24/11/2012 - 25/11/2012 - Tikal me pink

All smiles at another viewpoint of the Temple of the Grand Jaguar - Grrrrrrrrrr!

Suckers for punishment - the first view of the temples
at silly o'clock!

A firework show was put on in
Flores to mark our arrival!

We seemed to have now arrived well and truly on the gringo trail, and what better way to get to know our fellow travellers than squeezed shoulder to shoulder in a collectivo for 10 hours (the journey was meant to be 7…)? 10 should have been the maximum number in the back of the vehicle, but 2 fancy wooden chairs had been especially made to ram a couple more tourists in – Annaliza would strongly recommend avoiding!

Misty misty, lovely lovely

Tikal at sunrise

After much deliberation, we selected the sunrise tour to Tikal, the celebrated Mayan ruins in the region. Might not get another chance to see them – the Mayan calendar ends on 21/12/2012 so could be the end of the world?!? [http://www.foxnews.com/science/2012/10/01/experts-meet-to-debunk-mayan-calendar-end-world-stories/] This meant rising at the unfriendly hour of 2:30am and enduring another collectivo ride then a swift dash through the ruins (taking care of steps, rocks and roots in pitch dark – easier said than done) to get up Temple IV to hear the jungle wake up and watch the temples come out. Magical, even if shared with 100 others, several of whom need to find the mute button on their cameras…

Step up

Tikal locals - Quetzal, spider monkeys and a coatimundis
(with a nice coat)

The following 3 hours, Luis took us round his patio, giving an overview of the Mayan city and introducing us to the locals – the spider monkeys, the coatimundis, and numerous tropical birds (we even saw a Toucan, but very briefly and it was flying quite a distance away – ‘the flying banana’). Unfortunately, no pumas, jaguars or howler monkeys. Less unfortunately, no anacondas or tarantulas…

The Temple of the Grand Jaguar

Annaliza overlooking the Temple of Masks in the Grand Plaza

The Temple of The Masks

The water taxi to and from Flores

Key Learnings:

1. We’re now unsure who likes their steps more – Incans or Mayans…

2. Tikal is very cool – so much so George Lucas felt it worthy to include in Star Wars – Return of the Jedi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z690zwlaMao)

3. Conversation and culture isn’t totally dead in hostels – we spent an enjoyable evening with a Melburnian and two Vancouverians (sp? Or is it a totally different word?) discussing everything from Banksy to Godspeed You Black Emperor!

4. Cockerels in San Miguel begin their morning wake-up calls at 10pm(?) and can still be heard at 5am!