Constructed in the Toltec style of architecture and surrounded by hundreds of massive, limestone columns, The Temple of the Warriors and the adjacent Temple of the Jaguar make up the expansive "Thousand Columns" section of the ancient city of Xichen Itza.

Constructed in the Toltec style of architecture and surrounded by hundreds of massive, limestone columns, The Temple of the Warriors and the adjacent Temple of the Jaguar make up the expansive "Thousand Columns" section of the ancient city of Xichen Itza.

Constructed in the Toltec style of architecture and surrounded by hundreds of massive, limestone columns, The Temple of the Warriors and the adjacent Temple of the Jaguar make up the expansive "Thousand Columns" section of the ancient city of Xichen Itza.

Constructed in the Toltec style of architecture and surrounded by hundreds of massive, limestone columns, The Temple of the Warriors and the adjacent Temple of the Jaguar make up the expansive "Thousand Columns" section of the ancient city of Xichen Itza.

Constructed in the Toltec style of architecture and surrounded by hundreds of massive, limestone columns, The Temple of the Warriors and the adjacent Temple of the Jaguar make up the expansive "Thousand Columns" section of the ancient city of Xichen Itza.

Constructed in the Toltec style of architecture and surrounded by hundreds of massive, limestone columns, The Temple of the Warriors and the adjacent Temple of the Jaguar make up the expansive "Thousand Columns" section of the ancient city of Xichen Itza.

Constructed in the Toltec style of architecture and surrounded by hundreds of massive, limestone columns, The Temple of the Warriors and the adjacent Temple of the Jaguar make up the expansive "Thousand Columns" section of the ancient city of Xichen Itza.

Constructed in the Toltec style of architecture and surrounded by hundreds of massive, limestone columns, The Temple of the Warriors and the adjacent Temple of the Jaguar make up the expansive "Thousand Columns" section of the ancient city of Xichen Itza.

Constructed in the Toltec style of architecture and surrounded by hundreds of massive, limestone columns, The Temple of the Warriors and the adjacent Temple of the Jaguar make up the expansive "Thousand Columns" section of the ancient city of Xichen Itza.

Constructed in the Toltec style of architecture and surrounded by hundreds of massive, limestone columns, The Temple of the Warriors and the adjacent Temple of the Jaguar make up the expansive "Thousand Columns" section of the ancient city of Xichen Itza.

Constructed in the Toltec style of architecture and surrounded by hundreds of massive, limestone columns, The Temple of the Warriors and the adjacent Temple of the Jaguar make up the expansive "Thousand Columns" section of the ancient city of Xichen Itza.

Constructed in the Toltec style of architecture and surrounded by hundreds of massive, limestone columns, The Temple of the Warriors and the adjacent Temple of the Jaguar make up the expansive "Thousand Columns" section of the ancient city of Xichen Itza.

Explanation of El Caracol - Xichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico

Explanation of El Caracol - Xichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico

El Caracol, also known as "the observatory," presents us with some of the most insightful information as to the skywatching activities of the Mayans. El Caracol seems to be carefully aligned with the motions of Venus, a planet which held great significance within the Mayan culture as it was considered to be the twin to the sun and a God of war. Mayan leaders planned appropriate times for battle by the positions of Venus. El Caracol is the only building out of line with the others at Xichen Itza with its grand staircase facing 27.5 degrees to the northwest - nearly a perfect match to the most northern position of Venus. In addition, a diagonal formed by the northeast and southwest corners of the builting align to the sunrise of the summer solstice and sunset of the winter solstice.

El Caracol, also known as "the observatory," presents us with some of the most insightful information as to the skywatching activities of the Mayans. El Caracol seems to be carefully aligned with the motions of Venus, a planet which held great significance within the Mayan culture as it was considered to be the twin to the sun and a God of war. Mayan leaders planned appropriate times for battle by the positions of Venus. El Caracol is the only building out of line with the others at Xichen Itza with its grand staircase facing 27.5 degrees to the northwest - nearly a perfect match to the most northern position of Venus. In addition, a diagonal formed by the northeast and southwest corners of the builting align to the sunrise of the summer solstice and sunset of the winter solstice.

