I was first for breakfast this morning at the enchanting restaurant here at La Aldea as it drizzled down. I managed by having a Spanish translation of “I’m entitled to breakfast” get an American breakfast with scrambled eggs (the stir-fried beans don’t add anything for me).

The weather forecast was for solid rain and that was where I went wrong. I envisaged going round Palenque in a downpour so I put on my rain jacket which I only thought I would need in good old Blighty. I didn’t need it here - Palenque was pretty dry and I needed more a hat or cap which I didn’t bring! This was a joint trip with three friendly Germans as well as a helpful guide who suggested I see a zoo close to my hotel in the afternoon. The insect life preyed on the Germans and the guide rather than me, I’m not offended though.

Palenque is another huge impressive Mayan site but different to Chichen Itza and Uxmal which I had already seen. Palenque is in hilly country rather than the flatness of the Yucatan state. Palenque has Indiana Jones style jungle intertwining with the buildings to add that daring archaeologist feel to being there. In the days when Palenque and the other places were lived in Mayan cities the trees wouldn’t have been there - the ground would have been cleared, either growing crops or white roads for movement.

Chichen Itza had cenotes, Uxmal relied on rainwater, but Palenque has streams and rivers and photogenic waterfalls. The Maya here even had steam baths. You can climb some of the pyramids, I did the big one and it was a bit slippery and steep. The guide gave us plenty of time to look around and take pictures. He also explained that there’s a lot no one knows and even how the steps are is to some extent guesswork. There was a lack of Salida (exit) signs on the path we took out to where the guide was going to pick us up, but an exciting rope bridge and quality waterfalls.

I was back in plenty of time for lunch where I asked for an Expresso and got a thimbleful of coffee - not good to have too much caffeine. In the afternoon I walked in the drizzle to the cheerful Aluxes zoo and saw some panthers in cages and a bored ocelot too. Didn’t see the crocodiles despite the warnings. Very close to my La Aldea hotel but the long driveway in made me worry I was heading off into the unknown. The people at the Zoo spoke English to my relief! I never found anyone at the hotel who did.