• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 03:44
CEST 09:44
KST 16:44
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
RSL Season 1 - Final Week6[ASL19] Finals Recap: Standing Tall12HomeStory Cup 27 - Info & Preview18Classic wins Code S Season 2 (2025)16Code S RO4 & Finals Preview: herO, Rogue, Classic, GuMiho0
Community News
Esports World Cup 2025 - Brackets Revealed11Weekly Cups (July 7-13): Classic continues to roll4Team TLMC #5 - Submission extension3Firefly given lifetime ban by ESIC following match-fixing investigation17$25,000 Streamerzone StarCraft Pro Series announced7
StarCraft 2
General
Who will win EWC 2025? Esports World Cup 2025 - Brackets Revealed RSL Revival patreon money discussion thread The GOAT ranking of GOAT rankings Weekly Cups (July 7-13): Classic continues to roll
Tourneys
FEL Cracov 2025 (July 27) - $8000 live event RSL: Revival, a new crowdfunded tournament series $5,100+ SEL Season 2 Championship (SC: Evo) WardiTV Mondays Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament
Strategy
How did i lose this ZvP, whats the proper response Simple Questions Simple Answers
Custom Maps
External Content
Mutation # 482 Wheel of Misfortune Mutation # 481 Fear and Lava Mutation # 480 Moths to the Flame Mutation # 479 Worn Out Welcome
Brood War
General
BW General Discussion Flash Announces (and Retracts) Hiatus From ASL BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ Starcraft in widescreen A cwal.gg Extension - Easily keep track of anyone
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues Cosmonarchy Pro Showmatches CSL Xiamen International Invitational [BSL20] Non-Korean Championship 4x BSL + 4x China
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers I am doing this better than progamers do.
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread Path of Exile CCLP - Command & Conquer League Project The PlayStation 5
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Stop Killing Games - European Citizens Initiative Summer Games Done Quick 2025! Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine
Fan Clubs
SKT1 Classic Fan Club! Maru Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Movie Discussion! Anime Discussion Thread [\m/] Heavy Metal Thread
Sports
Formula 1 Discussion TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 2024 - 2025 Football Thread NBA General Discussion NHL Playoffs 2024
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Men Take Risks, Women Win Ga…
TrAiDoS
momentary artworks from des…
tankgirl
from making sc maps to makin…
Husyelt
StarCraft improvement
iopq
Trip to the Zoo
micronesia
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 669 users

At the Mouth of the Well of the Itza

Blogs > farvacola
Post a Reply
farvacola
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
United States18825 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-07-29 18:00:38
July 29 2012 17:40 GMT
#1


So I finally made it back to Cancun after many years. As a child, I always loved having a variety of stories with which to regale my white-bread Ohio friends, as my dad's family is from Central/South America and I had ample opportunity to experience many things not usually available to a typical Midwesterner. My aunt has lived in Cancun my entire life, and I consider my many trips to visit her some of the best experiences of my life. However, as I grew older and the rigors of my father's profession made travel more difficult to coordinate, I went on a 10 year long hiatus from visiting my family in Mexico.

Sadly, the primary reason for my recent journey is that both of my grandparents are about to die. It was wonderful to get a chance to visit with them one last time, and throughout the trip I could not help but ponder many of life's biggest questions, as the vibrant vivacity of the Zona Hotelera intermingled with the hard, cold truth of the end of life in my head. On one hand, I was immersed in a commercial ecstasy of tourist delight, surrounded by gorgeous, interesting women and men with excellent stories to tell from all over the world. But on the other, I felt more apart of my father's rather intense family than ever before. More generally, I began to feel a sense of belonging with hispanic culture, as I identified similarities between the odd juxtaposition of feelings I was feeling within and the trademark emotionality of Mexican expression. But at this point, my journey was incomplete, as I had not visited my favorite place in the world yet, and I knew that more was to come.

As a child, my times spent at Chichen Itza, or "at the mouth of the well of the Itza", played a critical role in how I came about my desire for a spiritual existence. The stories of decorated warriors fighting battles on the ball court only for the losers to lose their heads still fascinate me to this day, as I still seek to learn more about one of the first cultures to adopt a calendar, a numerical system, and a writing schema. Something I was previously unaware of is that Chichen represents an interesting crossroads in Mayan culture, as one half of the ruins are pure Mayan, whereas the central pyramid and spiritual complex is a result of the Mayan alliance with the Toltecs, a warrior people from further inland.

