Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Palacio Presidential faced the bay. Each story of this three-floor building had a bay-
view veranda, and the design reminded me of Queen Kamehameha's Iolani Palace in
Honolulu. A sign on the paseo read: Parque Renacimiento (Renaissance Park). I walked a
few blocks and found a new Sam's Club and El Poton Restaurant, also owned by WalMart.
I breakfasted at El Fenico (The Phoenician), with ancient sailboats painted on the walls.
The restaurant's windows were open to the gentle breeze.
It was now almost 10 a.m. and the Mayan Museum was opened. I was greeted with air-
conditioning, nearly too cold. There was a Mayan thatched-hut exhibit in the patio, com-
pletely furnished. I joked, "How much to stay the night?"
The Mayan Museum was a combination of Mayan artifacts, models of two important sites,
Palenque and Tikal, mural reproductions in vivid colors from Bonampak, Yaxchilán and
Caxcala and excellent descriptions of Mayan society, their calendar, numerical system and
rituals. The model of Palenque was in the basement but could be viewed through the glass
first floor. I didn't walk on the glass, didn't want to smudge the view for others.
It was a
unique, effective display.
It was the perfect educational review after having visited Yaxchilán, Edzna, Palenque,
Uxmal and Chichen Itza. The museum was a survey and review of all I had seen.
Expenses: Taxi $2, meals $14, Hotel Los Arges $39, museum fee $5, Total: $60.
