Xunantunich

Xunantunich (Maiden of the Rocks) was a thriving Mayan city from around 600 to 900 A.D.  We had to take a hand-cranked car ferry across the Mopan River to reach it.  The main pyramid, El Castillo, is 127 feet high. Xunantunich was my personal favorite of the three ruins we visited.  I sat on top of a smaller structure which the Mayans used as an observatory; it was very quiet and peaceful. There was a gentle breeze, butterflys floated around me, and I could see for miles. For 10 or 15 minute it was easy to let my mind wander and imagine what it must have looked like over 1000 years ago.

This is the view from the Mayan observatory where I fell in love with Xunantunich.
 

Our first view of El Castillo
 

El Castillo (I took this picture from the Observatory)
 

That's Bert!
 

Me on the observatory. Bert took this picture from near the top of El Castillo
 

Another view from the observatory
 

Ball Court