Chichen Izta

This was definitely the highlight of our trip. Did you know in 2007 Chichen Izta became a "new" seventh wonder of the world? After being there it is no wonder why it made the list.  It is amazing!

Where they played the ball game: 

If you look really close you can see the goal they had to get the ball into.  I cannot image how difficult this game was to play.  Our tour guide said that little boys were picked from a young age to become "warriors" and their life was spent training for this game.

The stone work was so detailed and amazing on every single building.

It was so hot and humid! I thought I was going to die until our tour guide Eduardo said that it can sometimes get up to 120 degrees.  Then 90 degrees didn't seem to bad anymore. 

There were so many amazing buildings.  We learned that the Mayans built their city to mirror a map of the constellations.  A world famous german archeologist was there the same time we were. He is working on ANOTHER newly discovered building. How cool is that? 

We totally look like tourists haha :)

After we spent a few hours at Chichen Izta we went to this little town and had lunch.

There was a row of hammocks with a sign that said, "Please enjoy yourself and relax. No children allowed." I was obviously ALL over that.  

The cute little huts that we had lunch in.

Afterwards we went to the Sun Cenote. Cenotes are limestone sinkholes that are filled with fresh water. 

It was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen.  These pictures are taken from above the sink hole looking down.

This picture was taken as we were hiking down to the water. It was quite a ways down! We were exhausted from the day and didn't know if we really wanted to go swimming.  We decided we would regret it if we didn't go... and I am so glad we made that decision.  It is one of the most bizarre things I have ever done.  The water is really clear above 3 feet below you but then it is pitch black and you can't see anything.  There are fish that live in the sink hole but they are blind because it is so dark.  So instead of getting around with their eyes they have these huge whiskers that help them get around.  The fish would brush right up against you, and there were so many you could see around you.  It was a little creepy.  It was so cool swimming out into the middle and looking up! We loved it!