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Maya Photo Adventures

My name is John C. Mureiko and one of my goals in life was to become a world traveler. A great way for me to start my traveling adventures was to visit the Mayan Ruins of Chichen Itza located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.

I have traveled with a group from Delta College in March of 1996, again in March of 1997 with my family and the Delta College group and in 1998 with two friends; Barry Shafer and Dave Buchinger and the Delta College group. Traveling with a group of people always make the trip much more enjoyable. You always have someone to hang around with!

In the years (1996 and 1997) we stayed at a resort called the Caribbean Village which is located walking distance to the south of Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. This resort is an all-inclusive resort and it has lived up to and beyond my expectations of what an all-inclusive resort should have to offer. For those golf lovers .. this is the place you want to go .. it's absolutely beautiful! Playa del carmen has become a world class resort area. The beaches are pure white sand and the Europeans enjoy vacationing there. Get the point guys ... toppless bathing on the beaches!! The water is a very beautiful, aqua blue/green and you can see a long ways underwater. It's like looking through your pool water ... it's sooooo clean! Don't forget to bring your underwater cameras. I use the disposable type .. they do the job and they are cheaper. In 2004 we stayed at RIU Playacar. Right on the beach and it was an all-inclusive resort too! I had so much fun I got goofy! Food was great and there was plenty of it to choose from.

In 1998 we stayed at a resort called Royal Maeva which is located just south of Playa Del Carmen. I believe they have changed their name to GalaResorts Playacar. I liked this place because it was right on the Caribbean Sea shores and it also was an all-inclusive resort. We were able to walk to privet beaches south of us to do as we wished and the scenery was awesome. I would go back to this place in a heartbeat. The disco (Boom Boom), was the ultimate, and it was part of the package. We spent many a night having fun at the Boom Boom. Brush up on your salsa and Marianna (excuse my spelling) dancing skills. The hotel staff enjoy going to the discos after their long day at work and they will be happy to dance with you or show you how to dance.

During the day Barry, Dave and I almost became dinner for sharks! We rented a small catamaran sailboat and was caught at sea during the beginning of a rain storm. Luckily, the rental people came to our rescue. We'll remember that adventure for years to come! ;) We were told we were in "Black Water" .... that means shark water to us gringos.!

I have also stayed at some of the local hotels in the village of Play del carmen right on 5th Avenue. There are many levels of comfort .. It's up to you to make the decision on what your preferences are. I've backpacked and stayed in the $30/night hotels and they were fine but no bells and whistles and I have stayed at the Blue Parrot Condo's where you are 20 feet from the beach and living in luxury. I really enjoy staying right in town so I don't have to take a taxi into town to do my shopping and for my entertainment.

During our stays we have ventured out on many field trips to Mayan ruins and other points of interest that were nearby. My favorite was the ruins of Chichen Itza because it was the biggest and the best to see. The largest pyramid is called La Piramide de Kukulkan. Spanish Explorers called it "El Castillo" which means "The Castle". Spanish Explorers would call many pyramids the same name because they did not know what they were really called or why they were built.

I have also visited the Tikal Guatemala in March of 1998...if you would like to see an itinerary of my trip and more information please click on this LINK. Tikal is a must for anyone who wants to experience a real jungle. It's all there and more. I was surprised when I was told by the guide that not very many Americans (United States) have visited this National Park. German, French and people from other Latin American countries are mostly who visit this area. Germans especially!

I have also collected many photos from my other traveling adventures I have encounter in Mexico and elsewhere in the links I have supplied on my web pages.

This photo below is of La Piramide de Kukulkan.

as that we visited during our stays. Correct spelling of the names or even correct names are welcomed. I am not an expert in the study of Maya history.

• A beautifully restored Temple of the High Priest Grave in southern Chichen Itza.
• This is most of the group from Delta College as we climbed the stairs to the Observatory, El Caracol at Chichen Itza.
• The Mayan observatory, El Caracol at Chichen Itza. This was used for astronomical observation. The tower is composed of two concentric walls enclosing a circular staircase that leads to a small chamber near the top of the structure.
• A closer view of the Observatory, El Caracol.
• It was a very busy day a Chichen Itza. A wide view of the Observatory, El Caracol.
• The largest pyramid is called La Piramide de Kukulkan.
• Look at the side view of how steep those steps are when climbing or decending from La Piramide de Kukulkan .. this is no illusion!!!
• Looking up the very steep stairs at La Piramide de Kukulkan
• Looking down from the top of the stairs of La Piramide de Kukulkan
• A wide view of the Temple of the Warriors from the top of La Piramide de Kukulkan.
• Temple of the Warriors from the front close-up.
• Temple of the Warriors from a wider view.
• Columns of the Temple of the Warriors with La Piramide de Kukulkan in the background.
• A one- point perspective view of the columns of the Temple of the Warriors.
• A carving of a warrior on one of the square columns of the Temple of the Warriors.
• Columns of Balam Ahau and Balam Kauil,Columnata de Balam Ahau y Balam Kauil.
• A wide view of the Ball Court of Chichen Itza from the top of La Piramide de Kukulkan.
• Viewing the Ball Court from the top of La Piramide de Kukulkan.
• Inside of the Ball Court with a Mayan boy selling a souvenir.
• Ball hoop close-up view inside of the Ball Court.
• Player , detailed carving on the wall of Ball Court.
• Players , detailed carvings on the wall of Ball Court. The outside of the Ball Court.
• The small room in front still has some paint on the walls and there are some real nice carvings inside of this room. The building outside the Chichen ballcourt are the steps to the Upper Temple of the Jaguars (now closed to the general public) and below it, the Lower Temple of the Jaguars. Inside the lower is a craved jaguar throne, much like the one inside Kukulkan (but w/o paint). The carved relief on the interior walls, still with much paint, depicts Maya creation/origin themes.
• On each corner of the two walls was a snake head in the ball court. The snake heads in the Ball Court are not just serpents, apparently they are depictions of Kukulkan, the Feathered Serpent.
• The Sacred Well , also called Cenote Sagrado o de los Sacrificios.

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