Palenque, Howler Monkeys and Ancient Ruins

Palenque. 40 degrees... 13 hours from the nearest beach... Hot... I smell like feet... Im sweating like Billy...

We stayed last night in a little cabana although we werent the only guests that night. A giant dragonfly terrorised shaun all night, and Im sure there must have been a colony of giant spiders, never mind the fat toad croaking away outside our door all night... We were woken up by screaching howler monkeys and rather sick soundling cows-

without the aid of pack animals, the wheel, or metal tools...

Despite this, the rustic charm of this wee wood and tin cottage reminded me of home... specifically the long drop outhouse we had when I was 3 years old.  I think the pillows actually were bags of cement... once you lay down on the bed, you cant get out.  But it was charming, and a place to rest our weary heads for the night.

This morning we headed up to the ruins at Palenque, Which along with ... well nothing else... is this towns only draw.

We got to the bottom gate at 8 to get in early, only to be told that we had to go 1.5km up the hill to enter the ruins at that time of day... being stubborn and broke we decided to walk, forgetting how far 1.5km is, and how much further it feels when you are walking up hill in 35 degree heat... (yes it was 35 degrees at 8 this morning.)

But we got to the top, and managed to wander round the ruins for 2 1/2 hours.

They really were amazing.  They cover 15 square km. And of 2000 buildings found, only about 500 have been excavated.  Lots of tombs found that you can go into (the bodies have been removed).  They are massive big pyramids and stone buildings, and in their prime they were painted red, with blue and yellow frescos.  They were built without the aid of pack animals, the wheel, or metal tools... I cant understand how they did it!!!  It would have been the captives of their enemies that did the actual building of these things.  But still pretty amazing.  But soooo hot...

So anyway... now we are in Palenque town... which has nothing going for it.  Not one thing, and its now 1:30pm, and we have to kill time till 8pm for our 13 hour bus ride to cancun.  At least I have the beach to look forward to.  Ahhhh beach, piña coladas, sun, sand, water, people, music, snorkling, warm... Im almost there now...

Hasta Luego to all...

More later, probably just updates of our 2 weeks on the beach... jealous???  I am, I mean I would be...

This heat is getting to me...

I need a beer...

Adios.

Hope everyone is well, and looking after each other.

Love to all

Sarah and Shaun

DONT READ THIS ITS JUST TO FIT THE OTHER PHOTOS ON THE EMAIL

Palenque. 40 degrees... 13 hours from the nearest beach... Hot... I smell like feet... Im sweating like Billy...

We stayed last night in a little cabana although we werent the only guests that night. A giant dragonfly terrorised shaun all night, and Im sure there must have been a colony of giant spiders, never mind the fat toad croaking away outside our door all night... We were woken up by screaching howler monkeys and rather sick soundling cows-

Despite this, the rustic charm of this wee wood and tin cottage reminded me of home... specifically the long drop outhouse we had when I was 3 years old.  I think the pillows actually were bags of cement... once you lay down on the bed, you cant get out.  But it was charming, and a place to rest our weary heads for the night.

This morning we headed up to the ruins at Palenque, Which along with ... well nothing else... is this towns only draw.

We got to the bottom gate at 8 to get in early, only to be told that we had to go 1.5km up the hill to enter the ruins at that time of day... being stubborn and broke we decided to walk, forgetting how far 1.5km is, and how much further it feels when you are walking up hill in 35 degree heat... (yes it was 35 degrees at 8 this morning.)

But we got to the top, and managed to wander round the ruins for 2 1/2 hours.

They really were amazing.  They cover 15 square km. And of 2000 buildings found, only about 500 have been excavated.  Lots of tombs found that you can go into (the bodies have been removed).  They are massive big pyramids and stone buildings, and in their prime they were painted red, with blue and yellow frescos.  They were built without the aid of pack animals, the wheel, or metal tools... I cant understand how they did it!!!  It would have been the captives of their enemies that did the actual building of these things.  But still pretty amazing.  But soooo hot...

So anyway... now we are in Palenque town... which has nothing going for it.  Not one thing, and its now 1:30pm, and we have to kill time till 8pm for our 13 hour bus ride to cancun.  At least I have the beach to look forward to.  Ahhhh beach, piña coladas, sun, sand, water, people, music, snorkling, warm... Im almost there now...

Hasta Luego to all...

More later, probably just updates of our 2 weeks on the beach... jealous???  I am, I mean I would be...

This heat is getting to me...

I need a beer...

Adios.

Hope everyone is well, and looking after each other.

Love to all

Sarah and Shaun

Palenque. 40 degrees... 13 hours from the nearest beach... Hot... I smell like feet... Im sweating like Billy...

We stayed last night in a little cabana although we werent the only guests that night. A giant dragonfly terrorised shaun all night, and Im sure there must have been a colony of giant spiders, never mind the fat toad croaking away outside our door all night... We were woken up by screaching howler monkeys and rather sick soundling cows-

Despite this, the rustic charm of this wee wood and tin cottage reminded me of home... specifically the long drop outhouse we had when I was 3 years old.  I think the pillows actually were bags of cement... once you lay down on the bed, you cant get out.  But it was charming, and a place to rest our weary heads for the night.

This morning we headed up to the ruins at Palenque, Which along with ... well nothing else... is this towns only draw.

We got to the bottom gate at 8 to get in early, only to be told that we had to go 1.5km up the hill to enter the ruins at that time of day... being stubborn and broke we decided to walk, forgetting how far 1.5km is, and how much further it feels when you are walking up hill in 35 degree heat... (yes it was 35 degrees at 8 this morning.)

But we got to the top, and managed to wander round the ruins for 2 1/2 hours.

They really were amazing.  They cover 15 square km. And of 2000 buildings found, only about 500 have been excavated.  Lots of tombs found that you can go into (the bodies have been removed).  They are massive big pyramids and stone buildings, and in their prime they were painted red, with blue and yellow frescos.  They were built without the aid of pack animals, the wheel, or metal tools... I cant understand how they did it!!!  It would have been the captives of their enemies that did the actual building of these things.  But still pretty amazing.  But soooo hot...

So anyway... now we are in Palenque town... which has nothing going for it.  Not one thing, and its now 1:30pm, and we have to kill time till 8pm for our 13 hour bus ride to cancun.  At least I have the beach to look forward to.  Ahhhh beach, piña coladas, sun, sand, water, people, music, snorkling, warm... Im almost there now...

Hasta Luego to all...

More later, probably just updates of our 2 weeks on the beach... jealous???  I am, I mean I would be...

This heat is getting to me...

I need a beer...

Adios.

Hope everyone is well, and looking after each other.

Love to all

Sarah and Shaun