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Early
enjoy a peaceful and delicious breakfast at the El Rincon
Hotel restaurant. A full-day excursion to two impressive archaeological
sites in the area, along the Puuc Route, which has World Heritage
status. First visit Oxkintok (Maya for Three Day Flint) was
once an important ceremonial center nestled in the Puuc hills,
inhabited since 300 B.C was recently restored. Hieroglyphic
inscriptions show some of the oldest dates known in Yucatán.
The oldest and most well known building of Oxkintok is the
Tzat Tun Tzat (Maya for labyrinth or place in which one may
be lost) Indeed, the narrow tunnels, passageways, stairs and
rooms make for a unique building in the world of the Maya.
The strategically located passageways and windows bring light
into the labyrinth. This is particularly evident on two days
of the year ( March 21st. and September 23rd.) are the equinoxes
of spring and autumn. On those days sunlight lights up all
the rooms through a series of holes in the walls!
Built
on three levels, one on top of each other, its interior forms
a maze of long, narrow rooms, connected by small gates and
narrow stairs. A grave found on the site included a jade mask
and symbols of power and authority were painted on the floor
leading archaeologists to believe it was the burial place
of a great lord. It has been speculated that it might have
served as a mausoleum, and represented the three levels of
the Maya world-view, or may have been built as a man-made
cave. It's easy to get lost as you wander through the rooms
speculating on their original purpose.
The labyrinth symbolizes a dark and a light avenue. It functions
as the holy path along which one travels from the external
world to the internal; from the lower realm to the higher
one.
Then
Continue our expedition to Uxmal, which was one of the largest
city-states in Yucatan. Enjoy a guided tour of the ruins and
see the impressive building known as the "Pyramid of
the Magician". Later, travel back in time, to the golden
days of the haciendas, when you visit the Hacienda Ochil.
Experience the grandeur and magnificence of the hacienda buildings
and plantation.
After
visiting Uxmal continue to The Ochil Hacienda and enjoy its
history and gastronomy, This hostel is an old converted hacienda
and is famous in the area for its culinary delights, as well
as for the Museum of the Sisal, that shows an interesting
vision of what the haciendas were like in their splendor.
Enjoy the exhibits that tell about the destiny of the edifications,
supported by documents. View objects for the production of
sisal and enjoy photographs of that time. You can also visit
a "cenote" in its gardens. Another attraction is
watching the local artisans making the arts and crafts that
you can purchase.
After
returning to Merida, the remainder of the day is at your leisure
to explore all that Merida has to offer. (B-L)
Facts:
Stelaes
and inscriptions At Oxkintok have provided valuable information
on the Maya culture.
Uxmal: In 1996 was declared by Unesco a World cultural heritage
site. One of the most representative constructions of the
Puuc Style is the Governors' Palace, its located here.
The
Political & Economic control was held by a select group
of individuals who through religious rituals served as intermediaries
between man and the gods.
Uxmal
was established as the capital of the Puuc Region.
Evidence
of a great hydraulic engineering system used to collect rain
water in "Chultunes" or cisterns which held from
20 to 30 thousand liters of waters each.
Over
160 Chultunes have been located in the surrounding areas of
Uxmal.
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