steps of the maya
View up the highest pyramid (138 feet) in Yucatan, Mexico called Nohoch Mul (‘large hill’). Built by the Mayan people over a thousand years ago (600-900AD) on a vast forested site at Coba, in its heyday the city covered over 80 sq km, housing over 50,000 people. Its crumbling deserted ruins lay overgrown in the forest for over a millenium and while knowledge of this expansive site was never completely lost, it only came to the attention of scholars in the 1920s… It was the building of the new tourist town of Cancun that led to some restoration and its opening as one of the most natural sites in the peninsula. It is one of the few pyramids you can still climb. (Its no longer permitted on the pyramid of Kulkulkan at Chichen Itza , voted online as one of the seven new wonders of the world). There were a series of ancient raised roadways called sacbe(ob) connecting Coba with other ceremonial sites in the peninsula
Climbing it on your own first thing in the morning was an amazing feeling – rewarded by incredible (and giddying!) views across the jungle with another pyramid jutting up through the forest
Coming down is much much harder and the rope can be a saviour and many white knuckles have gripped it for security during the steep descent (my own included!!).
There were so many remains of huge interest including the old ball court where they played pelota for the highest stakes and getting on a bike helped us move between ruins in the wild forest (only a tiny proportion excavated) with amazing bird and wild life. It was leaving our first visit at dusk the night before that we saw the fascinating coatimundi rootling around on one of the many unexcavated heaps of rocks from one fallen building, now reclaimed by the forest…
A must – see if ever you are in mexico …. oooh and be careful of the crocs in the lake too!....
:))))
Nikon D60; Nikkor 18-200 lens;UV filter;f/5.6;1/125 sec;ISO-100;fl 18mm
steps of the maya belongs to the following groups:
Live, Love, Dream: , Mexico, Mood & Ambience - Strictly Photos, Sets of Two and Your Magic Place (PLACES only!!) Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints
Jack McCabe
I give it a Thumbs Up!
What a great experience!! Kudos!
DottieDees
Great capture and experience I am sure!
lianne
Just an incredible perspective Maggie – this is just awesome!
Squealia
I just love the rope to pull yourself up! looks like a good thigh burner!
dinghysailor1 replied
teehee going up is the easy bit …. its the coming down – looking at the drop and stepping out into space….thats where the rope gives some reassurance… lol….
:)))
Erhan OZBIYIK
Great shot !! :))
Gili Orr
Lovely shot, with the rope and the person making up the composition and adding to the feeling of depth/perspective.
Taylor Sawyer
ooooh! Awesome shot, Ding!!!!
Clive King
Great angle Ding. A superb image.
brian pendrey
awesome angle brill shot
Denis Dalby
It looks like a long pull Ding. Thank god for the rope! Nice shot.
Phil Threlfall
Great shot, but you wouldnt get me going up there, I wouldnt be able to get down again !
dinghysailor1 replied
that’s what i wrestle with too phil – I found seated gave me too extra points of contact on the way down…hehehee and clutching the rope too of course!!
;)))
Evita
Awseme capture!! :D
Paul Gitto
Great capture!
jacqi
Definitely awe inspiring and great perspective
Tatiana R
Wow! Sounds like a great adventure! And coming down is always hard, in life too
Mary Campbell
The picture shows it’s hight. good capture.
ltruskett
Amazing place….....wonderful capture.
Béla Török
Great composition, Maggie!
chijude
Amazing experience for you … and great shot.
dougie1
wow ding, love to see that!
FelicityB
Well done Maggie, you deserve a medal for going up (and coming down) that one!
dinghysailor1 replied
thanks so much but it was unmissable – however scary (!)- and soo worth it for the view!
emanon
I can tell you kept the keep fit thing going for sailing season by climbing up this lot. Good shot, Not sure I’d make it to the top (height thingy and all that!) x
dinghysailor1 replied
up is peasy…. but then the problems really start…hehehee…..
:))
Wendy Slee
what amazing perspective you have captured here!! I love the textures too, of the rope and stones…... fascinating!!!! Thank you for sharing this most interesing story!
dinghysailor1 replied
thanks so much wendy – I loved the rope too… a real comfort on the way down… glad you enjoyed it… have a long shot too i may post one day….
;))
Kelly J
Wooohaaa!!!!! Awsome!!! Lucky you! :))
dinghysailor1
big dinghy grins…:)))))))))
Gene Praag
Absolutely love the perspective on this…..Very well done!
dinghysailor1 replied
Wow thanks Geno thats so nice of you – I hadnt even taken the first step and my heart was bumping….lol.. ;))))).
The InnerNorth...
very good work m.
Tom Vaughan
cool perspective… I want to go!!!
Paul Manning
Thanks for sharing this – I love seeing these images and perspectives on our great world! cheers Paul
debsphotos
WOW…good on you for climbing this Maggie!!! I bet the views for amazing!! Great perspective!!*-)
reflector
A great perspective that shows it’s steepness ! Very nice work !
Tom Gomez
Excellent POV Maggie, and a great narative …
Judi FitzPatrick
Thanks for the lesson and the amazing image. Peace, Judi
Carol Barona
wow, that is crazy – great capture
linda858100
STUNNING
rosiczka
wow…....
Lindsay Knowles
Well I am just puffed looking at that.
Very well seen and taken. Fantatsic angle
kathy s gillen...
excellent pov and dof
jinney
My HAT OFF TO YOU!!
-YOU climbed that-wowe!!
Awesome pic…amazzing perspective!
-jinney
Bruce Dickson
Great perspective!
Christopher E...
Excellent perspective, WOW! excellent lighting and composition, out did yourself again my friend
cherylc1
Wow~so cool`awesome capture!! xoxo
Joanne Bradley
Spectcular capture with such an awesome point of view. I like both shots it gives everything so much perspective!
dinghysailor1 replied
thanks everyone so much -at this point i was quaking joanne and it looked even taller LOL !!
;)))
KiimiG
wicked shot!
Marc Evans IPA
Captivating image, great work
mikebov
love the perspective on this Ding
That would definately be me ascending if I was there.
I always have to go to the top of any tower or hill that I see.
dinghysailor1 replied
i was pretty proud of myself too.. I did it twice this time and once before when i was ( much) younger.. and athe view from the top was superb!
:))
Taylor Sawyer
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Jan Timmons
Great shot and point of view from the rope (are you kneeling?) to the top, with the man only part way up the steps. I love this reminder of Yucatan and the smart Mayan people. Nicely done!
dinghysailor1 replied
thanks jan… funny i can never remember the contortions in much get into taking pics. . but must look plain daft…. probably crouching in the dust here… lol… but yes fascinating to see remaining glimpses of the mayan civilisation in the forest.. thanks for the lovely comment
J J Everson 16 days ago
Love this! ... I’m tired just looking at all those steps ... and I’d definitely need the rope! :o)
dinghysailor1 replied 16 days ago
teehee thanks JJ and going up is the easy bit..and that rope is such a comfort coming down…LOL
:)))
J J Everson 15 days ago
I Def’ would have needed it both ways … hehehe :oD
dinghysailor1 replied 15 days ago
even worse hubby used to clamber up ahead with 2 little tots…. eek!!