It is time again for more photos–these being from the beautiful national park of Tikal in northern Guatemala, followed by photos from the delightful city of Flores.
As usual, these photos are simply thumbnail images. You can click on any of them to download a more detailed image.
Trip To Tikal
This is the interior of the mid-size fairly new little bus that picked me up in Rio Dulce slightly after 5:30 a.m. on Sunday March 28.
Much of the countryside through which we passed was similar to this, green and hilly, but the areas in the valleys had been cleared for farms and fields.
An example of living trees being planted and used to create a fence. Strands of barbed wire join the posts together.
Another open field by the highway.
Sunset Tour of Tikal
This is the ticket booth near the entrance to Tikal. Our tour guide Ricardo in the blue with the backpack is buying our tickets. Note the two uniformed and armed security guards standing around with their weapons.
A large Ceiba tree that stands proudly by the entrance path. The top of this tree is covered by flowering jungle plants such as Rhododendrums.
The first jungle path that we began following into the park. The canopy here is quite thin. It was much thicker in other places. This path is also a road, occasionally used for vehicles.
A small temple in Complex Q — one of the first places we visited on our Sunday evening tour.
Another of the larger trails on which we hiked.
My first glimpse of the back side of one of the temples. I think this is Temple I on the east side of the Grand Plaza.
The canopy in this area of trail is much thicker, blocking out the sunlight of the late afternoon sun. This area is very dark at night.
One of the many beautiful varieties of birds in Tikal. These have a beautiful yellow tail, and have a very unique and beautiful call.
Many wild turkeys roam the more open areas of the park. This female is very typical. The colors are gorgeous.
Coming up on the east side of the Grand Plaza, with a view of the back side of Temple I.
Another view from a distance.
A small complex of ruins, somewhere near the Grand Plaza. I’m not fully sure, but this may be a section of the Central Acropolis, on the south edge of the Grand Plaza.
A beautiful view of Temple V in the distance to the South. Notice the beautiful thick jungle in the valley below. This valley used to be a large reservoir built and maintained by the Mayan people.
Looking from the Central Acropolis into the Grand Plaza. On the right is the bottom edge of Temple I. In the center distance is the North Acropolis. We watched the sunset from the top of the disintegrating walls of the small structure in back, at the far left.
Another photo taken from the exact same spot. This one captures the southern face of Temple I on the right side of the photo.
A picture of me, standing in the Grand Plaza, with Temple I towering behind me to the east.
In this photo, I am sitting on top of a wall in the north west corner of the Grand Plaza in preparation for watching the sunset. This photo is looking back down into the center of the Grand Plaza.
On the far left is Temple I. On the far right is Temple II. In the center foreground, just behind the plaza is the Central Acropolis. The tall tower protruding above the horizon in the distant center is the top portion of Temple V.
Note that the glow of sunset is beginning to illuminate he top of Temple I on the left.
Another view from the same perch. Temple II is the taller structure in the center, just poking it’s head above the trees. Temple III is the tall skinny structure at the top right, way in the distance. Visitors are not allowed to get too close to Temple III, the base of which has still not been fully excavated.
Again taken from the same spot, in this photo I am looking down at the remainder of my tour group, three of which are perched on lower walls watching the sunset behind me.
In this photo, I am again in the same spot, looking east. My tour guide Ricardo is perched atop a higher wall. The almost full moon has already risen above.
The orange glow of the sun is perched directly next to the towering Temple IV in the distance. This photo is zoomed in slightly. Temple IV is more than a kilometer away. The tall temple on the left is Temple III.
A zoomed-in view of Temple III.
A zoomed in view of Temple IV, with the beautiful setting sun. In this photo you can see the flimsy scaffolding that covers the southern side of the temple top. The portion you can see above the jungle canopy is only the very top of the temple.
The wooden staircase for tourists drops you off at the wide ledge just a short distance below the large single opening that you can see in the wall. On Monday night, at 11:40 p.m., I scaled a ladder in the scaffolding, climbing to the level above the large opening. I started to climb even higher, but the security guard told me that we were high enough.
Another zoomed in view of Temple IV with the beautiful glowing skies for a backdrop.
The rising full moon (one day shy of being full) in the eastern sky.
After the sun fully disappeared, we moved to the top of Temple II for this fabulous view of the moon over the top of Temple I. The lighting is not fully accurate, as my camera constantly adjusts itself for the brightest possible shot.
