Video: Mexican city prepares for 2012: The end of the world
By MANUEL RUEDA
Channel: Latin American Affairs, Travel
Theories about the end of the world abound, but few are as fascinating and complex as the Mayan prophecies, which say that, as the sun positions itself in the center of the Milky Way on December 21st 2012, the earth will enter a period of destruction and renewal, that some interpret as the end of the world.
To learn more about the Maya prophecies, Univision News decided to visit the place were they were first developed — some 2,500 years ago — the ancient city of Izapa.
We found that people here, and in the nearby town of Tapachula do not believe the world will end, but they are certainly looking forward to December 21, 2012.
“We have Japanese travel agencies calling to see how many hotel rooms there are in Tapachula” travel agent Rodolfo Juan told Univision News.
“People want to camp out here on December 21, to feel the energy of this place,” he said, before taking us on a thorough tour of the Izapa ruins, in which he explained the significance of each stone carving that still stands on the site.
Mexico is hoping that global interest in the Mayan prophecies will attract more tourists to the country, and Tapachula is no exception. The residents of this tropical town in the state of Chiapas showed Univision News how they’re getting ready for the so-called end of the world.
