Tikal
Tuesday March18
Up early again to go by local bus to
San Ignatio, transfer to a van to the Guatamala border where we
were met by another van and driven another 2 hours to the island
town of Flores.
Wednesday March 19
Up at 4:20 to be ready for a 5 am start
to get to Tikal for opening at 6. (This early morning business is
getting to be a dangerous habit!). On arrival at Tikal at 6 we
stopped for breakfast at a small, rustic outdoor restaurant,
where a lot of workmen ate, for breakfast — mostly scrambled
eggs, coffee (instant), refried beans and corn tortillas.
While we ate beautiful ocellated turkeys wandered about, causing
Bill to pay less than full attention to his breakfast.
Our guide, Miguel, showed us a number of birds right at the start
and Bill was ecstatic (& the rest of us were interested).
On the way to the first site we were shown this magnificent Cedia
tree and were told that it was a source of Kapok.
This magnificent structure - Temple 1 - loomed up on us as we
walked through the forest, having just stopped before this to
watch spider monkeys in the trees.
The Central Acropolis
Panorama of the Great Plaza, looking toward the North Acropolis
with Temple I on the right.
We were then led to ever more spectacular structures and climbed
several - going up was challenging, going down was frightening,
in Lorna's opinion at least. In the central plaza it was possible
to really see something of the splendour of a major Mayan city.
The North Acropolis
A small friend, a Coati, joined us. He is raccoon-like creature
with a long tail and will eat anything.
Miguel explained that Tikal was defeated by Caracol, but only by
Caracol teaming up with other cities. Then a new dynasty was
started in Tikal by a group from another city. Tikal was
abandoned around 900 AD for unknown reasons.
When we reached the Pyramid of the Lost World it was getting very
warm but all the same, some climbed to the top
And others stayed below to provide proof that the others got to
the top
Coming down though was not Gloria's favorite activity. Some of
the steps were very worn away and did not prove good footing.
Once the tour was over we played tourist in the shops and headed
back to Flores for lunch and a Gallo, (Guatamala's beer). There
was much more to see but it was very hot and we were very tired
and overwhelmed.
Bill and Barb, though, spent the afternoon birding on the Tikal
site with Miguel, returning at about 6, very tired yet very happy
having seen some 70 species, all duly listed and named by Miguel.
