Steve's Genealogy Blog

Wildlife of the Everglades

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Steve

Finishing up my Caribbean vacation in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, I was able to snap some pictures of the wildlife of the Everglades . Unfortunately, most of the pictures I took were from a moving airboat, so many of them were blurry at best . The only decent pictures were those of black vultures (Coragyps atratus), turkey vultures (Cathartes aura), and American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) . To be honest, I didn’t see any alligators in the wild . The only ones I saw were at the Gator Boys alligator rescue facility at Everglades Holiday Park.

By the way, a group of vultures is called a wake if they’re feeding . Otherwise, aÂ group of vultures is known asÂ a committee, a venue, a kettle, or a volt.

A Committee of Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus)

SOURCE: A Committee of Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus) (Fort Lauderdale, Broward Co., Florida, USA); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 February 2012.

Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura)

SOURCE: Â Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) (Fort Lauderdale, Broward Co., Florida, USA); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 February 2012.

American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

SOURCE: American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) (Fort Lauderdale, Broward Co., Florida, USA); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 February 2012.

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged Caribbean Vacation, Florida | Comments Off

Plants of the Everglades

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Steve

At the end of my Caribbean Vacation, I stopped at Everglades holiday Park in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for an airboat ride through the Everglades . Sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense) and spatterdock (Nuphar lutea) are everywhere, interrupted only occasionally byÂ pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata).

Vista of Sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense)

SOURCE: Vista of Sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense) (Fort Lauderdale, Broward Co., Florida, USA); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 February 2012.

Spatterdock (Nuphar lutea)

SOURCE: Spatterdock (Nuphar lutea) (Fort Lauderdale, Broward Co., Florida, USA); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 February 2012.

Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)

SOURCE: Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) (Fort Lauderdale, Broward Co., Florida, USA); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 05 February 2012.

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged Caribbean Vacation, Florida | Comments Off

The Ak’iin Beah Club in Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Steve

After touring through the Mayan ruins at Tulum, I stopped by theÂ Ak’iin Beach Club for lunch and a chance to get my feet wet in the Caribbean . The day was cool, overcast, and the skies were spitting rain . Few people ventured onto the beach . Nonetheless, I took a few photos of the place.

Ak’iin Beach Club Sign

SOURCE: Ak’iin Beach Club Sign (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

Palm and Beach at Ak’iin Beach Club

SOURCE: Palm and Beach at Ak’iin Beach Club (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

The Caribbean from Ak’iin Beach Club

SOURCE: The Caribbean from Ak’iin Beach Club (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

The Beach at Ak’iin Beach Club

SOURCE: The Beach at Ak’iin Beach Club (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged Caribbean Vacation, Mexico, Tulum | Comments Off

Final Views of the Mayan City of Tulum in Quintana Roo, Mexico

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Steve

The Mayan city of Tulum in Quintana Roo, Mexico is a compact site with only a handful of archeologically interesting structures . The city is, however, located right on the Caribbean, lending it perhaps the Mayan city with the most beautiful views.

The Temple of the Descending God isÂ mentioned on one of the descriptive plaques:

Templo del Dios Descendente (Temple of the Descending God)

This is one of the most beautiful temples in Tulum . Neither the walls nor the door adjust to a straight vertical line . This is not a result of the passage of time, but rather the way it was originally designed . It was constructed upon another temple which was fitted in, in order to serve as a base . In the recess above the door there is a sculpture representing a personage descending from the heavens, with a headdress crowing his head and holding an object in his hands . The temple was decorated inside and out with a mural painting of several representations of gods, which, unfortunately, can no longer be admired.

Other structures include the Temple of the Wind and the House of the Cenote (a structure built over a sinkhole presumably used for the city’s water supply . Finally, a view of the rear of the Castle, looking towards the Caribbean.

The Temple of the Descending God

SOURCE: The Temple of the Descending God (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

The Temple of the Wind

SOURCE: The Temple of theÂ Wind (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

The House of the Cenote

SOURCE: TheÂ House of the CenoteÂ (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

From the Castle to the Sea

SOURCE: Â From the Castle to the SeaÂ (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

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The Temple of the Frescos and the Great Palace in Tulum in Quintana Roo, Mexico

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Steve

TheÂ Temple of the Frescoes and the Great Palace in the Mayan city of Tulum in Quintana Roo, Mexico are described in interpretive plaques on the site.

Templo de las Pinturas (Temple of the Frescos)

This building conserves most of the decorative elements of Tulum . It has two levels, of which the lower level is comprised of two temples, one within the other, where the decoration is concentrated . The faí§ade of the inner temple is decorated with mural paintings, while that of the outer temple boasts stucco figures in bas-relief, including masks in the corners, sculptures in three niches in the faí§ade – the central one is a representation of the descending god – and human figures intertwined in the frieze . The temple of the upper level is very simple as its decoration consists of red-colored hand prints.

El Palacio (The Palace)

This is one of the buildings which served as a residence to the most important inhabitants of Tulum . It is formed by various large rooms which were covered with roofs supported by columns and beams . There are benches around the walls, which were used as seats and probably as beds . AT the side of the building there is a sanctuary where the family held their religious ceremonies.

