Tren Maya Episode 13 - Izamal 

Thank you

When we were in the Yucatan, we drove from Merida to Motul, then up to the coast, electing to leave Izamal until our next trip. I think that Motul (on a busy Saturday morning) was our first expereince of being 'the only gringos in sight'. Which we discovered that we enjoyed! As always, great work!

Hola Georgia and David. As per usual an entertaining and informative video. I don't recall how much of Izamal was painted yellow when I visited 50 years ago, but guide books were referring to Izamal as "la ciudad amarilla" in the 1980's. The atrium of the convento is one of the largest in Mexico and the only one whose border is defined by an arcade. The double staircases on the east and west sides of the atrium were added in the 17th century to provide a more suitable access to the church for the Spanish residents. The arcades around the atrium were also added in the 1600's. Originally there was a paved walkway with a posa at each corner. Izamal and Acolman are the only conventos, as far as I can recall, that have two cloisters. During the 16th century friars or the regular clergy occasionally complained about the size or grandeur of the church belonging to a different order. Izamal was no different, San Antonio Izamal being considered grandiose. When the first resident bishop of Yucatan, Francisco Toral, visited Izamal, he remarked "It is a fine thing to see and a scandal to permit it, for surely St. Francis condemns it in his rule." 50 years ago the archaeological zones in Izamal and Ake were called ruins for a good reason. Not that much had been restored. Although the ruins there look crude compared to places like Chichen Itza or Uxmal the rough stonework was probably covered with plaster and possibly painted. Your decision to see Ake rather than Dzibalchaltun was probably a good one, since the latter has less to see. The pyramid at Ake that has the rows of roof support collumns reminds me of similar structures at Tula and Chichen Itza. Have you found a place to cool off in Mexico? I haven't read of anyplace. In San Diego we have a marine layer keeping the daytime temperatures in the low to mid 70's. We call it May gray and June gloom, but it is much better than 100 degree temperatures. If anyone needs more warmth they can drive a bit further inland from the coast. I suppose your next video, or perhaps the one after, will be on Merida. I look forward to it.