Tikal...

Today was a very busy day. I left my hotel in Guatemala City and took a small plane for a 45 minute flight to Flores. Flores is a small town in northern Guatemala. I didn't get to see the town, except from the air, but it looked nice. Once we landed in Flores I met my guide and we were off to Tikal National Park to see the Mayan ruins. I was in a group of 14 today, so it didn't really feel the same as when Julio and I were on our adventure. But, everyone in the group were very nice. They all had been together for 4 days so they all knew each other. Everyone was very friendly with me though.

It was about an hour and a half bus ride to Tikal. We arrived, grabbed some water and we were off. Our guide, Royal, was an extremely informative guy. I enjoyed hearing all about the ancient Mayan culture, and he knew a lot! Let me tell you though. I sweat like whore in church! It was about 90 degrees in the jungle and very humid, with almost no breeze. It was fine for a while, but after downing 3 bottles of water and a Gatorade, I was still a mess. At one point I felt really dizzy and thought I was going to pass out. But, after a brief rest in the shade, all was good. I bet we walked about 5 miles today. Normally no big deal. But, with the heat and humidity it was not super fun. Anyway, we hiked into the jungle and saw all of the ruins. It was a pretty amazing sight. We climbed the tallest one, and had a rest. It is so hazy here. It was not the right time of year to come to Guatemala to get good photos. I guess the best time is October and November. The air is much clearer. Next time I guess.

Now, I am at a hotel near Tikal and I just went for a swim to cool off. Felt great! Just checking email and blogging now. I just saw the news about the Boston marathon. So sad.

Tomorrow I will head back to Flores airport for my early flight to Belize. I will be in Belize for three days, then the return home. The trip seems to be moving fast! It will be nice to be in Belize and have a little relaxation time before the trip home.

Here are a few photos of Tikal.....