Today was the second half of the Ruta Puuc archaeological road trip to the more popular sites of Uxmal and Kabah. An older Japanese guy from my hotel was also on this trip. We also had Raoul as our guide who was with me yesterday for Ruta Puuc day 1 (see previous entry).

A good description of the Ruta Puuc can be found here http://www.choco-storymexico.com/uxmal/ atractivos_en.pdf

There was a trio of older Americans so more English speakers on this trip. We also had a second guide as Raoul's English is not that strong.

To enter Uxmal we had to line up once for a Federal ticket then again for a State ticket for a total price of 213P ($16). Why couldnt they just charge us once?

Because they chose to build in an area with no water they honoured the rain god. Upon entering first sight is the Magician's Pyramid though not sure why its called that.

The heat was baking again expected to get upto 38 degrees. Towards the back the complex expanded and had more ruins.

Toward some stairs at the back we were in the Nunnery. It was called this because the Spanish named it that when the design reminded them of convents.

There were interesting brick designs and patterns around the walls surrounding the field.

Leaving the field was an arch said to be the arch to the underworld.

Thru the arch was the ball game court. This seemed easier than the one at Chichen Itza as the hoop was lower and larger.

The complex continued on with the Governor's Palace to the left, and Grand Pyramid to the right.

The Palace had many empty rooms and views of the Magician's Pyramid back in the distance.

Adjacent was the Grand Pyramid. It wasnt worth the climb as there isnt much to see and with my issue with heights I needed help coming down.

Before the drive to Kabah I wanted a drink or something cool. They had berry slush drinks for 65P ($5). I went for the cheaper coconut pineapple slush for 50P ($3.85). All I could taste was coconut and no pineapple so I had to mix my fruit juice into it for taste.

Entrance to Kabah was 50P ($3.85) and we had less time here. Again to worship the Rain God Chaac was the Palace of Chaac Masks.

The wall was made up of faces of the rain god. To the rear the complex continued.

Behind was the remains of two hanging carved figures perched out from the wall.

The palace itself was a smaller version of the one at Sayil yesterday.

The site is divided by a road and the arch is the other side of the road. I told the guides I was going as nobody else was interested.

You walk about 500m in baking heat to get to the arch. The bus was waiting for me so I had to rush back in the heat.

Next was the restaurant where we were expecting drinks to cool down. We gave our orders and the other tables got served. Then we had to give our orders again. We ordered two lime drinks and only one came.

The Taiwanese guy from our group offered me his while he waited for the second one to come. When it did it was smaller then the one he had given me?

For the four soup choices they said we can only have the lime soup. Fine. For the four main courses they said we can only have the two pork dishes. I said I dont eat pork so they agreed to give me the chicken fajita choice on the menu?

I devoured the food I was so hungry. Back in our hotel I tried our pool for the first time. For being kept out in 38 degree weather surprisingly they had kept the water at ice so I could only go waist deep.