Tag Archives: Travel

We rose to the twittering of birds and the unmistakable calls of howler monkeys coming from high up in the tree tops. My son and I quickly got ready and took a stroll through the lush forested grounds of the hotel, then headed for breakfast. On the way we saw an iguana with a bloody nose. Perhaps it had a run-in with a dog. But it plodded steadily on, where ever it was headed, unfazed. I admired its pluck and resilience.

An iguana, Palenque. — The poor iguana with the bloodied nose at our hotel in Palenque.

Today we would be visiting the famous Maya ruins of Palenque. Located in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, where the gulf plain meets the rising mountains of the interior, it is an area of heavy rainfall and dense forests. Palenque was occupied from around 100 BC, reached its peak from 640 to 730 AD and was largely abandoned by 900 AD. The jungle took over until it was rediscovered and investigated in the nineteenth century. The forest covering was peeled back revealing magnificent buildings from a bygone era. But, only a very small fraction of the area has been explored and archeological digs continue. Who knows what the future may reveal.

Maya ruins, Palenque. — First view of the jungle covered Maya Ruins at Palenque, Mexico.

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My Mexico Trip, Part 5: Veracruz to Palenque and a Fascinating Dance-Drama.

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Continued from My Mexico Trip, Part 4: Popocatépetl, Puebla Cathedral and China Poblana.

After lunching at The China Poblana in Puebla, we headed towards Veracruz. The topography of the land changed gradually. We saw large wind-farms with their long turbine blades turning slowly in the wind —a cheap, clean way to generate electricity—no charge for the wind and no emitted carbon.

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My Mexico Trip, Part 2: The Plaza de la Constitución (Zócalo), Metropolitan Cathedral and the Presidential Palace.

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Continued from My Trip to Mexico, Part 1: Teotihuacán and the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon.

After the visual splendor and history of Teotihuacán, we started on the drive back to Mexico City. En route, our guide told us the history of the places we were about to see; Plaza de la Constitución (Zócalo), the Metropolitan Cathedral and numerous sumptuous office buildings surrounding the vast rectangular plaza.

Jeet and I in the Plaza de la Constitucion with the Cathderal Metropolitana in the background, Mexico City. A selfie. — My son Jeet and I in the Plaza de la Constitución with the Metropolitan Cathedral in the background, Mexico City. A selfie.

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My Mexico Trip, Part 1: Teotihuacán and the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon.

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Bright warm sun in January, rare Mezcal and a chance to explore ancient ruins—does that make you want “to rise and go”? It certainly did to me.

Jeet and I, Temple of the Moon, Teotihuacán. — My son and I, Pyramid of the Moon, Teotihuacán, Mexico.

It was December 2022. My son Jeet was visiting just before Christmas. One day as I picked up the mail, I saw a bright, colorful brochure from Caravan Tours advertising their very affordable tours to Mexico and other Central American countries. It had a large picture of a toucan on the cover. That brought back fond memories when, years ago, we had taken a Caravan led trip to Costa Rica and liked it. Wouldn’t it be nice to go to some place sunny and warm, a nice change of scenery and climate from the cold, grey winter of northeastern USA? And so, the plan gradually took shape.

I asked Jeet if any of the trips in the brochure interested him. He chose ‘The Ancient Civilizations of Mexico’. I am interested in history, especially the rise and fall of civilizations. In particular, what causes ancient, well established, powerful empires to suddenly and unexpectedly crumble at the onslaught of a few upstart adventurers and conquistadors. So, I jumped at the opportunity to visit the land of the ancient Aztecs and Mayans.

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