Ruins to Ruins: From the Mayan Jungle to the Aztec Metropolis

Ruins to Ruins, partly autobiographical, is a story of Robert, a young naturalist, and Johnathan, a budding archaeologist, who travel to southern Mexico to visit the ancient Mayan ruins. As they travel from ruins to ruins, they learn about the ruins and also encounter a variety of natural wonders: army ants and howler monkeys at Chichen Itza, orange-breasted falcon at Tikal, and king vultures at Yaxchilan. Their journey takes them to many significant ruins, from Chichen Itza to Uxmal, Mayapan, Coba and Tulum, Calakmul, Tikal, Bonampak, Palenque, Monte Alban, Quiahiztlan, and Tenochtitlan. Along their route, they visit Catemaco and the Sierra de Tuxtla, climb Popocatepetl, join a marriage ceremony at Tula, and visit the amazing National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. They also encounter many folks along the way; Senior Aguilar and family at Valladolid; Maya, a Mexico historian at Tula de Allende; and Katrina, who becomes their guide to Tenochtitlan. At Tikal, Robert meets Carol, the love of his life who eventually becomes his wife.