Summary

AP-APTN-2230: ++Mexico Maya Thursday, 20 December 2012 STORY:++Mexico Maya- Believers and tourists prepare for end of Mayan era, start of new one LENGTH: 02:03 FIRST RUN: 2230 RESTRICTIONS: AP Clients Only TYPE: English/Spanish/Nat SOURCE: AP TELEVISION STORY NUMBER: 872163 DATELINE: Chichen Itza - 20 Dec 2012 LENGTH: 02:03 SHOTLIST 1 Wide low shot of people dressed in indigenous outfits performing pre-Hispanic ritual, Kukulkan pyramid in background 2 Mid of man wearing feather crest, UPSOUND: drumbeats 3 Mid of woman (in white to right of shot) playing drums 4 Close-up of drums 5 Mid of man blowing into conch shell 6 Various of dancers performing pre-Hispanic dance under pyramid 7 Mid of tourists taking pictures 8 Low shot of dancers' feet 9 Mid of man carrying woman on his shoulders 10 SOUNDBITE (English) Dan Horn, teacher and actor from Los Angeles, California: So I just believe (December 21) it's kind of a doorway into that (personal enlightenment) I don't expect anything magical to happen, although I would love it if it did I think it just kind of symbolic and that's why I want to be here for this, entering this new age of thought, hopefully 11 Wide of tourists, Kukulkan pyramid in background 12 Various of tourists, archaeological ruins in background 13 Wide of dog sleeping next to Kukulkan pyramid 14 Wide low shot of silhouetted Kukulkan pyramid 15 SOUNBITE (Spanish) Eduardo Lopez Calzada, Spokesman, Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History: This archaeological area is of very high importance, not only because of the historical events that took place here, but also for its architectural relevance It is without a doubt one of the biggest cities of the Meso-american world in the Yucatan Peninsula 16 Wide of tourists entering Chichen Itza archaeological area 17 Wide of guide leading tourist group STORYLINE: Thousands of tourists flocked to the Chichen Itza archaeological site in Yucatan on Thursday as the hype continues to build over the so-called Mayan Apocalypse On 21 December, a major cycle in the 5,125-year-old Mayan Long Count calendar is due to end bringing with it, some believe, the end of civilisation But in Chichen Itza on Thursday there was no impending sense of doom A group of indigenous people performed a pre-Hispanic dance in front of the pyramid as they prepared for the arrival of the 'new era' Visitors strolled calmly while observing the 2,500-year-old ruins and posing for pictures in front of the famous Kukulkan pyramid I don't expect anything magical to happen, although I would love it if it did, said Dan Horn, teacher and actor from Los Angeles, California: I think it just kind of symbolic and that's why I want to be here for this, entering this new age of thought, hopefully, he added The supposed 5 am Friday doomsday hour has already arrived in several parts of the world with no sign of the apocalypse Nevertheless, officials expect up to forty thousand people to visit the archaeological site in the coming days Chichen Itza is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Mayan culture not only because of the historical events that took place here, said Eduardo Lopez Calzada, a spokesman for Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History, but also for its architectural relevance It is without a doubt one of the biggest cities of the Mesoamerican world in the Yucatan Peninsula, he added Clients are reminded: (i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: infoaparchivecom (ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service (iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory APTN AP-WF-12-20-12 2346GMT