A Relaxing Visit to Ek Balam

What you'll learn

• 1 (01:08) **Welcome & Wind-Down** - Host Thomas introduces the episode, a story about Ek Balam written by Christa and read by a reef, and guides listeners through a breathing exercise to relax.
• 2 (05:04) **Arrival at Ek Balam** - The story begins with the listener picturing a Mexican jungle and arriving at the thatched-roof ticket booth of the ancient Maya site.
• 3 (06:25) **Introduction to Ek Balam's History** - The narrator provides context: Ek Balam was a powerful Maya city-state that peaked in the 9th century before being abandoned.
• 4 (08:14) **Self-Guided Tour Begins** - The listener declines a tour guide and starts a GPS-based audio tour on their phone, beginning at the defensive walls and entrance arch.
• 5 (10:36) **The Oval Palace & Structure 10** - The listener passes the spiral-shaped Oval Palace and climbs Structure 10, a stone platform with unusual rounded corners.
• 6 (14:43) **Identifying a Bird & South Plaza Overview** - After descending, the listener identifies the bird as a yellow-olive flatbill using a display, then turns to the South Plaza.
• 7 (20:05) **Climbing the Oval Palace** - The listener climbs the Oval Palace, which has ten rooms on its main level and was built in stages, crowned with a shrine.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app