2001-12-18-palenque-chiapas-mexico.md (1549B)
1 +++ 2 title = "Palenque, Chiapas, México" 3 date = "2001-12-18T00:00:00Z" 4 slug = "palenque-chiapas-mexico" 5 tags = ["Mexico", "Travel"] 6 +++ 7 8 For Christmas, we decided to take a trip to the state of Chiapas, about an 8 9 hour bus ride from Mérida. Although Chiapas has been a somewhat politically 10 unstable state during the past 10 years, it is also home to some of the most 11 incredible scenery, archaeological sites and indigenous culture in the 12 country. 13 14 {{< figure src="/post/2001-12-18-temple-of-inscriptions.jpg" alt="The Mayan ruins of the Temple of the Inscriptions at Palenque towering over a courtyard surrounded by jungle. A large staircase leads up the main face of the pyramid. Rain pours down in torrents." >}} 15 16 The town of Palenque sits only a few minutes by bike, foot or bus from the 17 ruins of the ancient Mayan city of Palenque. The ruins themselves extend over a 18 huge area and are composed of many smaller groups of structures situated around 19 plazas. The most impressive of these are probably the main plaza—which is 20 surrounded by the Temple of the Inscriptions and the palace/observatory 21 tower—and the Sun Temple Plaza. 22 23 The Temple of the Inscriptions is well-known for housing the sarcophagus and 24 jade death mask of Pakal, former ruler of the city. Unfortunately, it's no 25 longer possible to visit the inside of the Temple of the Inscriptions without a 26 research permit. In theory, that involves applications via your university and 27 submissions of your research to the government; in practice it involves 150 28 pesos to the right people.