Love At Home

My Pippy Cat and My Miguelito

As Thanksgiving approaches my thoughts naturally turn to that for which I am most thankful. I am blessed with so many wonderful family members, friends, pets and things and so have decided against listing them as I am sure to miss someone or something. Instead, for now, I would like to focus on something else: the feeling in our Home. You guys all know me well enough to know why it means so much to me to finally have a Home. When my mom passed away 16 years ago, everything my family and I had ever known seemed to change. Our family had splintered in our pain and it was then that I realized our Home was no longer really there. Yes, the house had somehow survived our universe shaking loss of Mama, but that did not mean it still felt the same. I was thirteen and I was adrift in my loss and my desire not to be different because of my loss. Thank heavens for my loving family in these times.

Many years have now passed, and I now have that which I find to be most precious: a Home. So many things work together to create the feeling of Home, don't they? Peace, order, love and our little family made up of Michael & Me and our little zoo. Sometimes I am overwhelmed by the peace I feel, and find myself with a lump in my little throat at my good fortune and happiness. So long have I sought this and now it is here at last! I am so thankful, so very, very thankful.

I could not have achieved this level of joy on my own. Thank you all for the parts you have played in helping me to get to where I am today. Each of you have been there with a smile, a hug, a joke, honesty, advice, guidance, encouraging letters and emails and most of all with your own desire for my happiness. My friend Helen has frequently asked me how I can stay so positive about the future when so many genuine tragedies have befallen me in my past. Well now you know. Perhaps my life has not been perfect, but my family and friends have more than made up the difference.

I am thankful.

Chichen Itza

CHICHEN ITZA!!!

In an attempt to let the pictures speak for themselves, I will try to keep my comments brief in order to have more room to share pictures of this amazing, historical place.

Autumn at the Temple of Kukulcan
(Site of one of the 7 New Wonders of the World!)

Mike & Autumn beside the Temple of Kukulcan (Note: the large serpentine head just over Michael's shoulder at the base of the temple. This is where the shadow "body" of the snake is revealed once a year. See photo immediately below.)

This plaque hangs along the walls of entrance.

We were amazed to note the intricate carvings on almost every stone everywhere we went.

Here is Michael standing at the Base of the Astronomy Tower which was used to create the Mayan Calendaring system in accordance with the stars.

Note the faces carved on the corner of this structure. Aren't they neat?

These little figures in the boxes above appear to be animals. Mike & I thought that the one on the right was a turtle. What do you think?

Can I tell you how much we wanted to go exploring in this interesting looking place? Don't those holes and doorways just beg to be investigated?
I don't know what it is, but I liked it.

Leap Froggin' some ruins.
(Just kidding, I would never do that.)

A Mayan Archway.


Mike discovered these ancient wooden beams sticking out of the ruins.


We passed the Temple of Kukulcan several times
as it is centrally located amongst the ruins.


The now forbidden doorway we had so hoped to pass through. Alas, visitors are no longer allowed on or in the temples. It's a long (political/greed)story and so will not be included here.


This is the view of the temple on the way to the Ball Court.

Upon entering the Ball Court you become immediately engulfed in it's utter size.

Michael is on the left headed toward our tour group to view some of the wall carvings. If you look at the upper right hand wall you will see a little circle. This circle was where the players would try to get the ball to go through for their ball games.This picture only shows one HALF of the court. There are large throne-like structures located at each end for the royalty to sit and watch. Ancient box office seating, no?

Here is the other side of the court.

My favorite carving on the Ball Court walls.

Halfway between the Ball Court and the Temple of Kukulcan there is a sacraficial altar.





This unnerving walled structure was included in the sacraficial site. There is a legend that there are actual skulls encased in each of the bricks, but no one confirmed this for sure.


Legend or not, it was pretty creepy and a little fascinating.


Here are a few more engravings along the sacraficial altar areas.
In a few areas the original paint is still evident, as you will see.

Not sure why I am standing thus,
but the Temple of Kukulcan is just behind me (again) through those trees!
Excavating more temples from the ravages of the jungle.

There was a small structure covered in carvings of Jaguars.

From the looks of it, it was painted red originally.

This temple was very beautiful just because of the various colors of greys. There was also several spectacular trees on its grounds whose roots were literally growing through the stones of the ruined temples.

Next door to el Temple de los Grandes Mesas (Temple of the Large Tables), was el Templo de los Guerreros (The Temple of the Warriors, I think). This stunning place caused me to stop is awe. Hundreds and hundreds of pillars were erected in honor of the most valiant of the Mayan warriors; each pillar unique to its warrior. Due to the vast amount of pillars, we never got to see even half of them, but they--and the temple-- were beautiful to behold.
"Fallen Warrior"

This is the view as we turned to leave el Templo de los Guerreros.
Only two of the four sides of the Temple of Kukulcan have been restored. These last views are of the unrestored sides. Please also note that the stairs have been numbered in white paint. There was particular signifigance to the number of stairs in relation to the Mayan calendar.

This door leads into the hidden inner pyramid.

Hurricane clouds lent themselves nicely to the architecture.

Thank you for taking the time to look at and read about our wonderful trip. What a blessing to be able to share so much with so many family members and friends. Your interest and excitement over everything have meant a lot to us, thank you!

Special thank you's to John & Michelle LoRe and their family(Michael's little sister's family) and also to our Papa Pete and Mama Rosa whose generosity made this entire trip not only a possibilty, but a reality. Thank you again and again. We love you very much and will not soon forget how much you sacrificed to give us this gift. Love you guys!!