Mixco Viejo

On Monday of this week we had a group outing to the ancient Mayan ruins of Mixco Viejo.  These date back to the post classic period or around 1300 to 1500 AD.  It was about a two hour drive through some very interesting countryside and small towns.  Here is a government building in San Pedro.

 And here is an interesting Catholic church in the same little town.

Mixco Viejo is up high on a mountain and was a major stronghold of the Mayans against the Conquistadors.

 This is the Mayan name for it.  Don't ask how it's pronounced!!

 This is the entrance.  Obviously people don't sneak in!

 You can see how high up the site is by this photo of the valley below.

Here is all our group except for Sister Burk who took the photo.

 Just inside the park is this relief map which shows how the civilization was situated on top of the mountain and shows how extensive it was.

 This map is etched in the side of a large concrete wall and shows that Mixco Viejo is completely surrounded by rivers making it even more difficult to conquer.

 We met this young lady who was selling bottled drinks from the tub she carried on her head.  Gary bought a bottle of water and could barely hold the heavy tub while she found him what he wanted.  It was amazing that she could carry it on her head let alone balance it!

 
These pyramids are made of a rock that is much thinner than the other ruins we have visited.  Apparently it is simply what was available in the area.

Here is President Burk a-top one of the pyramids.

 The stairs were steep enough that we needed to climb them with our hands on the steps above us.

 It seemed that most of the clusters of pyramids included ones like these.  They were in pairs and had really steep stairs with very narrow steps.

 And, of course, Gary had to climb it!!

 President and Sister Burk posing in front of the stairs.

 And Gary and Dorine in the same place.

 This is one of the balls courts.

 This shows some of the original stucco that at one time covered all of the pyramids and was painted different colors.  Very little of it is left now.

 This is the women's court.

Here, after several more bottles of drink had been sold, Dorine tries to lift the tub onto her head and can't even get it in place! 

 And here is Gary on top of yet another pyramid standing in his "Eberhard pose!"

 On the way home we drove through the market in San Pedro and got some fun photos.  The colorful displays of fruits and vegetables almost, but not quite, compete with the colorful clothing the women wear.  And the ladies carry their loads on their heads here as well!