/ The Wonder that is Chichén Itzá

The Wonder that is Chichén Itzá

The Wonder that is Chichén Itzá

8 July 2007 Interviews & Editorials 9

If you read this website, then you've probably heard by now that the Pyramid of Kukúlcan at Chichén Itzá is now one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. We watched the award ceremony yesterday on our computers (while working, of course), switching back and forth between the New 7 Wonders presentation and the Live Earth concerts. It was a big day for live events around the world, and a big day for the Yucatan. The award was received by the Mexican Secretary of Tourism, Rodolfo Elizondo, and our very own Governor, Patricio Patrón.

We're pleased for them, of course, that Chichén Itzá was has become one of the New 7 Wonders. We know this probably means a lot more visitors to the area. It certainly is going to mean a lot more marketing of Chichén Itzá itself (hard to imagine sometimes). But we wonder if it will bring more prosperity to the small town of Piste next to Chichén Itzá and the surrounding Maya villages, not just to the coffers of the Mexican government. We wonder if it will bring more awareness of the Maya world-view and traditions. We wonder if this is just the beginning of more attention coming to Yucatan leading up to the year 2012.

Yucatan Living is about exposing the fact that there is a lot more to this area than tourist attraction called Chichén Itzá, both for people who live here and for people who want to break out of the tourist bubble. But certainly, seeing the Pyramid of Kukúlcan and the exotic and mysterious structures that surround it is what gets a lot of people hooked on this part of the world. The mystery is right out there in the open, in a lot of ways.

Anyone who sees it can't help but wonder... WHY did they build these structures? What did they look like when they were painted? What did they do inside the Pyramid ? Why is there a statue there? And the most-asked question, how did they move all those rocks without using the wheel? (Of course, anyone who is building a house here has one answer to that... they just carried them. We are frequently amazed by the size and weight of things that Maya men are able to carry. Okay, we know that isn't the only answer, but it might be part of the answer.)

One of the most wonderful things about the Yucatan is that there is a lot to wonder about here. Our friend Trudy of Iluminado Tours conducts sacred tours of the Maya world that include a guided shamanic tour of Chichén Itzá. If you've been to Chichén Itzá a few dozen times - every time family or friends come to visit - seeing it from a Maya spiritual point of view can give you an added dimension of understanding and appreciation.

No matter how many times you visit the magic site of Chichén Itzá, we wish you moments of wonder.

To celebrate Chichén Itzá's inclusion on the list of the New 7 Wonders of the World, we have put a few of our many photos of Chichén Itzá into our Photo Gallery. They include photos of Old Chichen, an ongoing archaeological site on the grounds of Hacienda Chichén.

To read about one of our wonderful experiences at Chichén Itzá, see our article, called Los Tres Caballeros a Chichén Itzá.

Unable to complete this request due to an error. - Error has been logged.