Ivory Bar Goddess © 2008 Bo Mackison
Who decorates these cruise ships, anyway? I admit some areas in the ship are wonderful, but here is a photograph of the ‘Ivory Bar’ goddess. Hmm. First there are white plastic 6-foot-tall elephant tusks along the walls and now I see colorful murals on all flat surfaces of, uh, I think they’re goddesses of some sort. I never was any good at mythology.
I love the painting itself, but it is in an interesting location.Had to share. She is rather fun.
Branches © 2008 Bo Mackison
Snow. Branches. Abstract.
While it is most likely sunny in Mexico – at least it was one week ago when the last several photos were taken – it is not sunny in Wisconsin. But it is quite beautiful with the city covered in layers of ice and snow from last night’s storm.
This frosty landscape was photographed in Owen Conservation Park, Madison, WI early this morning.
Back to the regularly scheduled Caribbean photos tomorrow.
Mayan Ruins © 2008 Bo Mackison
The Mayan ruins at Tulum, Mexico.
The House of the Columns is more complex than most structures at the site. It’s a palace-like structure with four rooms whose principal entrance faces South. Six columns support the roof of the main room and there’s also a roofed sanctuary with altars. Mayans did perform live human sacrifices to their gods with willing volunteers. (Anyone up for a nice volunteer job?)
All of Tulum’s buildings were open to the public until 9 years ago. They were closed at that time due to problems with graffiti despoilation on the interior walls done by stupid people.
These renowned archeological sites were constructed in the classic era between 650 AD and 1450 AD; most of the remaining structures are dated from 1250 to 1450 AD. Until the 16th century, they were inhabited towns. Then the Europeans came. The Spanish conquered the Mayans in 1518, bringing to the Mayans devastating Old World diseases. By 1521, the Mayans had abruptly abandoned their way of life in Tulum and other sites in Mexico, and they disappeared in a short period of time.
Iguana Sky © 2008 Bo Mackison
Iguana checking the sky while perched on the top of the wall that surrounds the ancient city of Tulum, a Mayan ceremonial and residential community in Mexico.
The walls are 7 feet wide, plenty of stone to keep Mayan enemies at bay, and space enough for an extended family of iguanas to sun themselves.