Me on the ledge of Temple II, with the moon and Temple I behind. Note that you cannot see the moon in this thumbnail image. You will need to download the entire photo.
Sunrise Tour of Tikal
View from the top of Temple V looking back toward the Grand Plaza at around 6:20 a.m. on Monday Morning. You can see the top of Temple II on the left and most all of Temple I on the right. Below and right of Temple I, you can see some buildings of the Central Acropolis. At the bottom of those buildings you can see several large windows. I slept for about an hour in one of these windows, looking back at temple V.
From the top of Temple V, Temple I towers in the distant center. Below is the beautiful jungle filled valley that used to be an ancient reservoir.
Looking down the edge of Temple V (my feet in the foreground). The walls of this temple are extremely steep.
Evan, a member of our tour group, walking along he narrow ledge from where we all enjoyed this magical vista.
A view of the jungle canopy, looking out toward Temple III in the distance.
A beautiful view from the top. These tall trees are covered in orange flowers that grow and take root on their branches. If you notice in the lower right of the photo, you can see the handrail of the staircase that leads to the ground below. Look how steep it is.
This is the staircase leading down. Most of us climbed back down backwards, holding tightly to the railings. The steps are very narrow and steep.
A large monkey climbing in the top of this beautiful tree. I’m not sure, but I think this was a howler monkey.
Me, on the ledge, with the Grand Plaza in the background. Temple I sits just off my left shoulder. The tip of Temple II sits off my right shoulder. I didn’t realize it, but I must have been slightly nervous as I reach out to stablize myself against the pyramid. The ground behind and to my right is at least 150 feet below, almost straight down.
Another photo from the same location on the west edge of Temple V — only this one is without me.
A beautiful green parrot sitting on the very top of one of the tall towering trees. The trees here were filled with colorful singing birds.
A spider monkey climbing on the thick trunk of one of the gorgeous trees.
The same trees without the closeup zoom. Notice the beautiful mist in the tree tops.
Looking up the ladder from ground level.
A view of Temple V from the ground up, taken from the Northwest corner. The less-steep stone steps in front are off limits to tourists. Our wooden staircase is behind these stone steps in the northeast corner.
Looking up the back, unexcavated, unrestored side of Temple V.
One of many structures lining the boundaries of SevenTemple Plaza.
A couple of small temples on the eastern wall of SevenTemple Plaza.
A closeup view of the towering spire of Temple III. We never get much closer than this to this temple.
A slightly blurry photo of my first Toucan sighting ever.
Another zoomed in photo of this same beautiful bird. Finally, I get to see my first Toucan.
A view of “Mundo Perdido” — The Lost World. In my writing, I was thinking we passed this more traditional pyramid before entering Seven Temple Plaza, but I think I had my order backwards.
This little howler monkey was completely uninterested in being the photo op that he was. He simply sat for hours sleeping in this tree top near the top of the wooden stairs that lead up the side of Temple IV.
A view from near the top of Temple IV. In the foreground is the same howler monkey. In the distance is Temple III on the right, and the Grand Plaza (Temples I and II) left center.
A view from the tourist ledge of Temple IV. I am about eight feet further up a small stone staircase.
A zoomed in shot of Temple III. The jungle is still very misty, the skies still clouded over.
A zoomed in view of The Lost World pyramid from the top of Temple IV. A colorful tree adds a beautiful shade of orange to the pyramid’s steps.
A camera angle showing Temple III on the right, and Temples I and II in the center (over one kilometer away).
As we walked along the base of Temple IV, we came upon this humorous scene. A small group of men struggle to support the weight of a man on a ladder leading to nowhere.
Soon, we realize that he is photographing ongoing excavation efforts as new temple steps are being unearthed.
Our tour takes us through a very tiny remote trail in the jungle, leading us right past the roots of this amazing tree.
One of many such stone carvings left behind by the ancient Mayans.
Me, standing in front of Temple I, near the end of our organized tour. You can barely see a round dirt area on the left, which I believe is the site of our ceremonial fire later that same night.
A full frontal view of Temple II. We accessed the temple top from the wooden staircase that you can see climbing up on the left.
Another view of the North Acropolis, near the place where we watched the sunset on the night before.
Me, sitting on the steps of Temple I.
A large unearthed mask in the Grand Plaza.
