Thursday 20 December 2012
Highlights: The magnificent Monte Alban Ruins
We had a planned catch up with Sid for 10 am for those heading up to the Monte Alban Ruins. Due to a miscommunication the catchup didn’t occur instead Cynthia, Xinglu, Tina and myself headed off to find the tourist bus stop. We found Sam just as he bus was heading off.
Monte Alban was established around 500 BC gaining power and influence up until around 1,000 AD. The site is on top of a mountain and offers incredible views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. We took close to 3 hours to explore the site. The area was remarkably well preserved and luckily for us they had English descriptions in most of the areas.
One of the major sites I know about was the sporting area in which they played a type of soccer with the ball moved but hitting it with you hips. I knew this after the demonstrate back at Xcaret during me Cancun stay.
The ruins housed not only impressive structures but it was obvious the grounds had been levelled out somehow. Some of the stone cravings show leaders of defeated cities being castrated. They were also other victory tablets. The town of Monte Alban was extremely successfully for a long time.
The site also housed a museum on site which help protect fragile artefacts. Telling was the skeleton of one inhabitant showing how small the local people were. This is also why the steps are s large as it makes the approaching individual to walk or climb very slowly showing respect. This was one activity were doing it ourselves was better than doing a private tour as we set our own pace.
Back in the town I had and enjoyable dinner with Lauren, Aaron and Sam in the main square before we had to leave for our 12 hour public bus trip to San Cristóbal de las Casas. Lauren introduced me to an orange / pineapple drink which should balance my system better.
Nathan's Insights 