We left Palenque in early morning and headed for breakfast at the crossroads in Escarcega. Afterwords we headed for the Rio Bec style site of Becan. As there had been very little free time at Palenque, I cut my tour short, mainly showing students the upper and back sections of structure 4. I then gave out the assignment concerning residential facilities in structures 8 and 10, and invited students to join me if they wished as I climbed these (and structure 9) or to go on their own if they preferred.
All were impressed by the monumentality of structure 8. Structure 9, a modified early classic pyramid 30 meters high, also impressed, and many students stopped to take pictures of each other on the high spot. After that there was only time for a quick view of the complex around structure 10, deciding that the attached ball court was of sufficient size for a sporting game, before it was time to leave. We were on a schedule so that students would have time to prepare for their Spanish literature class.
We arrived at Hotel Calakmul in Xpuhil around 3:30 and dispersed. I rented a room in the restaurant for Rita's Spanish class and went off to find a laundry and long distance phone. I didn't attend this Spanish class, but there was apparently a lively discussion of the book I a Chamula/ Juan Perez Jolote.
No comments:
Post a Comment