Chichen Itza, 2

 
 
 

Vocabulary

coast	step (3)	sacrificial
inland	land (2)	archaeology
site	amazing	incredible
Earth	temple	platform (3)
feet (2)	calendar	check out (2)
hit (3)	ancient	additional
climb	right (5)	hands down
ruins	diverse	look to (2)
setting	column	know/knew/known
host	spectator	back in the day
signify	court (2)	fascinating
fierce	take place	submerge
arena	contain	spectacular
region	on top of	stand/stood/stood
scream	condition	believe (2)
ruler	seat (2)	overseeing
event	aim (2)	pound (2)
rubber	through	incredible
explore	paradise	escape (2)
team	transport	feel/felt/felt
hole	location	back in time
sight	sinkhole	take/took/taken
sacred	location	drive/drove/driven
pillar	coastline	crystal-clear
battle	structure	a stone’s throw away
crystal	majestic	throw/threw/thrown
escape	cool off	leap/leapt/leapt
cliff	surround	find/found/found
cheer	cliff face	come/came/came
Maya	definitely	like none other

 
 
 
 
 

Video

 
 
 
 

Transcript

It’s an early morning on Mexico’s southeastern coastline. But instead of hitting Cancun’s beaches, I’m heading inland to one of the world’s greatest archaeological sites, Chichen Itza. It’s home to some of the most amazing structures on Earth, including this: the majestic Temple of Kukulkan.

This is seriously amazing.

Just under a hundred feet (thirty meters) high, the structure also acted as a Mayan calendar.

On each of the four sides are steps which signify the days of the year: there are ninety-one (91) steps on each side, totaling three-hundred sixty-four (364). And on top there is an additional step, which makes it the three-hundred and sixty-fifth day of the year.

While you can’t actually climb these ruins anymore, you are right in the middle of them. This location is the site of one of the largest and most diverse Mayan cities.

These numerous stone pillars are known as the Group of One Thousand Columns. And back in the day, it was said to contain well over a thousand pillars, which hosted the local markets to the region.

For me though, it was this ancient ball court which was the most fascinating. It was here where a fierce battle to the death took place in a spectacular arena setting.

Try to picture this setting: on either side above, you’ve got spectators standing on top of the wall, screaming and cheering for the teams. And other there, you’ve got the ruler seated overseeing the whole event.

The aim of the game: to get one four pound (1.8 kilogram) rubber ball through a tiny hole up in the wall.

It’s an explorer’s paradise. With these ruins in such well-kept conditions, you feel like you’ve literally been transported back in time.

 

While you’re in Chichen Itza, you have to take a five-minute drive to what I believe is hands down, the most incredible sights in Mexico: this is Cenote Ik Kil.

A cenote is a natural sinkhole. And in Mayan times, this beautiful location was a sacred, sacrificial site.

Today though, it’s open to tourists, looking to cool off and submerge themselves in one of the most beautiful sites in the world. It’s really hard to believe that you’ve got this incredible world just a stone’s throw away from nearby hotels, nightclubs and the beach.

On the gray there are platforms where you can leap into the forty meter deep, crystal-clear waters.

This is what traveling is all about: finding places like this; and just escaping to these worlds that are totally different from which you came from.

Surrounded by cliff faces, vines and waterfalls, these majestic settings give you an experience of Mexico like none other. This has to be one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to on Earth, and it’s definitely one place you have to check out too.

 

 

Questions

1. Chichen Itza is in Egypt. True or false?

2. Did the Mayas build the Temple of Kukulkan strictly for aesthetics? What numbers did the presenter give?

3. Can tourists climb to the top of the temple?

4. In ancient times, there were a hundred columns or pillars. Is this right or wrong? What did the columns served? What was (one of) their purposes?

5. Back in the day, did life revolve only around astronomy, math and religion? Were the people only concerned with astronomy, math and religion?

6. The presenter went swimming at a beach. Is this correct or incorrect?

7. Are his favorite places hotels, discos, nightclubs and sandy beaches?

 

A. I have traveled to Mexico. Yes or no? Have your friends been to Mexico?

B. Are there ancient ruins in your city or country?

C. There are many great places to swim and go boating in my region.

D. Do many tourists visit your city and region?

E. What places would you like to travel to?