The sisters wanted to know if I wanted to go dancing with one of them later that night, or if I was in town to look for a wife. The soldiers were interested in why I had chosen to live in Mexico, and about the life of a soldier in the U.S. military. As for me, I wanted to know what was happening locally, political issues and about the increase in military presence in the state. Mole eaten, beers drunk and questions asked and answered all around, I excused myself and wandered through the market, as the vendors prepared to close for the day. The ruins have been designated by the United Nations as one of the most significant cultural zones on the planet.
People go to the ruins to look, climb and explore.
For many, it can be a powerful experience. Arriving at the site at 10 o'clock in the morning, with camera loaded and water bottle full, I expected to spend the better part of the day climbing my way through the ruins, exploring and revisiting areas old and new. A bus departs every 30 minutes from early morning until mid-afternoon. Admission to the ruins is additional. It was a mistake.