Cancun Day 4: Wednesday; Part 2

Part 1

Since we were with a smaller tour group we were able to go into some tighter areas of the ruins. They have closed the ability to walk up all 91 stairs of the big temple, which is good...it helped me from looking like a chicken. But we were able to walk up about 9 steps shaped the same as the tall one. They are not natural steps. They are narrow and steep. It wasn't so bad going up, but coming down you had to step down sideways and put your feet in front of each other. By the third step down I was leaning hard into the stairs above me. But I did it! Here's a picture of the steps, if you can tell anything by it.

At the top of the stairs was a market area and a pool. A pool! I couldn't help imagining Mayans swimming and frolicking around after hauling all that limestone around. Of course, the pool was empty so I didn't get to swim...there.

As I said in Part 1 we were told that a lot of the people selling things around us weren't selling things that were an active part of the ancient Mayan tradition. But as we were walking back to the main area, where we would split into our own groups and have some free time, this little girl sidled up to our group:

This is Elizabeth. Roberto, our Apple Tour guide said that a few months ago her mother approached him and asked if he would recommend that his tour groups purchase items from her family. They make embroidered handkerchiefs, dresses; like the one Elizabeth is wearing, blouses and dresses for grown ups. He said that this is something the Mayans would do, and continue to do today. Roberto also said that many families will bring their kids to where they sell goods at to help them earn money. But, when they do that the kids aren't able to go to school and education plays a pivotal role in these families rising up out of poverty. So Roberto told Elizabeth's mom that he would recommend that people buy from them, but only if she promised him something. That next year, when Elizabeth was 5, he would never see her at Chitzen Itza during the week. This way, as best as he was able, he would ensure that Elizabeth was in school.
She was so cute. SO cute!

Sorry to keep you on the edges of your seats again (pete), but I'm exhausted. So part 3, maybe part 4 and the rant will have to wait until another day. I'm aiming to get up early tomorrow to pick up some crayons.