Page 14 - Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens - July '23

Page 14, Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens
Chichén Itzá: One Of The New Seven Wonders Of The World

Previously submitted by the rock, building a roadway
late Don Kiselewski, MCC, several feet higher than what
D.S., Palm Beach Gardens the high water could rise to
Travel Leaders in the area. Sand and fine
Cut into the thick stones filled the upper layer
overgrowth of the flat that when tamped formed a
Yucatán Peninsula, 600 miles hard surface road. There are
to the southwest of South approximately 100 sacbeob
Florida is the Mayan city crisscrossing the site and
of Chichén Itzá, which in extending in many directions
2007 was proclaimed one to other cities.
of the “New Seven Wonders C h i c h é n I t z á wa s
of the World.” The prestigious title was bestowed by the subdivided and separated into
New 7 Wonders Foundation, a Swiss corporation. The various sites that at one time View of the Great Ball Court from El Castillo
organization announced the competition in 2001 and after were separated by low walls.
some 200 worldwide applications, 21 finalists were chosen Three of these sites dominate
for a vote in 2006. The winners were announced on 7/7/07 (I today’s features: the Great
would suspect the date had something to do with the seven North Platform, the Ossario
wonders). Egypt was not happy with the result, and finally Group and the Central Group.
got their Great Pyramid of Giza listed as an “Honorary The Temple of Kukulkan,
Candidate” … always a bridesmaid. a pyramid, dominates the
Chichén Itzá, the name for this ancient city, was derived Great North Platform and is
from the geography of the Mexican Yucatán Peninsula. The by far the most photographed
peninsula is flat with no rivers or lakes, and so obtaining structure; it’s the symbol of
a life-sustaining water source necessary meant going Chichén Itzá. It is also known
underground. The spot for the city was chosen because of a as El Castillo or “the castle.”
large sinkhole that filled with ground water. In Mayan, chi The structure, which was
means “mouths” and chen means “well,” Itza was the name of constructed right on top of
the dominant ethnic group that controlled the northern portion an older one, towers over the
of the peninsula. The combination translates to “the people site and stands eight stories
who lived at the mouth of the well.” Itza is derived from Itz (79 feet) above the main grass
(meaning “magic”) and a (meaning “water”) – combining plaza in the city. Each side of
them makes “magic water.” the pyramid has a single run Like the Temple of Kukulkan, the Temple of the Warriors in Chichén Itzá was constructed
Although the area was inhabited by the Mayans since 1500 of stairs, each with 91 steps atop an older structure.
B.C., they did not start grouping into a city-type complex that culminate at a platform
until around sixth century A.D. This period also saw the on top. A square structure is located on top of the platform Chichén Itzá on page 15
first principal transportation routes within the city and to
the other villages and cities in the Mayan world. During
the wet season on the peninsula, the land floods, leaving Sewer & Drain Cleaning • Service • Repair • Remodeling Specialist
standing water. To allow unchallenged movement between
areas, sacbeob were constructed. A sacbe, or “white road”
as they are sometimes called, was made by clearing the area
between two destinations and then elevating the path with

Residential & Commercial
Licensed & Insured/Over 30 Years Experience

“Where Professional Quality & Service Always Make the Difference”

The Temple of Kukulkan (El Castillo)

Family owned & operated since 1988

Jim & Gloria Harmon having a great time in Curacao
during their Southern Caribbean Cruise. Interested
in exploring more of the Caribbean,
call us so we can find the right cruise for you.
We are located at 11360 N. Jog Road, Bldg. A, Suite 102-6
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33418 Info@PBGTravel.com
TravelLeaders.com/PBGFL
(561) 694-9696
“We help you see the world . . .”