Modern-day Mayans: What end of the world? (PHOTOS)

YUCATAN, Mexico — It's not the mass mayhem one might expect from a people believed to have predicted Earth's last day. GlobalPost visits southeastern Mexico, where present-day descendants of the great ancient Maya live, and none seemed to be repenting, or partying like it was 1999.

Warm Mayan communities went about their days like any other, unfazed by popular doomsday predictions that have drawn crowds of tourists to Mexico and Central America.

After all, they know a little secret about what will really take place on Dec. 21 — but you won't find any spoilers here.