Travelling to Palenque

The first news this morning was that Mario, our driver, was having to join another tour, so we now have Jorge. We left the cool temperatures and rain of San Cristobel for a long drive to Palenque. It really was cooler high up in the mountain  and didnt feel like Mexico temperatures! Plus the hotel was chilly but it had the best hot shower so far!  We had only driven down the mountain when the mist cleared. We had an interesting journey although I slept part of the way. We travelled into some much greener countryside, over the dam on the Grejalva river and past small settlements. We spent some time on windy mountain roads and some on motorways. There were several loo stops and a lunch stop and when we got out each time in the clear blue sky it was hot! I was highly embarrassed when one of my colleagues gave only 5 pesos for a tip as it's only about 2p. There has been a bit of mumbling and grumbling about tips, am not sure where these people have been with travelling but our guide has explained everything to us.

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On arrival there was an offer of a walk but we were told there was not much to see, so I opted for a swim and sit by the pool. Likewise for dinner, I preferred a light snack and some peace and quiet. Being organised wears a bit thin  sometimes and I don't need looking after.  A bit of quiet painting made a nice change.

Later I sat by the poolside and ordered a Margarita, and then asked if I could have the fried banana with ice cream instead of cream and cheese. Oh no, he said, you can have ice cream or fried banana.  The ice cream comes in a different dish. I suggested the ice cream could be put on the plate but this level of flexibility was certainly not available, so now he has gone away to give me more time to make up my mind. I don'  think I need more time to think, it'I him who needs that. I fear I may have missed my opportunity for anything! Well stranger things have happened. I must have got the apprentice last time. I got fed up with waiting, so went to the till and she sent a more mature waiter and he complied with my wishes straight away!


We checked out of our very nice hotel. It was a pity it was a one night stay, as it was rather nice with its pool, the little patios by the rooms, and the level of comfort. I was a little troubled to find my alarm clock ,was  half an hour slow so have changed the battery, but perhaps I knocked it when  changing the alarm. Breakfast was cooked to order, good but tricky as we didn’t have much time. Today we visited the Mayan site at Palenque. Whilst pretty  spectacular, I still think Tikal in Guatemala is better. Perhaps it is because that was the first Mayan site  I had seen.

Our guide was very knowledgeable but kept sitting us down in the shade to tell us the history and show us pictures and I just wanted to explore. Apparently some of the site has only recently been explored, for example the sarcophagus of the red queen, named after the cinnabar  with which they impregnated the burial robes, a substance that also destroyed the DNA. We had seen the robes in the archaeological  museum.

The site of Pakal  had been explored  in 1952 but the site itself discovered in 1773, completely immersed in the jungle. Now there are conflicts between the authorities preserving the jungle and those preserving the archaeology.
We saw various buildings, the House of Kings, the House of inscriptions, the House off the Skull

The site of Pakal  had been explored  in 1952 but the site itself discovered in 1773, completely immersed in the jungle. Now there are conflicts between the authorities preserving the jungle and those preserving the archaeology.

We saw various buildings, the House of Kings, the House of inscriptions, the House off the Skull. There were some stucco murals portraying the source of life Maize and others showing the ceremonies for drawing blood which was used for worship.

 There were some stucco murals portraying the source of life Maize and others showing the ceremonies for drawing blood which was used for worship. Unlike the Aztecs and other groups, they did not have human sacrifice.
This was a very advanced society, with aqueducts, toilets, baths and the buildings were built with  mathematical precision and orientation to the sun, moon and stars. They lived between 300BC and 600AD and would have left the site for some environmental reason, such as flood or drought. So why do we insist on living in flood areas..,.have we gone backwards.  It always amazes me how we have lost so much knowledge from past civilisation. This was one if the biggest societies that has existed and there descendants still hold to some if their traditions.

Unlike the Aztecs and other groups, they did not have human sacrifice.
This was a very advanced society, with aqueducts, toilets, baths and the buildings were built with  mathematical precision and orientation to the sun, moon and stars. They lived between 300BC and 600AD and would have left the site for some environmental reason, such as flood or drought. So why do we insist on living in flood areas..,.have we gone backwards.  It always amazes me how we have lost so much knowledge from past civilisation. This was one of the biggest societies that has existed and there descendants still hold to some if their traditions.


Our second stop was at La Higuera restaurant. I know what Higuera is because of the maracas and plant pot I bought last year in Nicaragua. It is a tree with fruit with a hard skin used to make into  various containers. The main menu was different cuts if steak, huge pieces.  It looked very good but I don’t feel like something so bug whilst travelling so opted for the chicken breast and salad and even then only managed half.
We are now settled down to a 6 hour drive so don’t expect to arrive until about 8-8.30.

Well we made it before 7pm, but I opted again to miss the group walk and laundry stop.