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Published: February 5th 2008
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So Camilla and I headed off on Monday for Coban, about a 5-6 hour drive from Antigua, via Guatemala City. The plan was to stay there for a night and then travel the last 2 and a half hours to Semuc Champey in the morning. We had to stop at a bus terminal in Guatemala city to change bus. It was fine but someone did steal my guitar, which also had most of the contacts I had made in it too! After about ten minutes of panic, which have undoubtedly followed me all me life, I let it go. Of course it was all my own fault because I took my eyes off it for a little wee while. But as they say sh#t happens everyday of the week, just to many different people! Ill just have to be more anal in future.
Then we were of for Coban. When we got there, we got off the bus and met 2 French guys (who we would end up traveling with for 5 days). The 2 amigos went by the name Julien and Guislain. We stayed in the same place as them that night and in the morning we headed for
Semuc Champey. The four of us in the back seat of this packed mini bus, with pigs on the roof, driving on roads stuck to the side of the mountains. It was good craic! The bus dropped us off at Lanquin, which is about 40 minutes from Semuc Champey. We got there, had a cigarette, and then we were of again, standing in the back of a pick up, tearing around the mountains on dirt roads untill we got to, basically, the end of the road! The road ends at Semuc Champey National park.
The park has cave systems and a massive limestone bridge, caused by a fairy thunderous river eroding a tunnel underneath it. Pools have formed on top of the bridge with crystal clear blue and green water, perfect for swimming in. There area is dominated by the river which, once it leaves the gorges and falls over the last waterfall broadens and flows down the valley. The river is surrounded dramatically by steep mountains. Its a fairly savage place. We stayed in the loft of a cabanna on the banks of the river. It was fairly cool, as the we had no front wall, were on
the second floor and had no door! There are only two places to stay in the whole area and they are about 1km apart, on different sides of the river. Ours was right next to the bridge which was perfect for a jump or two!! The day we arrived we dropped our stuff to our room and headed straight for the caves. We headed in with our guide, Rocho, equipped with a pair of shoes, shorts, and a candle! There was bats, parts we had to swim with the candle held out of the water with one hand, a waterfall we climbed up through, a cliff jump in the middle of the cave. The only disappointing thing was that all existence of stalicmites and stalictites had been wiped out from people slappimg them, with the guide leading the way. But the education doesn´t exist here for thing to be better!
Well the cave was fairly class and after we floated down the massive river the flows past the mouth of the cave, stopping half way to jump from a big bridge! I´ll tell everyone now, I LOVE jumping off random crap into water...LOVE IT...woooooooo!
The following day we
went into the park, swam in the pools and basically arsed around! It really is one of the most beautiful place I have been and is up there as one of the best in the country!Apart from the natural beauty, the isolation, and a personal sense of being tiny, the evenings were great craic! With Camille, the 2 French lads and a few others, we drank all there beer, ate all their chicken and meat in the first day and a halk. Its so remote that they would not stock up for 2 more days!! So we drank all their rum too.! Good night, good times and good people. I love Semuc Champey. Alas, we had to leave. Still travelling as four we headed for Tikal, 6 hours in reality away, 10 hours Guatemalan time!!
Tikal in in north eastern Guatemala is is the most famous and the most touristic of the Maya sites that are scattered through out Soutyhen Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and El salvador to a lesser degree. It was the last stop with the crazy but wonderful Swiss head, how sad, as well as the French lads. So we partyed the nights away as well
as not forgeting about the ruins! We headed an hour and a half from Flores to the Jungle on the second day. The plan was to spend the night outside the gates of the park and then get in when they open for sunrise to see it in all it glory from the top of Temple five. The four of us ended up outside in hammocks for the night which was cool. I saw my first wild Trauntla, thought the howler monkeys that passed through the forest at night were jaguars and laughed alot at Camille, a ladies lady!! We were up at half three and made our way to the entrance. Walking through the forest in the dark to get to the Temple was class. It took 45 minutes to get to the Temple, an hour watching the sun rise and then we walked around the many other temples and ruins for three hours. In those three hours, it was like watching the world wake up. First it was the parrots, it always them, followed but the animal kingdom orchestra. It was class. Its hard to explain the place but just have a look at the pictures. A word
The Crew
Camille, Guislain, Juillien and I. I cant remember that dudes name!! on howler monkies: ok, so I know alot of people have seen them, but not I. They are cool monkeys. They just sit in the tree tops and shout at each other as loud as possible! Happy out! Oh to be a monkey!
So, overall it was amazing. After we headed back to Flores for one last party as Julien and Guislain were leaving the next day, as were Cammille and I. It was a great night involving, chicken, rum, a wooden pier, a beautiful lake and a communal glass! With sore heads we left the next day for Antigua. It was time for Swiss head to go to Cuba. After 3 weeks it would be weird and exciting to be heading off agian on my own. But that life, so we said our goodbye and she was gone. One chapter, over bring on the next! So Here I am again in Antigua, a place I love to dislike! The day after Cammille left, sitting wondering where I would go, in walks Matt. An English guy who I had met 2 or 3 times before in the same hostel in Antigua. I had had enough of Antigua, had travelled
The Road
I wish I had a mountain bike up here!! non stop for nearly 3 weeks and now I wanted to chill for a few days. So where should I go? Why, back to the lake of course. Matt was ready to move too. So I sold him the lake, as well as Simon and Emily, an aussie couple we also met(Ledgends), and we were off. I was happy to be heading back to home away from home!!!
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