There are different paths in life that people chose for themselves. For a long time I was looking for something meaningful because I believed that life is given for a certain reason and we are all lucky to be alive. I still believe that by the way, but in another kind of way. There are a lot of speakers and motivators out there talking about how to get what you want, how to fulfil your passion, how to find your calling.

The truth is - you will find yourself when you are ready to face the consequences of your actions. You are truly and utterly on the verge of a breakthrough when the shit hits the fan. So this is what I would like to talk about - my own experience with finding meaning, fulfilment and enjoyment and its started to dawn on me when I was a little over 20.
I’ve found this study program dedicated to Maya Studies. I was an art history major and had a lot of egyptologist friends. We would hang around and read up about Ancient Greece or Egypt and as much as I love ancient stuff there wasn’t enough mystery for me. After all, the western mind has been introduced to Mycean cultures for at least a thousand years, not to mention that Egypt has been the ‘hype’ in the XVIII century.
But the Maya…oh, the Maya were the real deal. A system of calendric that is not easy to crack. A mystery surrounding the ‘disappearing act’ of a whole civilisation! And the ruins! Ruins that are still surrounded by thick selva and hidden around the Yucatan Peninsula.

This is an introductory post for all the future ones concerning Maya and all Maya cities. And I will start with the beautiful EK BALAM. My first Mayan city, the one that made me pursue a career for 10 years and get a PhD in archaeology.
You’d have to travel to Mexico and through Valliadolid, a cute colonial town, complete with a church


and some colorful designs:
and some contemporary culture flare!

Welcome to this majestic city!

Upon entering there is a 20-th-century-made sign, bearing the toponym (the name of the city according to where it was located) in hieroglyphic form (a little more on that in the next post!).

The ruins are, of course, the main tourist attraction in the region. Being so close to the coast (only 3 hours by bus from Playa del Carmen and Cancun). This is a unique city in many ways, and one of them is the walled system that is not found in many place in the Maya area.

You can still see the archway (that has been severely renovated but still) - the Entryway for all the lord from other lands to see the Ajaw of Ek Balam.

It was raining when we came to the city, no wonder, who travels around in January? Only archaeologists. The air was moist, the ground was damp.
Rain would break out every 15 minutes, only giving us little time to take cover. We would have to seek shelter inside the thick-walled palace corridors running deep into the bowels of the grand palace.

Oh, the stories these walls could tell us. If only they could speak…

They would tell us of the blood that ran through the city, like water; of the lords that made the sacrificial ritual bloodletting; of the thirsty gods that were never there when disaster would strike.
These thick walls were made from brick and mortar, 2 metres tall and 3 metres wide, would be covered in plaster and murals, but also serve a defensive function. The inner planning of the palace and the temples was sacrosanct and the amount that could go inside would be very limited.

In a way the whole city is an architectural complex of pyramids that would have temples on top of them, they would serve as platforms for the lords and priests to govern the bodies and minds of the ancient Mayans.

Today, these stairways are slippery as hell!!! You have to walk side-ways not to break you neck!
But they open a view - to die for!



I love to call it ‘mar verde’ in spanish - as it looks like “the green sea” and those hidden temples as long lost ships cruising around in the vastness of the mexican selva.
Well, this is just one part of one big trip and many more posta about the Maya area to come!! Stay tuned!! Follow to see more travel and beautiful views of ancient lands. Hope you enjoy!!! I'd love to communicate so let's stay in touch!!