[image loading]
Here is the best photo I took all trip, as a gathering storm served as the perfect backdrop. After I took this, I promptly sprinted to the bus, and was the only one unscathed by the storm



The Mayans were rather pacifistic, as they dedicated the majority of their time and resources towards agriculture, astronomy, and mathematics. However, at some point in history, they became afraid. Afraid of what we still do not know. What we do know is that there began a sudden influx of Toltec trade and intermingling. The idea that the Sun is a blood god who can only be appeased with the blood of a brave warrior is a Toltec belief, one adopted by the Mayans as a means of solidifying their bond with their new allies. Architecturally, one can see the cultural evolution as it took place, as flowery hieroglyphics and highly detailed edging give way to severe and intimidating motifs of vengeful eagle gods. The smaller and more artistic designs of the Mayans turned into large, deliberate structures meant to inspire order and awe, and the mystery that is the Mayan culture only becomes more opaque as it becomes clear that their culture, much like ours, existed in constant flux.

In the end, I could not help but take one lesson from my most recent trip to Chichen Itza, that being the importance of recognizing identity as a fluid structure, one which may take the strangest components of a variety of sources and mix them all up until the result is something entirely new. Where does one establish a hierarchy? Just how Mexican am I? Such questions are hollow by virtue of their point of reference I've decided, and instead I hope to simply embrace all that I am and act accordingly. Thanks for reading!


***
"when the Dead Kennedys found out they had skinhead fans, they literally wrote a song titled 'Nazi Punks Fuck Off'"
jpak
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
United States5045 Posts
July 29 2012 17:57 GMT
#2
5/5 just because of that awesome photo!

Sorry to hear that about your grandparents.
CJ Entusman #50! #1 클템 fan TL!
Iranon
Profile Blog Joined March 2010
United States983 Posts
July 29 2012 20:03 GMT
#3
Nice post! My parents took me to Chichen Itza (and Tulum) when I was just barely old enough to remember, and the few patchwork memories I have of the place are some of my favorites. Those ruins probably had a lot to due with my (lifelong, so far) interest in ancient history and fallen civilizations. I'd post it if I had it in digital form, but one of my favorite pictures of myself as a kid is me sitting in the bowl of a chacmool.
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 8h 17m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 43322
GuemChi 534
PianO 279
zelot 130
Larva 57
Sharp 56
NaDa 42
Sacsri 38
JulyZerg 23
Shine 13
[ Show more ]
Bale 10
Hm[arnc] 10
Dota 2
XcaliburYe393
ODPixel302
NeuroSwarm104
Counter-Strike
Stewie2K1362
shoxiejesuss241
Super Smash Bros
Mew2King212
Other Games
summit1g11875
SortOf87
Trikslyr28
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick2996
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 14 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Berry_CruncH398
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• iopq 2
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• lizZardDota2185
League of Legends
• Stunt455
Upcoming Events
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
8h 17m
Replay Cast
16h 17m
The PondCast
1d 2h
OSC
1d 5h
WardiTV European League
1d 8h
Replay Cast
1d 16h
Epic.LAN
2 days
CranKy Ducklings
3 days
Epic.LAN
3 days
CSO Contender
3 days
[ Show More ]
BSL20 Non-Korean Champi…
3 days
Bonyth vs Sziky
Dewalt vs Hawk
Hawk vs QiaoGege
Sziky vs Dewalt
Mihu vs Bonyth
Zhanhun vs QiaoGege
QiaoGege vs Fengzi
Sparkling Tuna Cup
4 days
Online Event
4 days
BSL20 Non-Korean Champi…
4 days
Bonyth vs Zhanhun
Dewalt vs Mihu
Hawk vs Sziky
Sziky vs QiaoGege
Mihu vs Hawk
Zhanhun vs Dewalt
Fengzi vs Bonyth
Esports World Cup
6 days
ByuN vs Astrea
Lambo vs HeRoMaRinE
Clem vs TBD
Solar vs Zoun
SHIN vs Reynor
Maru vs TriGGeR
herO vs Lancer
Cure vs ShoWTimE
Liquipedia Results

Completed

CSL 17: 2025 SUMMER
RSL Revival: Season 1
Murky Cup #2

Ongoing

JPL Season 2
BSL 2v2 Season 3
Copa Latinoamericana 4
Jiahua Invitational
BSL20 Non-Korean Championship
Championship of Russia 2025
FISSURE Playground #1
BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 7
IEM Dallas 2025
PGL Astana 2025
Asian Champions League '25
BLAST Rivals Spring 2025
MESA Nomadic Masters

Upcoming

CSL Xiamen Invitational
CSL Xiamen Invitational: ShowMatche
2025 ACS Season 2
CSLPRO Last Chance 2025
CSLPRO Chat StarLAN 3
BSL Season 21
K-Championship
RSL Revival: Season 2
SEL Season 2 Championship
uThermal 2v2 Main Event
FEL Cracov 2025
Esports World Cup 2025
Underdog Cup #2
ESL Pro League S22
StarSeries Fall 2025
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
BLAST Open Fall Qual
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
IEM Cologne 2025
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.