After saying goodby to San Cristobal, our private driver, Belisario Bolom, took us on a car journey through the jungle and over the mountains. The six-hour drive felt like two hours. We were captivated by the scenery and glimpses of daily life in the villages and towns along the way. About halfway, we stopped for a break overlooking Ococingo, a town at an elevation of 2,500 feet in the valley below. We reached Chan-Kah Resort Hotel, our lodging in Palenque, just in time for check-in, a late lunch, and our welcome cocktail. The setting sun gave us our first encounter with howler monkeys. Their loud and unfamiliar calls echoed throughout the jungle. At first, we didn’t know what we were hearing, but a quick Google search revealed that howler monkeys make a very loud, very creepy sound to mark their territory.
The ancient Mayan city of Palenque was founded around 100 BC and reached its political peak between 500 and 700 AD under rulers such as King Pakal the Great. Warfare, overpopulation, and resource depletion led to its abandonment around the ninth century. The city lay concealed by dense jungle until modern excavations began and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We carefully climbed the steps of the Templo to explore the burial chamber and admire the excellent views of the ancient city and the jungle below.
We learned so much; however, two facts stood out. Palenque contains one of the most extensive collection of hieroglyphic texts found in the Mayan world. Some of these tablets have been moved to the archeological museum in Mexico City; but several remain on site. The Mayans were also impressive engineers. They built an underground aqueduct that diverted the Otulum River to supply the city with water and feed a complex subterranean indoor plumbing system. It is amazing to think this engineering design was constructed 1,500 years ago. For more about Palenque, follow this link Palenque
We were hot and sweaty when we returned to the hotel and the pool was so inviting. We couldn't pass up the opportunity for a swim and some lounging by the water - a rare pool day for us!
That's the wonderful, delicious, restaurant on the other side of the gorgeous pool. See why we just had to take a dip!
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