Tulum, Mexico: The only Mayan city on the coast (Pics! Dial-up warning)

Hey Folks
I got back from my trip to Mexico, and this year I had the pleasure of visiting Tulum, the last great Mayan city. It is found on the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, and is the only known Mayan City reliant on the sea for food and trading.

There is a lot of interesting history to the city. It's walled, and only the upper-class lived within them.
Here's a wall corner with a lookout post, with a home in the foreground


The city is centered around a Lunar Temple, that was also used as a lighthouse. The Temple has 28 steps to represent the lunar cycle.





Here are the some of statues that adorn the top of the Temple


The Mayans adorned royal homes with images of their g-ds too



They also placed images on holy buildings





There are also a few surviving murals, but they are faded and hard to see


The city had direct access to the sea



And, of course, what photo montage could be complete without me


Happy Happy everyone :hi:

And the ruins aren't bad either! ;-)


How long were you there?

:blush:

I was in Mexico for 12 days...too short :D

I used to live near the Gulf and our water certainly doesn't look like that.

and the water in NY is far from it too :rofl:

:hi:

I hadn't seen you for a while.

Beautiful pictures!

:hug:

Yea, I was away for the past two weeks enjoying Mexico :evilgrin:

Thanks! How were your holidays? hope they were just as wonderful as you :loveya:

:hug:

Just kidding. That place looks fantastic. Thanks for posting. I am planning a trip to Mexico soon and I will make a point to check it out. !!!!

I highly recommend going of your are on the Yucatan Peninsula.

It is also right next to Xel-Ha, which has natural ocean pools and crystal clear water, with a lot of wildlife and great snorkeling. The weather didn't hold the day we went so we didn't go :(

:)

....wondered where'd you'd been!!! :hi: :hug: :loveya:

Awesome pictures...especially the one o' YOU...luuuuky dev'a!!! :evilgrin: :*

:loveya:

and its good to be back :hug: thanks :*

Going next month for 4 days. We're planning on a day at Tulum and a cay at Coba.
Where were you staying?

Great pictures.

Definitely check out Xel-Ha too (I talk about it in a response above or two), its right by you and Tulum.

I was staying just North of Playa Del Carmen, so it was like 80KM away for us, but well worth the trip.

Post some pics when you get back too :D Thanks

We're staying on Half Moon Bay and the Yal-Ku lagoon is walking distance so we'll probably skip Xel-ha. I'm also looking at going snorkling in one of the cenotes. Too much to do and not enough time, and we're supposed to be relaxing too.

In peace,

Radio Lady in Oregon

hope he enjoys them :D

I have not had to oppotunity to visit Tulom, although I have been to other major Maya center like Chichen Itza, Tikal, and Caracol, and a number of smaller ones like Altun Ha and Lamanai.

Thank you for sharing!

Ive only got to see Tulum! ;)

Thanks for enjoying them :hi:

It's absolutely gorgeous.

I especially liked the little beach down the stairs.

Did you get a chance to go to any of the other ruins while you were there?

no, these were the only ruins I got to see

Thanks for sharing! Looks like you had a good time there. :hi:

I did :hi:

Sure looks like you had a great time :hi:

:evilgrin:

Thanks petersond! :hi:

It was a terrific lesson in the everyday lives of the Mayan moneyed elite.

:hi:

in Cozumel.

:party::bounce::toast::beer::toast::beer::toast::beer::toast::bounce::party:

:evilgrin:

and that lagoon with all the tropical fish just north of Tulum.

Stayed in Playacar.

Great trip.

Its a beautiful place for a honeymoon :D

isn't mexico wonderful!

and i love the maya ruins.

the ocean is so beautiful there.

i'm glad you had fun -- the way life should be, eh?

:)

I only wish i got to see more ruins when i was there

:hi:

:loveya:

A fascinating trip, I'm sure, and what a treat it is to view your photos. Thanks for sharing! :hi:

Happy New Year to you! :toast:

:D

Happy New Year to u u4ic! :hi:

Just kidding! Those are fabulous pics. You must have had a great time!

:rofl:

:hi:

:hi: :hug:

Hope you had a good time!

:evilgrin:

thanks Bigwill! Hope your doing good! long time no see :hug:

prolesunited & I got married near there.







Here's an iguana that we saw in Tulum:



True story: We have more pictures of iguanas than we have of ourselves, aside from the wedding pictures. I like lizards.

:thumbsup:

:hi:

Oh, these are wonderful! So vivid and sharp!

You have done an exquisite job of photographing all these wonderful monuments....

I just love them!

And how right you are......no montage is complete without a great new pic of you!

Thank you, sweetie! :hug:

I tried to put up some of the best shots :D

and Im so glad you enjoyed them :loveya:

:kick:
:hi:

what i remember most are the butterflies fluttering over the grounds, the guide told us that they were the souls of the ancient mayans, although i suppose he was making it up, since i think the butterfly was the soul in ancient greece

oh, and you never forget that blue blue water

wish i could find my pix, it's been a few years

but for the upper class it was human, and the lower class it was animal.

but we didn't have many butterflies or really any for that matter :(