Traveling though the Jungles of Mexico one sees the remnants of a civilization which has been absorbed by nature. Travel though the jungle is more than just a hike, it is a discovery of the people and land which was until the Spanish arrived so in tune with the nature we are now trying to protect. Especially in Mexico you will find underground cenotes with crystal water and ponds on the surface with reptile infested lairs.

On observation of the various locations from Mexico City  to Cancun to Coba was the stairs. We all think of this common element of the building as a necessary mode of reaching a higher level. It is true that we in the West have elevators and other mean of raising us form the "forest floor". It is the stair which we humbly bow as we go upward.  The 2012 Building Code now has as a standard the 7-11 rule which is seven inches of rise for each eleven inches of "run" or horizontal step. In Meso-america, the trek to the top of a pyramid was rather difficult with rises of 14-18" and the tread almost equal. Attached to this concept was the idea that we now have a handrail located 32" above the horizontal surface to raise ourselves as we move upward. In ancient times we were not worried about pulling ourselves up , only the idea of how we descend. Unfortunately for some the ancients were interested in sacrifice and far less concerned about the descent. Theheart was removed and the body of the person was rolled down the steps! Fortunately today we do not have to worry about the descent because we have alternatives. However, the thought remains we  must pay head to this element of the built environment if we are ever going to get to the top. 

Another aspect of the simple stair is that the ancients could view their City after the climb. We today have far less work to get there but are no less impressed by the view. Maybe we could be healthier if we had to walk fourteen stories or maybe less density would be the outcome. The fact that we are not able to change now is a sign that maybe are less ceremonial about our need to elevate about the street. In any event it is a concept to ponder and a study of how cultural changes have made the simple stair that much more an element in our lives than we would like to admit.