Dzibilchaltun Mayan Ruins and Favorite Lamp

Just like I promised, I will take you to one of the tours we took when we went on a cruise last week. But before I do that, I would like to show you my favorite for today. I am linking with Laurie of http://bargainhuntingwithlaurie.blogspot.com/ and also with Beverly for Pink Saturday at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

I am also linking with Sally at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/

Mosaic Monday at http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

and http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com/

Here is my favorite lamp. It's yellow. I am not sure what type of material the shade is made out of but it feels like a capiz with bronze embellishments. We won it at an auction in Flowood, MS. The base is bronze. I had an electrician rewire it with a 3-way switch. It is sitting on a French occasional server in the formal living room.

Do you see the pink and green tassel hanging from it? It's my Pink Sat. contribution. Do you see the pink roses on it?

I really like the painted spool with flowers and leaves and I love the tassel because it looks very southern to me. And to think that I just saw it in a clearance bin, probably at TJ Maxx or Ross for less than $5.


Now on to Sightseeing Saturday. We just came back from a cruise last week and Progresso was one of our port of calls. I was excited because as many Caribbean cruises that we have taken, this is our first time going to the Yucatan Peninsula. It is also the first cruise we have taken from New Orleans and I like the fact that we did not have to fly to the port. It was only a 3 hour drive from us. One advantage is not worrying about the weight of the luggage so shopping was more fun. It was announced during the cruise that Carnival Cruise Lines will be adding another ship to sail from New Orleans. I am anxious to hear where the destinations will be for the second ship.

Most of the time, we embark in Florida or from a European port.

As soon as we got out of the ship, we were greeted by very graceful Mexican dancers.

We took a tour bus. As soon as I entered, I immediately thought of Sally and Blue Saturday. Everything in it is blue!








and headed for the Dzibilchaltun Mayan Ruins. The sign is blue also!




Iguanas were just roaming around.




AJ and I took some panoramic photos to share with you.





AJ climbed the pyramid all the way up.
Dzibilchaltun is "the place where there are writings on the walls". Many memorial stones were found on the site.

The ruins below is what was left of what used to be a Catholic Church.





I believe below used to be the house of the priest. It stood, at least what is left of it, on the left side of the church.

And this is the famous Cenote Xlacah, meaning "old village". This is open until 4 PM and people can actually swim in it and they do. I wouldn't! One end is shallow but the other is over 140 ft. deep. Many archaeological remains have been excavated from there.

This is the most important structure at the Dzibiltalchun and also the focal point of the city. It's the Temple of the Seven Dolls, so called because 7 effigy dolls were found during its excavation.

Another importance of this temple is the Equinox, a phenomenon which takes place twice a year, Fall and Spring, when the rising sun can be seen from one window and out to the other, which is highly attributed to the mathematical and astronomical knowledge of the Mayans.

The top photograph of the mosaic can be seen inside the temple. The bottom picture shows the equinox.

Below are shots that were all taken from the Temple of the Seven Dolls, also known as the Temple of the Sun.

This plant was on the tree. I am not sure what it is but it looked like a yucca to me. Does anybody know?

It was very humid when we walked through the ruins but we were taken next to a private beach in Progreso where we got refreshed.

The 2 ladies below had the right idea. I wanted to have a massage done too but they were just getting done when it was already time for us to leave.

There was food, music and shopping by the beach.

When we got back to the port, we still had a few minutes to shop before heading back to the ship. There are always a lot of shops by the port.

AJ liked the hammock so we bought one. I still have not decided where to hang it, possibly on the back porch or front. What do you all think?

Our ship is the one on the right, the Triumph. I will show the inside on one of future Sightseeing Saturdays.

Thanks again for coming along.

I also want to thank our gracious hostesses! Do not fail to visit them and their participants or you will miss a great treat.