The Nomads

Left Poza Rica, Mexico at 10 am

Temp: 34 degrees C

Sunny, Hot! Humid!

Today we actually got to see Totonac pyramids and ruins of a large city (El Tajin) dating to 750 AD that boasted a population of 30,000. There are 20 structures excavated and restored but there remain at least another 130 identified but unexcavated. The carving is stylistically similar to the ballcourt carvings of the Toltec section of Chichen Itza.

The theory is that the area could not sustain such a high density population and by 1200 AD it was pretty much abandoned and reclaimed by the jungle.

Today’s short trip was full of lush greenery and a riot of flowering plants, bushes and trees. It w

as also the hottest most humid day yet. I suspect that the proximity to the Gulf of Mexico is the reason. There are also regular occurrences of thick fog well into the late hours of the morning which may be a strong contributing factor in both the humidity and the extravagant lushness of the floral display.

On site at El Tajin we watched a totonac ceremony re-enactment which is a ritual dance around a pole that I would estimate at over 50 meters. The dancers (5) then proceed to climb up the pole to a rotating frame at the top. Four of the climbers bringing ropes up with them that descend to about three feet of the ground. They proceed to wind the ropes around a sort of capstan at the top by spinning the frame like a merry-go-round while the 5^th climber stands atop the thing and plays music on a hand-drum and flute while dancing. Once the ropes are all wound on the capstan, they, having attached the ends of the ropes to themselves around the middle, simultaneously “swan dive” out into the air and gradually descend upside down in a long spin to the ground! All the while the fifth climber is stil dancing and playing the drum and flute at the top. Once the “flyers” have landed on their feet, the dancer up top descends by sliding down one of the ropes held taut at the bottom

. VERY IMPRESSIVE.

We decided it was to late to head for the coast and camp so we took a chance on a local hotel we could see up a hill from the road. What a gorgeous, lucky find. Twenty minutes later we were cooling off in an amazing courtyard tiled pool! What a treat!

So we’ll go camping tomorrow…..

Kilometers - Daytrip: 40 total: 5935

Gas: $7.00

Lodging: Campestra tajin $60

# posted by Richard and Susie @ 12:34 PM