My first ruins trip
Trip Start
Dec 15, 2006
1
11
18
Trip End
Feb 07, 2007
Coba, Mexico
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Coba was built between 800-1000AD and is apparently interesting because the architecture isn't similar to the stuff found in the main Yucatan Mayan city of the day, Chitchen Itza. Instead it resembles that of Tikal, a different tribe's town several hundred ks away. Anyway, it's not too big and there's probably around 20 structures there to be seen. The most impressive of which is the Nohoch Mul (big mound) which was built on a natural hill and towers above any other structure, and even the forest. It is apparently the tallest structure in the northern Yucatan, taller than the Pyramid of Kukulcan found at Chitchen Itza. Anyway, it's big, and unfortunately when I got there the place was crawling with tour groups.
There is so much stone in the buildings - their construction is definitely an impressive feat. A lot of the intricate carving, however, has been lost been lost and is a pity. Most of these old Mayan towns were largely abandoned for unknown reasons for a few hundred years between the late classic Mayan period (about 250-1000AD) and when the Spanish lobbed in the 16th century. Weather did it's worst to anything that wasn't sheltered and as a consequence almost all of the stelae have lost most of their detail.
It was pretty hot during the trip, and although I was feeling the heat, it wasn't as bad as being subjected to the sight of several fat old men who, upon descent, were parading around open-shirt, puffing and sweating. The mental note to arrive before the hoards next time was made.
