As we stood in the middle of this gorgeous field with the sun beating down on our faces, our guide Josue, began to explain the history of how this amazing city was brought to fruition and once the center of many ceremonial activities over 3,000 years ago. The ambient sounds of exotic birds and buzzing insects slowly drifted away as I felt myself stepping back in time, imagining what it truly would have been like to be alive in this unimaginable world that lay before me. Used for religious ceremonies, human sacrifices would have been made on the top of the terrace, while thousands stood below watching this great honor of offering blood to the gods. I’m thankful civilization has evolved and sacrifices are something of the past. Could you imagine if there were still ceremonies to this degree honoring our greatest warriors and leaders these days? I think we forget how fortunate we are to be living in this generation and have all the freedoms we take for granted every day.

After spending the morning awing over temples embedded with skull carvings, serpent warriors and statues of the great Mayans, we enjoyed the afternoon on a lighter note by tasting the local Mexican cuisine. Learning the sacrificial customs of the gods sure builds up an appetite! We had lunch at an outside restaurant in the jungle where a shot of tequila was offered upon arrival. Only in Mexico! I then devoured the most delicious lime chicken tortilla soup I’ve ever had, followed by fresh tamales and a glass of chilled rice water to wash it all down.

Once our food was digested, our next adventure led us to Ik Kil Cenote (pronounced sen-o-tay). The cenote is a 90-foot sinkhole set in limestone with a 150-foot natural pool at the bottom. To reach the cenote, you must climb down 90 jagged steps of drenched limestone, all while your only support is a half an inch chain to grab onto for balance while walking barefoot. Luckily, my clumsiness took a hiatus from this journey and I made it to the bottom in one piece.

This great city’s only permanent water source was a series of sinkhole wells. History states that young female victims were thrown into the largest of these as sacrifices to the Maya rain god thought to live in the depths of the waters. Thankfully, no sacrifices were performed the day I decided to take a swim. As I climbed down the bamboo ladder into the pool, the chill of the water took my breath away. Once I took the leap and doggy paddled my way to the center of the pool, I flipped to my back and began to float, taking in this incredible scene laid out before me. Vines draped down from up above, entangled in tiny waterfalls splashing the water and swimmers below. Our voices were echoed as they bounced off the walls and rang throughout the pool. The beauty of this place was far beyond anything I could have ever imagined.

Skulls honoring those who were sacrificed.

I hope my thirst for adventure never goes dry and my appreciation for the many wonders this world continues to grow. Travel makes one modest. It helps you to see what a tiny place you occupy in this world. I advise anyone with the urge for exploration to travel as much as you can, for as long as you can. Life is not meant to be lived in one place.