A Visit to Virtual Mexico

After spending the weekend in the virtual Far East, tonight it was time to visit virtual Central Latin America - Mexico to be precise.

Rather than hack out some lumpen words of my own it seems reasonable to quote liberally from the many notecards that can be picked up here: "Visit Mexico and the Chichen Itza exhibit exist to raise awareness and promote preservation of this ancient world heritage site.
This exhibit attempts to convey an overall feeling of Chichen Itza; however, as a Second Life exhibit, liberties have been taken in creating a visually compelling display. Visitors can explore the ancient architecture on display at Chichen Itza by taking a guided audio tour from the back of a Mayan inspired butterfly or exploring on foot. If you choose not to complete the audio tour you can find information on Chichen Itza by exploring the site and accessing information kiosks placed at various points of interest throughout the exhibit."

"Chichen Itza is currently included in an international campaign known as the New Seven Wonders of the World. Using modern communications technology including the internet, the world’s population is joining together to vote. It is a goal of this project that at the New7Wonders Final Event on 07.07.07 Chichen Itza will be included in the Official Declaration as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World." If you wish to support this effort, there is a voting facility, after which you can pick up a free Mayan warrior and/or princess outfit - or you can vote online here.

As well as the main pyramid, you can visit the sweathouse, the Cenote ( water-filled, limestone sinkhole) and assorted ruins, waterfalls and forest walks, while dragonflies and humming birds flit about your head.

You can also enter inside the pyramid, where there's another pyramid! "It was common practice in Mesoamerican cities to periodically build larger and bigger temple pyramids atop older ones, and this is one such example. Archaeologists discovered a doorway at the base of the north stairway that leads to a tunnel, from which one can climb the steps of the earlier version of El Castillo inside the current one up to the top room where you can see religious Jaguar Throne, carved of stone and painted red with jade spots. The design of the older pyramid inside is said to be a lunar calendar, with the newer pyramid being a solar calendar."

It's an impressive and informative build.