near the town of Valladolid. These include Cenote Zaci, Cenote Dzitnup, or Cenote Suytun.
Navigating the Local Vendors
Getting To The Ruins
The ruins of Chichen Itza are about 197 kilometers (2 hours) from Cancun or 181 kilometers (2 hours) from Playa del Carmen by car. It’s also about 1.5 hours away from Merida.
The smaller town of Valladolid is another option. From here the ruins are less than an hour away.
Rental Car
RentalCars.com searches all the big car rental companies and finds the best price. This is probably the easiest way to rent a car in Mexico.
If you’re looking for a more adventurous route, the “libre” road runs parallel to the main toll highway and goes through a bunch of smaller villages for a more authentic feel of Mexico.
By Bus
Mexican ADO Bus Service from Cancun to Chichen Itza costs about $202 MXN ($9) one way and takes 3 hours. From Valladolid, there’s bus service every 30 minutes for about $26 MXN
Collectivo Taxi
Colectivos van taxis leave Valladolid from a lot just east of the bus station and cost $35 MXN.
Different View of the Pyramid
Tips For Visiting Chichen Itza
- Tickets cost $242 MXN ($11 USD). If you pay cash, only pesos are accepted. You can rent a locker for large bags and valuables.
- There’s an evening “light & sound” show at 7pm in fall and winter and 8pm in spring and summer. It’s included in the price of admission.
- Try to visit first thing in the morning when they open, or late in the afternoon to avoid the huge tour-bus crowds.
- Consider splurging on a guided tour. There are information plaques at each attraction, but nothing like the insight you’ll get from a local guide.
- Tourists can no longer climb to the top of the Kukulkan Pyramid due to UNESCO status and a few deaths over the years from falling.
- The sun is unrelenting. Wear a hat, apply sunscreen and take plenty of water. If possible, arrive as soon as the gates open in the morning.
- The mediocre food on-site is expensive. You can get much better stuff down the street at the village of Pisté for a lot less.
- Avoid the vendors selling souvenirs at the entrance. Yes, tourists support their livelihood, but many of them sneak in without authorization, and it’s become a bit of a circus.
Chichen Itza Map
Getting Around the Ruins
Traveling To Mexico Soon?
Don’t forget travel insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read more about why you should always carry travel insurance here.
USEFUL TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR CHICHEN ITZA
Location: Chichen Itza, Mexico
Cost: $242 MXN ($11 USD) Entry Fee
Book A Flight: Learn how I find the cheapest airline flights
Rent A Car: RentalCars.com is a great site for comparing car prices
Find A Hotel: My tips for booking affordable accommodation
Protect Your Stuff: WorldNomads.com can insure your trip & gear
Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Yucatan
Suggested Reading: The Maya: Ancient Peoples & Places
Cost: $242 MXN ($11 USD) Entry Fee
Book A Flight: Learn how I find the cheapest airline flights
Rent A Car: RentalCars.com is a great site for comparing car prices
Find A Hotel: My tips for booking affordable accommodation
Protect Your Stuff: WorldNomads.com can insure your trip & gear
Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Yucatan
Suggested Reading: The Maya: Ancient Peoples & Places
Pin This!
READ MORE FROM MEXICO
15 Cool Things To Do In The Yucatan
The Best Of Playa Del Carmen
Tips For Visiting The Ruins Of Tulum
How Much Does Traveling Mexico Cost?
Have any questions about the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza? What about other suggestions? Drop me a message in the comments below!
This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.
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WeChat and Line Team Up in Japan – DTH
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In China’s Land of Buddhas and Fortresses, Kindness Prevails
By JADA YUAN from NYT Travel https://ift.tt/2AtbXGy
The first five-star custom-designed couples-only hotel in Cyprus
The Amavi is the first five-star custom-designed couples-only hotel in Cyprus. A destination where all facilities are created for refined side-by-side holiday experience. Situated directly on the golden sands of a ‘Blue Flag’ certified beach in Paphos, it offers unobstructed sea views and enchanting sunsets from each hotel room and all public areas, all within […]
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Monday, November 26, 2018
Ask your CEO if Sandberg is Right for You – DTNS 3415
Starring Tom Merritt, Sarah Lane and Roger Chang.
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Apple Headed to Supreme Court- DTH
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Luxury hotels and fine dining in Tokyo
‘Luxury hotels and fine dining in Tokyo’ is a snapshot of our experience in the exciting capital city of Japan, a destination that conjures up images of bustling streets, towering skyscrapers and modern, urban and futuristic design; add to this the opportunity to dine at world class restaurants and stay at award-winning hotels, then we […]
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The Rockies, the Alps, the Caucasus? Georgia Plans for the Future
By GABRIEL LEIGH from NYT Travel https://ift.tt/2OZM4n3
Skiing Quebec, Where the Chef’s Table Is Just a Schuss Away
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Help! I Spent a Fortune for a Credit-Card Companion Pass But the Virus Wouldn’t Quit
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Another cache of hacked passwords and logins has been released, Apple is looking at putting a 3D camera into the iphone and Ultraviolet is c...
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