Tikal

A brief update for my readers. I am now in Northern Guatemala after spending about 7 days and way to much money simply relaxing on the beaches in Belize. They were gorgeous and it was easy and fast to get around because everyone spoke English and the infrastructure was well developed
There is an added sense of urgency to my travel now as I was offered and accepted a contract to go teach English in Shanghai for one year with two of my favorite birds. I am very excited to extend my travels and to use the money I make to keep the journey going after the year is up.
Tomorrow morning I am up early to catch a prop airplane from Flores to Guatemala city. It cuts an 11 hour hellish bus ride down to 45 minutes for only 125$. Here´s hoping 3rd would airplanes work better then the buses as I have seen a number of drivers get out and kick the motor or various other things to hold it together.

And on to Today´s adventure (look at that, same day blogging! How unlike me)

The morning started early with the alarm clock I purchased yesterday ringing at 245am (the first time I have heard an alarm clock in about 6 weeks.) I stumbled to the front of my hostel for my 3am pickup, which arrived promptly at 3am Guatemala time at about 20 minutes past the hour. We then spent 45 minutes cruising around town collection the rest of my early morning trekkers. We were all up at this ungodly hour to see the sunrise from the East facing 55meter in Tikal.
Once we arrived it was clear that the collection had taken more time then intended as our guide set a blistering pace to get us to the temple straight away. Nothing like a 40 minute speedy hike at 5am in humid air when the mercury is already pushing 30 Celsius. We got to the top of the first pyramid but it was foggy so we listened in relative silence to the wookie like screams of the howler monkeys and saw a few toucans fly by. I suspect most readers have actually seen the temple before as it was one of the establishing shots of the Ewok planet in Star Wars!
The highlight of the day was when our guide coaxed a big, wild tarantula out of its den and offered to let us hold it. I was the only one to accept! Although, I did have a nap in 2500 year old king´s chamber on the fifth floor of a temple, that was a close second.
I think the rest of the adventure is best explained in picture form so please enjoy my Tikal Pictures