Palenque

The next leg of our journey took us to Palenque, a Mayan site made famous by Erik von Danekin in his book "Chariots of The Gods". An 8 hour bus ride, our Mexican bus driver was insistent that all passengers should watch the movie. Hence all curtains were tightly shut for the first hour or so until his attention was diverted. With ever changing scenery and a few rest stops along the way, the journey is over quicker than the clock would have you believe. Whilst opinions may vary, Palenque is probably the most beautiful setting of all the Mayan historical sites.

Set amongst lush rain forest, it will certainly remain in my memory for many years. It was at Palenque that the tomb of Lord Pacal was discovered deep inside a Pyramid. Pacal's sarcophagus was decorated with a sculpture that, when viewed sideways, could easily be that of a spaceman at the controls of a spaceship. Or it could simply be Pacal descending from his earthly life to his resting place, ready for his journey to join the gods in the heavens. The interpretation is yours and can't really be made without a visit to soak in the history and atmosphere of Palenque.

If you have the time, hire a local guide to take you on a jungle tour. Ernesto, our local guide, had worked at Palenque for over 20 years and was only too willing to share with us his enthusiasm for the history and beauty of Palenque. He seemed genuinely delighted with all of our questions and our own growing enthusiasm for Palenque. This jungle tour takes you into the surrounding rainforest, where in addition to beautiful trees and flowers, you'll pass countless Mayan ruins yet to be explored.

I couldn't help wondering what other mysteries may one day be discovered, or answered, when the funds are available to take on this mammoth task.