Our tour today was Chan Chan City of Palaces. This is an ancient Chimu capital. The Chimu, who preceded the Incas and were later conquered by them, built Chan Chan about 1300 AD. It is the largest pre-Columbian city in the Americas and the largest mud city in the world. At one time Chan Chan had over 60,000 inhabitants and was a very rich city with a vast wealth of gold, silver, and ceramics. After the Incas conquered the Chimu, the city remained untouched until the Spanish came. Within a few decades of the conquistadors, most of the treasures of Chan Chan were gone, either taken by the Spanish or by looters.
The city walls enclose eight square miles of buildings, including small wattle and daub huts, medium sized adobe brick houses and the huge palaces of the era's nobility. These palaces typically contained many rooms and patios and were surrounded by their own protective walls. Each palace also contained ceremonial courtyards, some decorated with a repeating design of birds or animals. Often a palace was abandoned once its owner died and a new one was constructed next door. As a result, these amazing buildings date from 850 to 1470 AD.
This is the entrance to the palace. Not the typical palace that we know today. The walls were higher but with weather and such, they have become smaller. These are all made of mud or adobe bricks.
The courtyard is huge. In the center where the rope is is where they held different ceremonies. From general meetings to sacrifices.
The walls surrounding the courtyard are figures carved into the walls.
On the outside of the walls we found this carving. 85% of the wall had the fish heading toward the sea and 15% had them going the other way.
Around the central area where these different sections.
And they think this area was stalls that contained different items that they could buy. Sort of like a mall in todays world.
Outside the central area was this green field. This is where the well was so that is why it is still green but no water today.
While waiting for the bus to come pick us up, I sat down and this kitty decided to join me. I did pet it but the picture of me doing it has my head down. The poor cat looked hot.
Our first stop was to the dragon temple. Not sure why it is called that. At any rate, you can see the high walls protecting the area.
Again, the walls are carved our of mud. They used a lot of rainbow carvings.
They now cover the walls with a roof to protect it from the weather.
This is a better picture of the rainbow and then the other symbols.
These were carvings of the warriors. They went all around the wall. We were not allowed to go up and look at the area from above and it is probably a good thing as they only had a ramp and no hand rail.
Another view.
This is the area where we were docked.
Not much here to see.
But lots of fishing boats in the harbor.
Back to the ship for lunch and a nap. We walked about three miles this morning. A lot for me.
We elected not to swim today. Dressed for dinner and cocktails in Mariner Lounge. Jean and Harry joined us. They went to the Crew show but we decided not to go as we have three more times to see it before we leave the ship. Jean said it was okay. The crew does their best to put on a show but sometimes they just don't have the right talent.
Dinner was lobster but fixed a different way. But it was good. Just not traditional. Back to the suite to try and upload the pictures but could not so I did all this in the early morning of Saturday. We do not arrive in Lima until noon.
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