Palenque (pa-len-kay) is a real find. It is in the state of Chiapas, known to Americans for its civil unrest but we really enjoyed it. The gate to the ruins is a mere hundred meters from our campsite at Maya bell but we correctly assumed the ruins were more distant and drove. The site covers 15 square kilometers and as with most sites only a small portion has been excavated, most of it recently. In fact, one of the most exciting finds, a royal throne, was unearthed in 2002, fifty years after Palenque’s discovery.
Mayan kings ruled here from about 400 to 900 A.D. We found several bas relief carvings portraying king “Jaguar Serpent II” or some such regal Mayan. It is an interesting site and is very well kept. There is the usual number of locals selling trinkets and we bought a few for our neighbors, Arin and Aki, as presents for Arin’s “feliz comple anos”. Palenque wasn’t overly crowded today but during high season when 4000-6000 people visit it must be packed.