Temple of the Frescos – 1

SOURCE: Temple of the Frescos – 1 (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

Temple of the Frescos – 2

SOURCE: Temple of the Frescos -Â 2 (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

Face Carved on the Corner of the Temple of the Frescos

SOURCE: Face Carved on the Corner of the Temple of the Frescos (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

The Great Palace or the House of the Columns

SOURCE: The Great Palace or the House of the Columns (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged Caribbean Vacation, Mexico, Tulum | Comments Off

The House of the Halach Uinic in the Mayan City of Tulum in Quintana Roo, Mexico

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Steve

Each Mayan city was ruled by a man called the halach uinic who also served as high-priest . The house of the halach uinic in Tulum is relatively well preserved . Above the entrance is an elaborate carving protected in modern times by a thatched roof overhead.

The House of the Halach Uinic in TulumÂ – 1

SOURCE: The House of the Halach Uinic in Tulum – 1 (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

The House of the Halach Uinic in Tulum – 2

SOURCE: The House of the Halach Uinic in Tulum -Â 2 (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

The House of the Halach Uinic in Tulum – 3

SOURCE: The House of the Halach Uinic in Tulum -Â 3 (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

Carving on the House of the Halach Uinic in Tulum

SOURCE: Carving on the House of the Halach Uinic in Tulum (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged Caribbean Vacation, Mexico, Tulum | 2 Comments

The Castle in the Mayan City of Tulum in Quintana Roo, Mexico

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Steve

The main attraction in the Mayan city of Tulum in Quintana Roo, Mexico is ElÂ Castillo or The Castle . The descriptive plaque for the structure states:

This is the most imposing building of Tulum and, without a doubt, was also the most important . The temple has two small rooms in the upper part in which the principal religious ceremonies were held . The faí§ade was decorated with sculptures and its corners still conserve the remains of masks. The upper temple and the stairway were built on top of a lower, earlier building, which one can see from either side of the stairway . At ground level on both sides of the stairway, there are two other small temples in which offerings were deposited on their respective interior altars.

The Castle – 1

SOURCE: The Castle – 1 (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

The Castle – 2

SOURCE: The Castle -Â 2 (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

The Castle – 3

SOURCE: The Castle -Â 3 (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

The Castle – 4

SOURCE: The Castle -Â 4 (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

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A First Look at the Mayan City of Tulum in Quintana Roo, Mexico

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Steve

The second Mayan archeological site I visited in Quintana Roo, Mexico was the coastal city of Tulum . Â The city was at its height between the 13th and 15th centuries . Tulum was unusual in that it was a walled city with the walls serving both for defense and to separate the sacred part of the city from the ordinary citizens . The descriptive plaque describing the walls states:

Muralla

Tulum is surrounded by a huge stone wall . Its height is irregular since it follows the contours of the land and it is rectangular shaped with only three sides; that which faces the sea was naturally protected . Without a doubt, the wall had a defensive purpose although it also served to establish the limits of the “sacred” area . It has five doorways or entrances: one facing west, two to the north and two more to the south . From the inside, one can climb the wall by using the stairs specially built for this purpose.

One enters Tulum through one of several gates through the wall . Inside the gates, the structures are numbered for archeological purposes . Structures 20 and 34 are similar, except for the degree of disrepair.

Entrance Sign to Tulum

SOURCE: Â Entrance Sign to Tulum (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

Wall and Gateway to Tulum

SOURCE: Â Wall and Gateway to Tulum (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

Structure 20 in Tulum

SOURCE: Structure 20 in Tulum (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

Structure 34 in Tulum

SOURCE: Structure 34 in Tulum (Tulum, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 February 2012.

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged Caribbean Vacation, Mexico, Tulum | Comments Off

The Left Side of the Temple of the Masks in Kohunlich, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Steve

The one thing that visitorsÂ want to see inÂ the Mayan city of Kohunlich in Quintana Roo, Mexico is the Temple of the Masks . The structure is now largely covered with palm thatch, protecting the masks . On the left side of the temple, two masks may be viewed . The upper maskÂ was looted . The two masks on the left side are in generally better condition than those on the right . The two masks on the left still have elaborate headdresses . The headdresses on the right masks are missing.

LeftÂ Side of the Temple of the Masks in Kohunlich

SOURCE: Â Left Side of the Temple of the Masks in Kohunlich (Kohunlich, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 02 February 2012.

Kohunlich Mask – Bottom Left

SOURCE: Kohunlich Mask – BottomÂ Left (Kohunlich, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 02 February 2012.

Kohunlich Mask – Middle Left

SOURCE: Kohunlich Mask – MiddleÂ Left (Kohunlich, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 02 February 2012.

Map of Kohunlich

SOURCE: Â Map of KohunlichÂ (Kohunlich, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 02 February 2012.

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The Right Side of the Temple of the Masks in Kohunlich, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Steve

The shining star of the Mayan city of Kohunlich in Quintana Roo, Mexico is the Temple of the Masks . The structure now visible was covered by later construction, leaving the masks in remarkable condition . At least one of the stone masks in the Temple was looted, leaving five masks, three on the right side and two on the left . The masks may represent Mayan gods, in particular the sun god, Kinich Ahau . Some scholars believe that the masks may represent rulers of Kohunlich.