CRUISE day 3--Mayan Ruins in Progresso

Okay beware there's lots of pictures and details here. We got up early, had breakfast, got off the boat and onto a bus. Our first excursion and I was so glad to get off the ship for a little while! It was a 2 hour bus ride out to Chichen Itza, which is where the Mayan ruins were (some of them anyway).









Our little souvenir. Kenny was such a sucker for all the Mexicans that were out there selling all their stuff. I was getting so frustrated at him because he would make eye contact and talk to all of them, and try to barter them down, even if he didn't want it. I just ignore them all, or say no thank you and leave. He would like bring them all to us! So now we have something to remember it by :)

Their beautiful pyramid. We weren't allowed to go on it or touch it. I guess they stopped that 7 years ago because people would take rocks and it was just getting more ruined. (haha, ruins getting ruined) but it sure was cool. I will spare you all the many many facts they told us about it. But everything about this pyramid is sympolic, and represents something about their time. Days, weeks, months, seasons, years, etc. are all represented in different steps, levels, sides, etc. They were pretty into their calendars.

If you've ever seen Emporer's New Groove, this is like that game they play. Our tour guide says he thinks they put the hoops up too high, and that they should be halfway up the wall. You're not allowed to use your hands in the game, you can hit the ball with everything but your hands.

Some of the players were sacrificed after each game (they don't know if it was the winners or the losers). They carved heads here on this huge wall to represent each person sacrificed.

The little thing in the middle at the top of the stairs is their kind of altar where they made offerings. They were all over.

The temple of the thousand warriors. The Toltecs came and invaded/conquered the Mayans. They were a very ferocious and violent people. It was a huge honor to be a Toltec warrior and each pillar represents one warrior/soldier.

The coolest part about all of the ruins is that they were all built by hand. They didn't have any burden animals (is that what they're called?) to help them pull loads of rocks or anything. They just carried each stone. They were heavy. But not too heavy for our husbands! They totally could've been Mayans :). (And they probably shouldn't have been moving the rocks...)

By the way the whole week we called Kenny, Kennard (said like Leonard) and we called Andrew, Bourne. (Like Jason Bourne) We got such a kick out of it!

Hooray for the Mayans and their cool ruins!!

We really wish we could have had more time there, it was so neat! But we were with a group so we got back on the bus to eat a gross brown-bagged lunch they gave us. I was so hungry though I didn't mind. We took the 2 hour bus ride back to the ship. We all brought books so we read and napped. We were so glad to finally see the sun this day! We put our swim suits on and headed up to the Lido deck where the buffet and pool are. Steph and I wore our robes because they were like giant towels, and it was still really windy, and somewhat chilly outside when you're in just a swim suit. Too bad our camera decided to stop flashing randomly.

Kenny and Andrew were the only ones brave enough to get into the cold pool. We all got in the hot tub though! Then we went on the huge water slide that they had on the ship. It was awesome, except for when we went down another one of them and decided to race. The boys raced, then the girls. Andrew pointed his feet and his toes went through the metal grate thing at the end. It looked so so painful and bloody. Good thing he's Bourne! That ended our swimming for the day.

Then we showered, played more cards, went to dinner, then went to the newlywed/marriage game show which was really funny. After that was the talent show, then a Mexican buffet that started at 11 p.m.!! Did I mention you are constantly eating on cruises? It was fabulous :)