Note the "authentic" well at the entrance with many "workers" to meet your every need.Reminds me of road workers stateside - 5 standing, 1 working.
Altun Ha is the translated Mayan name for Rockstone Pond 
The site is about 5 miles square and has the remains of some 500 structures.
This is a mahogany tree.
Apparently the entire country used to have massive amounts -
but it's been harvested almost into extinction.
Random flowers.
And here we have some "fruit" of a tree that will heal stomach ailiments. It looked like big, hard, green raspberries to me.
There were a number of trees that had symbiotic and parasitic things going on.
The tree on this burial site was an allspice tree.
It was used to embalm and preserve bodies back in the day.
(And you thought allspice was just used for pumpkin pies.)
There's something about rockwork that's just lovely isn't there?
This was a rock face that used to have two little waterfalls running down the side of it.
Reminds me of the rockman in "The NeverEnding Story"
"They look like strong hands...."
View from the top of one of the tallest temples.
The Temple of the Masonry Altars - 54 feet tall.
Our guide, Curity.
Yep. Just like the bandaids.
She was an amazing fount of information, incredibly polite and patient. And there were a couple retired school teachers in our group that I'm sure tested her patience greatly.
I know they tested mine.
One of the things I liked best about this site was the fact that we could actually climb up on the ruins - unlike at the ruins at Chitzen Itza where everything was roped off.
Chuck going up the backside of the temple of the masonry altars.
This view reminds me of the great wall of China...
There were also a lot less people at this site.
So I was able to get more photos without masses of gawking tourists (said the gawking tourist). 
And speaking of tourists... here's a couple rubes.
I wouldn't be surprised if eventually this site will also be off limits to climbing.
Yeah.
One would certainly expect a little crocodile on the top of an ancient ruin.
But, you gotta admire the hustle and initiative of it's owner.
I REALLY enjoyed this day.
Wan some fruit? 
4 comments:
That is amazing! I want to go there! I loved the pictures, I can't believe that all that is still there. They really knew how to build!
I am so jealous! I have always wanted to see ruins like that. The pictures are really cool--almost like being there but not quite.
Ahhhh, these are the photos I have be waiting for.
So. Cool.
I too am jealous.
All the ol Art History info starts circling in a random jumble in my head.
So, exactly how hot was it?
I want to walk up those.
(:
It was actually relatively mild weather. I think you could easily do it Celiac. I won't say it was cool - but I wasn't wishing I were dead and I didn't have to down water every 3 seconds. So, yea, it IS doable.
maybe 80 to 85 degrees?
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