23 km north of Tikal, Uaxactún is both a remote pueblo in Petén Guatemala and the site of some of the earliest Maya achievements in astronomy and the Mayan Calendar. The buried city might have been lost forever, but chicleros, drawn by the opportunity to make money in chicle, ventured into Petén's vast forest. These chicleros were invaluable guides to archeologists in the early 1900s, who were just beginning to rediscover the Maya civilization. This area, renamed Uaxactún, became a base camp for chiclero's and archeologiests. In 1929 Wrigley built an airstrip in Uaxactún, the first road was built in 1985. The community of Uaxactún is responsible for managing and conserving a large part of the Maya biosphere, considered one of the last great lungs of the planet.
I have been to Uaxactún several times, the most recent for 12 days. Although it doesn't have the grandeur of Tikal, I find it more beautiful and somehow more alive. As it is still relatively untouristed, I spent days wandering the ruins and many hours just listening and leaning against the remains of these ancient buildings. There are many birds to be heard in the mornings and later in the day. But there was something else there, something I had not heard since childhood. Silence. I listened to silence. I was struck by how unfamilar that sound was. I wondered if silence was the sound of the trees breathing.
Below, in the pueblo that is situated in the middle of the archeological sites, it is not totally quiet ,of course. Of course Uaxactún is more alive, content. Of course at night
I have been to Uaxactún several times, the most recent for 12 days. Although it doesn't have the grandeur of Tikal, I find it more beautiful and somehow more alive. As it is still relatively untouristed, I spent days wandering the ruins and many hours just listening and leaning against the remains of these ancient buildings. There are many birds to be heard in the mornings and later in the day. But there was something else there, something I had not heard since childhood. Silence. I listened to silence. I was struck by how unfamilar that sound was. I wondered if silence was the sound of the trees breathing.
Below, in the pueblo that is situated in the middle of the archeological sites, it is not totally quiet ,of course. Of course Uaxactún is more alive, content. Of course at night
RSS Feed
