H'lo all, some quick info for you all. I haven't had time to do extensive research on the Yucatan likeI did before we went to Nepal, but I have picked up some background info. to share. Here are a few things.
The Yucatan is far southern Mexico, where it extends rather abruptly to the east. It conncects with Chiapas State to the north and with Guatamala and Belize in the south. It's flatter than Guatamala, but we will see forests. My understanding is they will be similar to some of the relatively dry sub- tropical forests we saw in parts of Costa Rica, but these are lush and wonderful. We'll also see mangrove forests, and the Carribean coast.
This area has been home to a succession of civilizations and cultures. The Mayan culture is the most famous. Its high point was 250 - 950 AD. This civilization was known for complex architecture and elaborate cities ( we'll see some of them), agriculture, elaborate mythology and ritual (yes, including human sacrifices) and a complex understanding of astronomy, among other things. It's not clear why the civilization collapsed. Some say the rulers needed so many servants and workers to meet their needs that the agricultural system couldn't support them. Others say the culture fell after a long series of wars. It may have been a combination of these factors, along with others. My understanding is that there were several centers of powers, and the city states in the Yucatan fell at a different time from the ones in Guatamala. If anyone knows more about this... please tell us! Many people of Mayan descent still live in the region.
A succession of other cultures existed here after the Mayans, including the Toltecs. The Spanish invaded and took over the region in the 1500s. The area was divided into large landholdings where Mayans and other traditional people were forced to work and were treated cruelly. Their
situation did not impove when Mexico won independance from Spain. The Yucatan briefly won independance from Spain after the War of the Castes, an indigenous uprising in the 1840s, but the powers that be managed to get foreign help and rejoined Mexico.
Oil was a big economic force, but has been less important in recent years. Tourism is a big economic factor now.
Many Mayans live in the cities and in villages throughout the region. They maintain a unique culture. Their religion is a combination of ancient beliefs and Catholicism. Expect many more details as time goes on.
Cancun is the big tourist city. Based on my quick reading, it was built about 40 years ago to
attract tourists. Mangrove forests were lost to this development; the resorts also impact on coral reefs. We wound up at a Christmas potluck when we were in Mexico City 4 years ago where we met a fellow who is working to protect sea turtles around Cancun. This was also the center of the recent international gathering on climate change. I hope to hear something about peoples' thoughts about that. We'll spend more time in other cities, but will see a little of Cancun on our first day, and will spend our last night there.
The other thing I've been hearing is how there are many people flocking to the Yucatan because
they think the Mayan calendar predicts te end of the world in 2012. We may run into some of them when we visit the ancient city of Chitzen Itza. I have two thoughts for now. One, my own understanding of indigenous peoples' thinking seems to say that they believe in cycles. They do believe that cycles come to the end, but what happens then is a renewal and not destruction.
Two, it is good to have a sense of wonder, as long as you maintain some skepticism. It will be interesting to see what conversations we have!
That's it for now. We may check in Tuesday evening, but it's more likely to be sometime Wednesday. Happy winter solstice! Enjoy the lunar exlipse... we'll be on a plane.
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