El Caracol, also known as "the observatory," presents us with some of the most insightful information as to the skywatching activities of the Mayans. El Caracol seems to be carefully aligned with the motions of Venus, a planet which held great significance within the Mayan culture as it was considered to be the twin to the sun and a God of war. Mayan leaders planned appropriate times for battle by the positions of Venus. El Caracol is the only building out of line with the others at Xichen Itza with its grand staircase facing 27.5 degrees to the northwest - nearly a perfect match to the most northern position of Venus. In addition, a diagonal formed by the northeast and southwest corners of the builting align to the sunrise of the summer solstice and sunset of the winter solstice.

El Caracol, also known as "the observatory," presents us with some of the most insightful information as to the skywatching activities of the Mayans. El Caracol seems to be carefully aligned with the motions of Venus, a planet which held great significance within the Mayan culture as it was considered to be the twin to the sun and a God of war. Mayan leaders planned appropriate times for battle by the positions of Venus. El Caracol is the only building out of line with the others at Xichen Itza with its grand staircase facing 27.5 degrees to the northwest - nearly a perfect match to the most northern position of Venus. In addition, a diagonal formed by the northeast and southwest corners of the builting align to the sunrise of the summer solstice and sunset of the winter solstice.

El Caracol, also known as "the observatory," presents us with some of the most insightful information as to the skywatching activities of the Mayans. El Caracol seems to be carefully aligned with the motions of Venus, a planet which held great significance within the Mayan culture as it was considered to be the twin to the sun and a God of war. Mayan leaders planned appropriate times for battle by the positions of Venus. El Caracol is the only building out of line with the others at Xichen Itza with its grand staircase facing 27.5 degrees to the northwest - nearly a perfect match to the most northern position of Venus. In addition, a diagonal formed by the northeast and southwest corners of the builting align to the sunrise of the summer solstice and sunset of the winter solstice.

El Caracol, also known as "the observatory," presents us with some of the most insightful information as to the skywatching activities of the Mayans. El Caracol seems to be carefully aligned with the motions of Venus, a planet which held great significance within the Mayan culture as it was considered to be the twin to the sun and a God of war. Mayan leaders planned appropriate times for battle by the positions of Venus. El Caracol is the only building out of line with the others at Xichen Itza with its grand staircase facing 27.5 degrees to the northwest - nearly a perfect match to the most northern position of Venus. In addition, a diagonal formed by the northeast and southwest corners of the builting align to the sunrise of the summer solstice and sunset of the winter solstice.

El Caracol, also known as "the observatory," presents us with some of the most insightful information as to the skywatching activities of the Mayans. El Caracol seems to be carefully aligned with the motions of Venus, a planet which held great significance within the Mayan culture as it was considered to be the twin to the sun and a God of war. Mayan leaders planned appropriate times for battle by the positions of Venus. El Caracol is the only building out of line with the others at Xichen Itza with its grand staircase facing 27.5 degrees to the northwest - nearly a perfect match to the most northern position of Venus. In addition, a diagonal formed by the northeast and southwest corners of the builting align to the sunrise of the summer solstice and sunset of the winter solstice.

El Caracol, also known as "the observatory," presents us with some of the most insightful information as to the skywatching activities of the Mayans. El Caracol seems to be carefully aligned with the motions of Venus, a planet which held great significance within the Mayan culture as it was considered to be the twin to the sun and a God of war. Mayan leaders planned appropriate times for battle by the positions of Venus. El Caracol is the only building out of line with the others at Xichen Itza with its grand staircase facing 27.5 degrees to the northwest - nearly a perfect match to the most northern position of Venus. In addition, a diagonal formed by the northeast and southwest corners of the builting align to the sunrise of the summer solstice and sunset of the winter solstice.

