Memorable MAYAN RUINS

                                            Mayan Ruins

     In Belize It took almost three hours to travel 18-20 miles through the jungle to the Mayan Ruins of Caracol.  Although the road was like wet clay the young driver avoided getting stuck. Because an early rainy season had arrived the archeologists had left the site two weeks early.

     Caracol is the most extensive known Mayan ruins in Belize. A five square mile  clearing in the thick jungle comprises a Classic Period complex that includes pyramids and an astronomical observatory. The most visually striking structure was Caana, sky palace, a temple towering 136 feet above the plaza floor. The central plaza was linked by causeways to a number of other ruins.

     While only a small portion of these ruins had been excavated at that time, it took over three hours to tour the site on a hot humid day. Archeological finds here are expected to result in a much better understanding of the Mayan social structure and may help determine what led to the dissolution of the civilization.

     The very steep steps led up  to the sky house, but the view from the top was worth the climb. It was a great temptation to sit on my butt and bounce down the steps---but I refrained and used sort of a bounce  step to return to ground level. The capital of the Mayan civilization for many years, it is estimated that 180,000 people lived here. The society hit its cultural zenith between 500-600 AD.

     The Mayans arrived from the north and east in about the third century AD. They constructed towering pyramids, engineered needle-straight highways and very accurate astronomical friezes.

     They flourished for five centuries and then mysteriously disappeared---all five hundred years before Columbus! 

     A 1993 National Geographic documentary of the ancient Mayan civilization was filmed at Caracol.

     This was my first, but by no means last journey through the jungle or to visit Mayan ruins.

I think the first of anything is usually the most memorable and easily recalled  one.

ITALIAN BARS

                   A Bar, Not What You Think

     When I traveled Italy I frequented many bars, but this is a good example where words have different meanings in different cultures.

     In Italy, a bar is an open-air kiosk sandwich shop where one eats his purchase while standing, not sitting.  At a quick stop such a gas station often one is able to stand at a round high table that is little bigger than a shelf; but it is a place to put a drink and sandwich. Two can be uncrowded at such a table. These bar tables are about 18 inches in diameter, a little shy of four feet high and  are often built around a post

     Most restaurants in Italy have a cover charge of a few dollars to sit at a table---and one time that included us long enough to eat an ice cream cone!

    I learned quickly in Italy sandwiches are served naked—that is dry with no mustard, mayonnaise, butter, relish or catsup, never mind a tomato sliceor lettuce! I hope today that most places have at least a condiment table/bar. One day a old fellow was sharing my bar  table. He seemed to be having a bit of trouble eating and finally commented that his sandwich was sticking to the roof of his mouth. I thought, thank goodness he doesn’t have false teeth, as I surely wouldn’t have wanted to look at them as I ate my lunch!   Next time some individual packs of condiments went in a plastic bag in my luggage.

     Italians have no concept of what it means to form a line or to join a queue .You just have to elbow your way to the counter or you never have a chance to pay for your merchandise.

    One day in Venice, Italy I did find a fast food Italian restaurant where we could sit at a table for free. The food was good and it was a pleasure to sit and enjoy a leisurely lunch.

    Over the years I hope the American fast food industry has brought some changes to the Italian eating market that does not involve traditional sit down restaurants.