Piste 1989
Arrived around lunch in this small town close to the ruins at Chichen Itza. Hot and dry day, made it uncomfortable walking to the hotel with our packs on. Stayed at the Posada Olade for 20,000 pesos. Quite expensive but cheaper than a hotel nearer the ruins. Spent the afternoon lazying about in the room. Trying to catch up sleep before tackling the many steps of the temples at Chichen Itza.
Not as impressed with these ruins compared with Palenque. Many of the buildings partially restored and the grounds surrounding each temple were well-trodden by the thousands of tourists visiting the site. Even while we were there, buses kept arriving from the resorts at Cancun or other cities in the Yucatan.
I made the effort to climb El Castillo the main pyramid but didn't venture any higher than 2 steps on any of the other temples. Had to come down on my backside from the top of El Castillo as it was so steep and made me giddy just looking down to the base. The setting at Chichen Itza is flat, dry land fairly similar to bushland areas in Australia.
