Day 20: Yaxcha; by Robert Xajin - Saturday November 27, 2010

Yaxcha was a sometime rival and close neighbor of Tikal. We climbed 3 grand temples and walked around this grand ancient Maya mother city. We saw parts of the great Mayan waterworks and canal system, some of which is still in use today! I was intrigued by the far reaching trading routes that extended all the way up the Gulf of Mexico. That raises a number of questions about the civilization’s trading economics, monetary functions, etc. Interestingly, Luis who is a local, believed that some interference with trade forced everyone to be more local and that naturally forced down-scaling and outward migration. What fabulous folk wisdom and clear logic.

The site visits have led to discussions about how that civilization functioned beyond military activities & religion. The people live just outside the ruins and revere and practice their old ways even under Christianity. In even medium sized villages, the ordained priest only shows up once a month.

Luis, as a boy selling beverages at Tikal & Jorge, as an early visitor to Yaxcha shared their direct experience of a couple of events during the 30 year civil war here that ended in the 90’s.

We had yummy turkey & vegetable stew Mayan style in the village. The bird was definitely free range but not wild. We were hoping for armadillo or wild pig so that we can add another food adventure to the Paka yesterday and the termites at Palenque. The termites tasted good and like the tree they were eating which was spicy. Unfortunately, the exotic food we were looking for at the Finca was replaced by a buffet that could handle a large and local graduation party.

It started raining hard as we arrived at Finca Ixobal. We have two “tree houses”. It is funky and targets the eco-tourtist and back-packers.