Temple of the Wind

January 9, 2008 by 3 Comments

Temple of the Winds © 2008 Bo Mackison

Photographed at the ruins of Tulum, an archeological site of the Mayans dating from 650 AD. It is located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, just south of Cozumel on the mainland.

The “Temple of the Wind” is perched high over the Caribbean Sea. It was designed by the Mayans as a lookout for marauders and more importantly as a hurricane warning system. When the hurricane winds headed for a direct hit on Tulum, the winds whistled through a specially designed hole at the top of the temple. The Mayans would hear the signal and then know to leave the walled city and seek protection near the outer wall. (12 feet high and seven feet thick).

The temple whistled when Hurricane Roxanne reached hurricane force winds in 1995.

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Palm and Stones

January 8, 2008 by 8 Comments

Palm at Tulum © 2008 Bo Mackison

At Tulum, a Mayan ruins on the coast of the Caribbean in Mexico.

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Windows Looking upon Tulum

January 7, 2008 by 5 Comments

House of Halach Uinek in Tulum © 2008 Bo Mackison

This is the House of the Halach Uinik or “Primary Lord” in the ancient walled city of Tulum. It was built by the Mayan people circa 650 AD.

Tulum, located on the shores of the Caribbean Sea just south of Cozumel, Mexico, is one of the most spectacular archeological sites of the Mayan culture. Though small in size compared to other sites located in Mexico, it was an important ceremonial and port city of the Mayas.

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Sunrise at Sea

January 6, 2008 by 11 Comments

Sunrise at Sea © 2008 Bo Mackison

Sailing off the Florida Keys, the sun’s rays light the skies above the ocean,

Days later, in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, the sun disappeared. Diagonal winds crossed the ship’s deck at 45 mph and the ship sailed through 12-18 foot waves. After all day turbulence (as in staggering while walking,) the formal dining rooms were quite empty for dinner. No surprise.

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Welcome to Florida

January 5, 2008 by 8 Comments

Palm © 2008 Bo Mackison

While I’ve been posting snowy photos the last week, I’ve been traveling in Florida, and then on the Carnival Glory cruise ship to Belize, Mexico and the Bahamas. Fun, though sad to say (for me) the weather in the Caribbean was reminiscent of a November in Wisconsin.

So here is my first taste of Florida when the temperatures were still in the 80s and the sun was shining.

Blackpoint Wildlife Drive near Cape Canaveral. Palm trees are a big treat for me, but these will be old hat to anyone who sees these lovely trees year round.

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