Using the words Maya and Mayan and knowing the difference between the two is not a simple concept for an English speaking brain. These two words are not interchangeable, nor are they singular words describing a broad culture, like the more familiar word French that means *anything* of French culture or of France. Where did [...]
That Pesky X
The letter X. It’s a common enough letter, but one rarely used in English at the beginning of a word, where it is pronounced like the letter -z as in the word xylophone. In English it’s not used so much in the middle of words either, where it is pronounced like the compound -ks as [...]
Tulum: The Walled City
‘The Tulum ruins are that way.’ said the young woman at the front desk of Zahra. She pointed in the general direction of the archaeological site and continued, ‘At the end of the road. You can take a taxi, or rent a bike …’ I interrupted her by saying, ‘No, I’d like to walk.’ She [...]
Uxmal: The Place of Pentiful Harvests
I was leaving Merida a little later than I had expected that morning, having forgotten to charge the battery in my digital camera. Combined with the travel time of about an hour-and-a-half to get to Uxmal from Merida by bus, I landed in the middle of the Puuc just before the archaeological site witching hour, [...]
Chichen-Itza: Mouth of the Well of the Itzas
The unlit path leading through the jungle and up to Chichen-Itza was crowded with people, which formed a processional to the site. The quietness of everyone as they walked suggested solemnity. The darkness made everyone overly cautious of their steps as they walked with their heads down, watching as they stepped over tree roots, rocks, [...]
