Monday, December 11, 2006

Sunday - Tikal



Another early start - 4am to catch the bus to Guatemala city and catch the plane to Tikal to visit the mayan ruins. Unfortunately as you can see from the above picture (which is a view from the top of the highest temple of another temple) it was a bit cloudy and damp.



The actual ruins are huge. But, according to our guide they have only uncovered 15% of total area. It's quite an impressive place but the mayans definitely seem to have been outdoor types. The temples are huge, but don't seem to have many (if any at all) rooms.



Our guide only spoke Spanish, so even with our immense grasp of the language, much of the ruins are still a mystery. However, the above picture is of some big cheese's palace.



As you can see from the above picture, we came well prepared for the damp weather with... The pink ponchos cost us Q70 at the airport. The rather stylish green number came in at only Q20 at the actual site. I can't help thinking that we got a bit ripped off at the airport.



Here's a picture of the temple you can see in the first photo close up and below is a picture of two people who seem to be stalking me. Everywhere I go they pop up from behind some ruin or market stall. Hopefully we'll catch up some time over Christmas as well.



The flight back was quite exciting. I don't think I've been in such a small plane since my days of flying to and from Holland.



It wasn't scary at all, honest...



I think I'll have to take another trip to the ruins at some point to get some decent photos.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

yeah go back your readers demand you complete 100% of all the ruins with photographic proof.

Don't forget to sacrifice a virgin for luck...

ally

Anonymous said...

yeah go back your readers demand you complete 100% of all the ruins with photographic proof.

Don't forget to sacrifice a virgin for luck...

ally

Anonymous said...

I told you, Tikal is terrific!!!
Did you try to climb all those pyramids? and a virgin for any pyramid???? :)
Take care,

Lucia.