Day 5- Tikal (Mayan Ruins)

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We woke up early this morning to go to Tikal, some of the largest Mayan ruins in the world. Tikal did not disappoint; it was amazing. I felt dwarfed next to the grandness of the temples. Standing there, you could just imagine life back when the Mayan empire thrived. We saw ritual sites as well as old rock carvings. There were also monkeys swinging around, and we are pretty sure we heard jaguars! However, the most incredible site was the view from Temple IV. That is one of the three temples visitors rae allowed to climb, and the view is unbeatable.

On a side note, when we were up on top of Temple IV, a little girl, probably 4 years old, said to her family with her hands of her hips, "?Quien quiere hacer canopy?" (Who wants to do canopy/ziplining). For those of you who don't know, canopy is when you slide on a wire through the trees. It is amazing, but I would have never thought a 4-year-old would be leading her family to do it! I'd noticed before that children in Guatemala say many things older than their years and seem to have had many incredible experiences- it must be fun to be a kid in Central America!

Cultural Note

-Tourist attractions, like Tikal, cost almost nothing for local chapíns (Guatemalans). I think that is a great way to get locals interested in the sites that make a country that relies mainly on tourism involved. Guatemalans really look out for each other.

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Photos

Temples
Temples of Tikal

Ruins
Ruins of Tikal

View from Temple IV
Breathtaking view from the top of Temple IV

Monkeys
Monkey on top branch

Monument
Monument

Sunset
Sunset back in Flores