So it doesn't have the name recognition of Chichén Itzá or Tulum or Cobá but, the El Rey Archaeological Site near kilometer 18 in the Zona Hotelera of Cancun was impressive nonetheless. Admission fee was 42 pesos (about $3.25 USD) to these Mayan era remains.
The site stretches out over a 500 meter length. I was surprised at the lack of visitors on this fine afternoon. Considering it is on the bus line and very convenient and accessible to all the tourists it was mostly empty of humans.
Past and present juxtaposed - the Iberostar resort on the beach is visible in the distance. This site is dated in the 1200 to 1500 A.D. time frame. The excavated stones, flints, knives, arrowheads, jade and quartz beads and pendants indicate to archaeologists that trade flourished along the Caribbean coast until disrupted by the Spanish arrival and conquest.
One of the amazing things about the site is the number of iguanas living there. I must have seen at least 100 in a two-hour period. This was the biggest one, about 2-3 feet long. I've heard they are fond of tourists bringing bananas for them - maybe next time.
They have pretty fascinating "hands" except I'm not sure which sides are the "thumbs." Their coloring is also very well adapted to the local stones.
Now it's time for a game. In the following images, there are iguanas. How many is indicated by the number underneath the image. Some are easy to spot, some are not. See if you can find them all while enjoying the Mayan construction remains. Except where noted they are quite visible.
One
One
Four
Spoiler Alert: Here's a hint. The third one is very small, left of center, on the floor level of the pillars and the fourth one is large but in the lower left shadow.
One
Three
One.
good quiz. can they bite humans and is it dangerous if they do?
ReplyDeleteFinally found them all!
ReplyDeleteBack to work