This is the Temple of the Foliated Cross at Palenque. It is named so because of a relief inside the maize plant in the form of a cross. It's surrounded by very lush vegetation in a humid and tropical climate.
The architecture of the Mayans continues to have a definite influence on modern structures; the grass-roofed home from the village on this page resembles the temple from Palenque.
We found the modern Mayans to be very proud of their heritage. Some suggested that they have their own secret way of interpreting their history; a different twist than that offered by history books. After alluding to it, they would only smile when pressed for more details.
