We first visited Ek Balam, a set of Mayan ruins that was in its height about 800 AD. Much of the site is still buried in mounds that you can see around the area, but some parts have been uncovered by archeologists and historians. Right as we arrived, a rainbow appeared around the sun, which we considered to be a good sign for the day's excursion.
Our tour guide had lived with the Mayan people for 20 years and was able to give us some great insight on their culture and practices. We had the tremendous opportunity to climb to the top of the pyramid at Ek Balam, 105 feet high, where we could see out over the jungle for miles. We all decided that the climb, both up and down, could definitely be counted as our exercise for the day and was absolutely worth the effort.
Hot and sweaty from the climb, our second stop was at a cenote, an underground pool where the rainwater collects through the limestone. The Mayans believed that cenotes were entrances into the Underworld, and as we descended underground we hoped that eventually we would see the surface again.
The limestone above part of the cenote had fallen in, so as we swam and mingled with the fish we could watch the birds soar in and out and see the sun's rays shine down into the water.
Our final stop for the day was at a Mayan village, where we ate a delicious lunch (tortillas made one minute before they arrived at the table... incredible! Grocery store tortillas will never be the same again!), watched some traditional dances, then toured the village and learned about the construction of houses and the types of crops grown.
It was a good day, and it was fascinating to get a brief glimpse of how the Mayan people live, both currently and historically. I think that it is safe to say that we all came away with an increased respect for the Mayans and a heightened appreciation for the many modern conveniences and luxuries that we enjoy.
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