The afore-mentioned Catholic church built of the bricks of El Castillo removed by the Franciscans - Piste, Yucatan, Mexico

The afore-mentioned Catholic church built of the bricks of El Castillo removed by the Franciscans - Piste, Yucatan, Mexico

The afore-mentioned Catholic church built of the bricks of El Castillo removed by the Franciscans - Piste, Yucatan, Mexico

The afore-mentioned Catholic church built of the bricks of El Castillo removed by the Franciscans - Piste, Yucatan, Mexico

The afore-mentioned Catholic church built of the bricks of El Castillo removed by the Franciscans - Piste, Yucatan, Mexico

Barcelo Maya Caribe - Puerto Aventuras, Mexico

Barcelo Maya Caribe - Puerto Aventuras, Mexico

Barcelo Maya Caribe - Puerto Aventuras, Mexico

Barcelo Maya Beach - Puerto Aventuras, Mexico
The southern tip of the beach (the far side in this photo) took a direct hit from Hurricane Wilma in October 2005. While the Barcelo resort complex itself has been repaired and is fully operational, there was a 6th resort on the southern tip of the cove at that time. This resort was never restored and remains closed. There remains evidence of the storm and some natural scarring from the storm.

Barcelo Maya Beach - Puerto Aventuras, Mexico
The southern tip of the beach (the far side in this photo) took a direct hit from Hurricane Wilma in October 2005. While the Barcelo resort complex itself has been repaired and is fully operational, there was a 6th resort on the southern tip of the cove at that time. This resort was never restored and remains closed. There remains evidence of the storm and some natural scarring from the storm.

Barcelo Maya Beach - Puerto Aventuras, Mexico
The southern tip of the beach (the far side in this photo) took a direct hit from Hurricane Wilma in October 2005. While the Barcelo resort complex itself has been repaired and is fully operational, there was a 6th resort on the southern tip of the cove at that time. This resort was never restored and remains closed. There remains evidence of the storm and some natural scarring from the storm.

Barcelo Maya Beach - Puerto Aventuras, Mexico
The southern tip of the beach (the far side in this photo) took a direct hit from Hurricane Wilma in October 2005. While the Barcelo resort complex itself has been repaired and is fully operational, there was a 6th resort on the southern tip of the cove at that time. This resort was never restored and remains closed. There remains evidence of the storm and some natural scarring from the storm.

Barcelo Maya Beach - Puerto Aventuras, Mexico
The southern tip of the beach (the far side in this photo) took a direct hit from Hurricane Wilma in October 2005. While the Barcelo resort complex itself has been repaired and is fully operational, there was a 6th resort on the southern tip of the cove at that time. This resort was never restored and remains closed. There remains evidence of the storm and some natural scarring from the storm.

Barcelo Maya Beach - Puerto Aventuras, Mexico
The southern tip of the beach (the far side in this photo) took a direct hit from Hurricane Wilma in October 2005. While the Barcelo resort complex itself has been repaired and is fully operational, there was a 6th resort on the southern tip of the cove at that time. This resort was never restored and remains closed. There remains evidence of the storm and some natural scarring from the storm.

Barcelo Maya Beach - Puerto Aventuras, Mexico

Barcelo Maya Beach - Puerto Aventuras, Mexico

Barcelo Maya Beach - Puerto Aventuras, Mexico

Barcelo Maya Beach - Puerto Aventuras, Mexico

Barcelo Maya Beach - Puerto Aventuras, Mexico

Barcelo Maya Beach - Puerto Aventuras, Mexico

Barcelo Maya Colonial - Puerto Aventuras, Mexico

Barcelo Maya Colonial - Puerto Aventuras, Mexico

Barcelo Maya Colonial - Puerto Aventuras, Mexico

Archangel Santo Rafael, Barcelo Maya Colonial - Puerto Aventuras, Mexico

Archangel Santo Rafael, Barcelo Maya Colonial - Puerto Aventuras, Mexico

Archangel Santo Rafael, Barcelo Maya Colonial - Puerto Aventuras, Mexico