Bonampak and Palenque a town. Mexico

Bonampak

By the time I arrived at the site, to say I was slightly pissed off is an understatement, probably not the best local transport I have ever used. As the site is in a remote part it is only accessible by local minivans.

Apart from the door held together with duck tape, the damn thing had a slipping clutch and a smoking exhaust. Oh the joys of travel

The only real things of significance here are the murals completed at the end of the 8th century

They are housed in the two rooms above, entry to which are strictly controlled, no back packs, no flash, three people at a time.

The murals, apparently depict royal investiture.

They were only discovered by an American, Giles Healy in 1946 whilst making a nature film. Bonampak was unknown at this time to archeologists and was totally overgrown by thick forest and vegetation..

Not really worth the effort of a bumpy van ride.

Palenque

I quote lonely planet here.

"Palenque town, is a sweaty, humdrum place without much appeal "

I quote rough guides here.

"The rather helter-skelter town of Palenque functions as the base for exploring. With every facility a visitor might need, it’s lively enough, but it has no real intrinsic appeal."

So with those glowing endorsements I spent an afternoon here ( admittedly mostly in the graveyard.....more to come on that)

But first.....food, I just can't function with hunger pains attacking me. It is always a good sign if the local stray dogs are sitting patiently waiting for some scraps.

If it is good enough for them, it is good enough for me. I perused the menu and decided to go for the 'special of the day"...Chicken.

Shunning the local cuisine?, such as Chiapas tamales, duck in chirmol, sweaty fish or venison salpicón. No, No fucking way, sweaty fish sounds as bad as a cheese and coffee combo!

Nicely full of BBQ, unshared, I wandered on, "sorry dogs, my need was greater than yours"

Damn it all now that looks another fine eatery, maybe I shall return worry ye not, I eat more than once a day.

On one side of the Main Plaza a quiet, simple and small church dedicated to St. Dominic, the patron saint of the town.

Wonderfully cold inside a welcome break from the burning sun, but time and tide for no man waits, so a stroll back up town.A graveyard awaits me.

So no overwhelming humungous monuments, cathedrals or well buildings actually, most buildings no more than two storeys tall, earthquake zone I guess. A one horse town it maybe, but if you don't wander you will miss things you never knew existed. beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Guide books, what do they know?