Palenque - on the trail of the Maya

In the middle of the jungle lies this archaeological site of a huge Mayan metropolis. A ruined city that was once powerful and grand. Due to the religious dependence of the workers, the elite created a huge empire of residential, ceremonial, and burial sites. Very well preserved and somehow mystical in the humid jungle with cloud-covered hills in the background. Considering its size, it is hard to believe that only a few percent of the former metropolis have been excavated. The rest is still buried beneath the jungle. Palenque declined because it had many colorful stucco and mural works on its buildings and pyramids, and the residents needed heat for the extraction of colors and plaster, which they obtained from wood. The extensively deforested forest changed the climate, causing droughts and subsequent famines. Palenque was abandoned or its people were subjugated. A fascinating morning. The rest of the day was spent driving from Palenque to San Cristobal, with only short stops at a nice waterfall and in Agua Azul. The water in Agua Azul was brown and unfortunately not blue, it was pouring heavily. Well, all in all, nothing spectacular.