SUMMER 2022 (Part 2: Chiapas)

Originally this trip was planned with my friend Luis for summer 2020. Unfortunately the pandemic arrived and sadly my friend Luis passed away from Covid-19 complications. Once traveling was allowed, his brother Jorge and I decided we needed to make the trip in Luis' memory. 

If Oaxaca is a state filled with color, music, and folklore, Chiapas is a state filled with nature, archeology, and mysticism. 

We spent so much time traveling from place to place, hiking, swimming, eating indigenous food, drinking artesanales drinks, climbing pyramids (where permitted), visiting churches (when allowed), and so much more, that uploading all my images would take a very long time. 

One of our tours took us all the way to the Guatemalan Border where we ate some of the local food. 

And of course, we ended up buying some great pieces of hand-made art. In this case, wooden masks.

At the end, we paid tribute to our now gone friend Luis, and Miguel and I solidify our friendship with Luis' brother, Jorge. 

May you rest in peace, dear Luis

Next stop: Italy!

SUMMER 2019, PART 1-D: UXMAL

Wikipedia says that Uxmal is an ancient Maya city of the classical period. It is located in the state of Yucatán about 85 km (52 miles) from the city of Merida. It is considered a very important archeological site and to many people, like me, far more impressive than Chichén-Itzá.

Unlike Chichén-Itzá, Uxmal is deep in the jungle, which gives it a very magical feel. It is said that this is a magical city that was build over night by the king who used magic to make it happened.

By design, Uxmal is far more impressive to me, and obviously to the world for it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The name Uxmal means "three times built" and also "What is to come."

The May were very advance people, I mean, they had already integrated the used of the computer cursor in their architecture.

Uxmal's pyramids are magnificent, and unlike in Chichén-Itzá, one is allowed to climb such buildings, if you are actually able to do it.

For me, one of the most admirable things about this city is how some of the buildings have round edges while others have sharp edges, but no matter what, the architecture, the lines, and the angles are perfect all around.

I mean, just look at the precision of this pyramid steps. A straight line from top to bottom.

While the pyramid is round, the steps are straight with very sharp angles. 

And last but not least, the humidity and exhaustion in our bodies... but oh, what a joy to be here!

NEXT: SUNDAYS OF 'VAQUERIAS'