I made it to Chichén Itzá just in time for the sunset.
The Mayan community around Chichén Itzá thrived between around 700AD and 900AD, and built most of the structures in the southern area. However, the main buildings in the central area, including the Pyramid of Kukulkán and the Ball Court, are Toltec in design.
The Pyramid of Kukulkán (El Castillo) is 79 feet (24 m) high, without a single handrail at the top. Each side of the pyramid had originally 91 steps, adding the platform at the top as a final step totals 365 steps, one for every day of the year. The fact that the Mayans had highly accurate knowledge of astronomy and the calendar is demonstrated at the spring and autumn equinox. On these days the sun causes the shadow of a snake to decend the pyramid stairs. This is the serpent god Quetzalcóatl, announcing to the Mayans when to plant or harvest.
