We had a long drive today, perhaps 4.5 hours, but it was broken up with stops for lunch and bathroom breaks. Our first stop was to photograph a huge statue of a monk who was said to have turned salt water into fresh water on an island on the coast.
We also passed a sting of jagged mountains that erupted out of nowhere.
Founded in 13th century by King Ramkhamahaeng, Sukhothai is the birthplace of the Thai nation. The first capital was established in 1238 and lasted for over two hundred years. The Thai alphabet was invented here. I believe Ron, our guide, said it came from Bali and Sanskrit.
The site has over 100 historical sites and treasures, many incorporating the khmer style into the ‘Sukhothai style’. Sukhothai Historical Park covers a large area surrounded by what were once double city walls with a moat between them. 
The first wat we visited, Wat Mahathat, (the same name as the temple we visited yesterday), is much larger and better preserved than the ones in Ayatthuya.
Looters did not destroy these temples and the Buddhas still have their heads.
The columns supported a roof but were not enclosed with walls. 
The columns were pieced together with mortar and covered with stucco.
The site has over 200 stupas.
There are many sitting Buddhas, Standing Buddhas, and Walking Buddhas.
The frieze of walking monks circles the central statue of Buddha. The devout would circle the temple three times. One of the Buddhas from this temple was thought to be made of cement and was removed to Bangkok, only to be discovered to be 
The second wat we visited was Wat Sri Sarai, a Hindu temple.
The third wat was Wat Sai Si. It is completely surrounded by water.
It contains a reproduction of a beautiful walking Buddha (the original is now in Bangkok). Water surrounds most of the temples, and after the rain, the temperature was cooler and there were few visitors, so the site is richly evocative of a glorious past.
Tonight we checked into the Legendha Sukhothai, a lovely, Thai style resort with bungalow rooms. 
Flowers bloom everywhere.
We had dinner at the open air restaurant and watched a performance of Thai music and dance.
Afterwards, we were given jasmine flowers on a stick with a woven palm fish on the end. Our rooms will be perfumed with jasmine.