Google Street View Goes Maya!

In a post entitled, "Google Street View Offers Virtual Trips Around Mexico's Ancient Monuments," [2] the travel blog, Gadling.com is reporting that Google Street View cameras mounted on giant tricycles entered Palenque [3] to take 360-degree photographs of the sites. They've done Chichén Itzá archaeological site as well.

The website Past Horizons [4] says Google and archaeological officials plan on imaging more important sites before the end of the year, allowing virtual tours from any networked screen in the world.

"The photo project started two years ago and now 30 sites have been added to Google Street View, with the aim of having more than 80 sites online by the end of the year. Eventually, all 189 of the archaeological sites under INAH’s protection will be catalogued and recorded in this virtual world." (INAH is Mexico's official archaeology institute.)

A truly appropriate use of technology for those who can't afford the plane fare to Mexico, if you ask me, or for those recalling their travels to the area, but certainly not a substitute for the real thing ... not even the most life-like photograph or video of any Maya archaeological site comes close to capturing the feeling of walking in those places.