Day 11: Tikal Immersion

Tikal. Enormous. Beautiful. Wild. Soul stirring.

Tikal is where we finally felt the Mayans come to life. We started out day at 4:30 AM for a dawn climb to watch the sunrise from the top of one of the temples. After walking and climbing in the faint light just before sunrise we watch the sky slowly brighten and the mist burn off over the rain forest. The forest seemed to stretch on forever with ruined temples and palaces emerging from the canopy.

We toured that day and learned so much. The Mayan were people like us, just different.

And for me the forest and its creatures was a dream.

There's so much to say that I can't say it.

Vignettes

- The endangered Orange-breasted falcon hunting from its perch just below me on the temple
- The hotel cat Mimi and her kitten cuddling
- Climbing a 300 foot ladder to the top of another temple. I was so scared, I couldn't stand up at the top, but I did get to take this picture!
- Learning a few words of Spanish -- enough to order black refried beans, rice, cheese and cream - the Guatemalan breakfast. Holla!

Belize Trip Back Blips
Day 1: Lost Luggage and Laminai
Day 2: The Ruins of the British (and Mayan) Empires
Day 3: Journey to Chan Chich
Day 4: Jungle Oasis
Day 5: It's a jungle out here
Day 6: We win the Survivor reward challenge
Day 7: Floating down the river to infinity
Day 8: A Military Escort
Day 9: People Watching
Day 10: Toilet Humour
Day 11: Tikal Immersion
Day 12: Roxie and the Machete
Day 13: Communing with Tikal
Day 14: Slash and Burn
Day 15: Swimming with Sharks
Day 16: Passage of the Mangroves
Day 17: Exploring San Pedro
Day 18: Lost and Found