Because of the semitropical environment with all the lush green space and small river throughout, this is our favourite Mexican ruin.
For about two hundred years, the members of Chief Packel's family made Palenque one of the strongest centres within the Maya empire. Art, engineering and architecture thrived in this environment.
The still quietness of a walk through and around the many structures and temples pulls you back to another time. How they managed to conceive such mammoth building projects while at the same time living what they considered a normal life is incomprehendable.
When you are immersed in this environment for a few hours, the feelings you get make it easy to see why this is truly a Unesco World Heritage Site to be protected for all future generations to see.
About a thousand years ago Palenque, at the height of its glory, was suddenly abandoned. There are several theories as to why. However, the effect of the abandonment was to allow the super growing conditions of the region to cause trees, grass, and vines to almost completely cover the whole town! Only very small parts of temples were visible when it was discovered in the 1900's!
Today, like Tikal in Guatemala, less than 5% of the ruins have been reclaimed from the jungle vegetation.
With its ease of access for anyone in the world, using today's communications links, we have met travellers from most continents trekking this area in the past few days.
Sent from Tom's iPhone
Hi Tom and Ade. I have caught up again on your travels. We did a similar trip as yours in 1999 only in the opposite direction, so it is nice to relive these adventures. Soon you will be leaving Mexico for Belize and beyond. We will continue to enjoy your blog. Enjoy your trip!!!!
ReplyDeletePelenque was one of our favourites as well!
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