GUATEMALA 1

Another Mauricio upgrade saw us loaded into a private bus and thus gaining the time to visit the Mayan ruins at Xunatunich en route, as well as giving us an extended lunch break.  Access to the ruins was only achieved by taking a cable ferry.  Most of us enjoyed a go on the winch and the photo opportunity resulting. 

Once we are forced to take public transport it is clear that travelling days will be long and more arduous.  The ruins were impressive and the views from the top fabulous. 

With no guide to follow we were able to explore at leisure and everyone seemed to appreciate this.

The border crossing passed without incidence and involved paying a fee to leave Belize as well as another to get into Guatemala.  My rucksack is certainly no lighter but I do seem to find it easier to carry these days.  I can shed some weight at the end of the trip by binning all items that got the black speckle treatment by the laundry in Oaxaca!

We eventually arrived in Flores in mid-afternoon and once tightly packed three to a room in the Green World hotel, we set out to explore the town.  Set on an island in Lake Ixabal, Flores can only be reached by a causeway that separates it from the town of St. Elena. 

Here there is a modern shopping complex but we were advised to take a tuc-tuc if we wanted to go there.  So, charming Flores is safe but St. Elena is not!

THE thing to do here is the ruins at Tikal.  Mauricio ordered a 5am start in order to beat the crowds and the heat.  Slightly misty when we arrived, conditions added to the mystery of the place and our excellent guide, Miguel, quickly discerned how much we already knew.  He then filled in the gaps, re-emphasized the main points and allowed us plenty of time to explore by ourselves.  He was also something of an animal expert and was able to show us spider monkeys and a variety of birds by imitating their calls.  We even got to see a toucan!  Tikal was quite something, just when I think I’m done with Mayan ruins a new set seems to offer interest.  The precision of the buildings and the way they are linked to astronomological events is simply mind-blowing.

The weekend was given over to the election of a new president and in consequence we were unable to buy alcohol.  One of the candidates owned the bar opposite our hotel and when the result was announced people took to the streets and a noisy night seemed in prospect.  The local man lost and there seemed to be lots of people making the effort to celebrate outside his door.  The upside was that the local supermarket was now willing to sell us beer.  It also finally occurred to me that the earplugs I’d bought to offer room-mates relief from my snoring would work equally well for me!!