Joe's World Backpacking Trip Stories and pics from my travels.

Chichen Itza is a mayan ruin in Yucatan, Mexico.  It was built by the Maya and florished around the 10th century.  Pretty awesome ruins.  Theres a big pyramid, a sacrificial altar, a big ball court and also a smattering of a couple dozen other buildings.  The ball court is for the game they played where they had to hit the ball into a small stone circle to score, and the winners (or losers depending on translations) were sacrificed after the game.  The most interesting part of the ruins were the construction of the great pyramid.  It was created to correspond to the Mayan calender.  The number of stairs, levels and the angles of the serpents all correspond perfectly to the mayan calender for days and months and years.  Also, on the equinox, there is a special shadow that lines up perfectly on the stairs and meets the head of a serpent sculpure on the base to make it appear like a giant snake is going down the stairs in order to signify the changing of the seasons.  According to experts, the Mayan calender is more accurate than our modern day Roman calender.  Also, apparently the end of the world is on 2012 according to the Mayans.  Chichen Itza is also one of the seven wonders of the world.  It deserves it, they are truly spectacular ruins.  Now I just need to go to one where I am allowed to climb the great pyramid for the view.  And also so I can possibly sacrifice someone on the top to the sun god before this end of the world event.  I need to start getting my things in order.  If anyone is looking to be deified write me an email.