Mexico 2008
                                                              Tulum   Thursday, May 29, 2008                                                                         Day1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  

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                                                             Back to the Yucatan jungle adventure day.  Located just 25 miles West of Tulum is Cobá and is a departure from
                                                             well restored Chichen Itza.   If you want an Indiana Jones type site, Cobá is the place.
 
                                                             Remarkable is that access to the site is relatively recent - first road and restoration start was early 1970s and 
                                                             the main paved road and tourist entry was not until the early 1980s.  However, the early Mayans (600 AD) had 
                                                             over 40 roads built to access Cobá - built 3' to 6' high with 30' width and finished in white mortar.  Some of the 
                                                             walk today included the ancient road (called sacbeob).  One sacbeob was a very straight 60 mile long road
                                                             through the jungle to the sea.
 
                                                             Nohoch Mul Pyramid is the largest and highest (136') structure.  Climbing is allowed and the vista of the vast
                                                             jungle is mesmerizing.  The smaller Cobá Group Pyramid (65') can be seen in the distance.  A small temple
                                                             crowns the top of the pyramid.  Climbing down does take a more careful approach and a little longer. 
 
                                                             Other structures excavated include (2) ball courts.  Whether the court was sport or settling disputes, it is
                                                             unknown.  It has been mentioned that no hands or feet could be used to shoot a ball through the goal hoop
                                                             and potentially one goal would complete the game.  Possibly the loser would be the next sacrifice and any
                                                             fans would lose their jewelry and clothes.  Makes modern day soccer fans look mild in comparison.
 
                                                             Color would have been prominent on all the buildings since they originally were covered in stucco and painted
                                                             red with other colored trim.  Vast jungle surround the area with silk Cotton trees, banyan trees, butterflies,
                                                             a fare share of flying insects.  
 
                                                             Exploring the area is easy - either by hiking, renting a bike on site, or tri-cycle with driver.  One can only imagine
                                                             how an German explorer felt when he first documented discovery in 1891.  He would be glad to know that many
                                                             of his homeland are still visiting and using native guides trained in German language - interesting sight since the 
                                                             voice just doesn't match the person.  
 
                                                             Back to the villa and cooling swim. 

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                                                                                 Coba - Nohoch Mul Pyramid   Coba - Nohoch Mul Pyramid   Coba - Nohoch Mul Pyramid   Coba - Nohoch Mul Pyramid   
                                                                           Coba - Nohoch Mul Pyramid View from the Top   Coba - Nohoch Mul Pyramid View from the Top   Coba - Nohoch Mul Pyramid View from the Top      
                                                                                  Coba - Nohoch Mul Pyramid View from the Top   Coba - Nohoch Mul Pyramid View from the Top   Coba - Nohoch Mul Pyramid Flora at the Top
                                                                         Coba - Cobá Group Pyramid    Coba - Cobá Group Pyramid    Coba - Cobá Group Pyramid   Coba - Cobá Group Pyramid
                                                              Cobá - Ball court   Cobá - Ball court Goal   Cobá - Ball court    
                                                             Cobá - 3 KM of Trail  Cobá - 3 KM of Trail  Cobá - Trail Flora  Cobá - Trail Flora    
                                                                        Cobá - Crossroads Temple   Cobá - Group of the Paintings Structure   Cobá - Group of the Paintings Structure
                                                                          Cobá - Mayan Calendar   Cobá - Bike Taxi

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                                                                                      Yucatan Peninsula

 

                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                        Last Updated 2008 May email@ellerberoad.com