NOT in the POD - Izamal

the church of the Franciscan monastery

Izamal, Yucatan

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So.... I want to buy a house in Izamal and invite everyone I know to a party there. 

The invitation will say - "Come party with us! It's the big yellow house - can't miss it!"

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Izamal is one of the oldest colonial cities in the Yucatan and every building in town is painted egg yolk yellow. EVERY building. There was a big paint store there and we wondered what they actually sold....... 

But I must say - the city was strikingly beautiful and the single color palette made it very calming.

one of the many plazas

Izamal, Yucatan

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outside of the convent looking down into a central plaza

Izamal, Yucatan

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the atrium of the Franciscan monastery

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Izamal was absolutely pristine in appearance. The cobblestone streets were swept clean, the parks were neat and tidy, and even the horse drawn carriages were perfectly lined up in a row - with each horse sporting a festive bonnet! 

The city is best known for the huge Franciscan monastery and church that sit up high overlooking one of the central plazas. It is a huge structure. The atrium alone is second in size only to that of the Vatican. Unfortunately, the Spanish conquerors built the church and monastery on top of one the Mayan temples and acropolis that were the sacred heart of this Mayan city. They thought it would be so much easier to "go up" instead of having to move all those stones!!!

Oops - those wild and crazy Conquistadors.

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San Miquel Arcangel

one of the quaint hotels 

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Centro Cultural y Atresanal Izamal

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Up until the end of the Precolumbian era, Izamal was one of the most important sites for pilgrimages. The main temple was built to honor Kinich Ahau, the Sun God. 

Egg yolk yellow ...... it all makes sense!

Today, Kinich Kakmo, the remaining archeological ruins that sit in the middle of the city, are unrestored and still being studied.  This was a surprising climb - there were multiple levels and each one was kind of hidden from the one prior. So every time you thought you had got to the top ...... well there was more!

Donna and Brian just about to begin the climb at Kinich Kakmo

Stave 1

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Tim and Brian meet the next variation

Stave 2

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and then the great pyramid

Stave 3

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On the last climb my sister and I were definitely using both hands and feet to maneuver ourselves - especially on the way down. It definitely was not any steeper than the Great Pyramid at Uxmal... but the broken and loose stones made it quite precarious.

looking back at the city of Izamal from the top of the ruins

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My last bit of wonder / learning from Izamal was this plastic bag of water hanging from the rafters at the local restaurant there. Actually there were many of these bags hung from the rafters - approximately one every 6' or so. Of course, we asked the maitre d' the reason. He explained that it was a fly deterrent. Seems that flys will see a larger version of themselves .... extra big fly eyes - starring back at them and they will get scared and fly away. 

We did not see any flies during our lunch ......

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