Exploring on my Own
As the tour group wandered away, I began my solo explorations, first climbing the edge of the Central Acropolis. Immediately, the clouds let loose with a refreshing downpour as the tourists in the Grand Plaza began to scatter before me.
You can see a lighter area at the base of the two tall trees. This is where the ceremonial fire pit is located.
Temple II in the rain.
A view from my little rain shelter cave, looking down toward Temple II.
Two large beautiful falcons, spreading their wings to dry, as the rain lifts and the skies begin to clear.
The same falcons, in a less-zoomed photo angle.
Part of the Central Acropolis as the rainstorm clears.
A view of Temple V from my first little nap spot snuggled inside one of the shady protected windows of the Central Acropolis.
Looking up, in front of the Central Acropolis. you can see my little hideaway cave slightly left of center in the middle of the photo.
An Afternoon of Synchronous Events
A view of Temple VI — my first prompted destination after waking up from an early afternoon nap.
The other side of Temple VI. While I felt guided to walk this way, nothing here at the temple called for me to linger. I quickly resumed my path back toward the park.
A portion of the beautiful jungle path. I rarely passed any other people during this isolated hike through the jungle.
I found it interesting how these smaller trees have surrounded the bigger one, wrapping their arms around its trunk to hang on. Ricardo called them choker vines.
One of only two or three groups that I passed by in 45 minutes. This cute little family was taking advantage of a delightful photo op along the trail.
This is the inside of Group G, a small complex of ruins that I passed on my way back to the main park. I had just finished an amazing encounter with a humble man that told me he was a Shaman. At this point, I was floating in the clouds.
This photo is taken from inside a tiny room, looking down a narrow passageway toward another tiny room in the distance. Francisco told me that the room in which I am standing is where women meditated during the full moon. The other room is where men meditated. We had our long chat in the passgeway, just outside this room.
Another view of Group G.
Yet another view in Group G. This photo looks back toward the small entrance at the left corner of the wall in front of me.
This is Francisco (not his real name), the humble gardner who told me he was a Shaman. He is standing in the doorway of what he calls a Dragon–telling me that the two lower stones on either side are the dragon’s feet.
“I am a Dragon Shaman,” he tells me, “but I am a Shaman of light and not of darkness.”
After leaving my amazing chance-encounter with Francisco, I again resume my intended path to Seven Temple Plaza. As I begin to enter the Plaza, a large group of coatis gradually join me in my confused meditation–providing a much needed distraction.
A large group of the coatis, digging in the grass for food. At one point I counted 21 of these playful little animals.
More of the coatis, digging in the grass.
A close up view of one of them.
And two more.
Soon, a lone passing man pointed out this beautiful Toucan. This amazing bird provided a much needed visual distraction from the emotions boiling inside.
Another photo of this beautiful bird.
And yet another.
He finally turned to give me a different angle. In case you can’t figure it out, I was fascinated by this beautiful bird.
A second Toucan joined us briefly, but I was unable to get a clear crisp photo before he again flew away.
Full Moon Ceremony
After leaving Seven Temple Plaza, I had a very “interesting” visit with Francisco, during which he told me about this full moon ceremony in the Grand Plaza.
After being told that I was welcome to stay (other tourists were escorted away), I took this photo of the ceremonial fire pit as it was being prepared by Ricki.
Me, with the full moon directly over my head. The black silhouette of Temple I is barely visible over my left shoulder.
The full moon rising over Temple I’s dark silhouette.
Temple II in the darkness of night, glowing with moonlight. This is a time-delay photo with a long exposure.
The moon still rising. This photo is taken at 8:42 p.m., after Ricki fed me some chicken and a cracker. I had begun to think I would be fasting until breakfast.
A nighttime, no-flash, time-delay photo of the North Acropolis as it glows in the moonlight.
A view of the north Acropolis from the top of Temple II, taken at 11:00 p.m. at night. Again, this is a time-delay photo taken only with moonlight.
A time-delay photo taken from the top of Temple IV at 11:15 p.m.–Under the glow of moonlight, you can see the tops of Temple III, Temple I, and Temple II sticking above the jungle canopy.
Climbing the ladder at 11:30 p.m., through the scaffolding, up to the next higher level of Temple IV. The security guard gave us special permission to do this. I got quite the adrenaline rush on this ladder.
After returning from our midnight climb up towering Temple IV, Ricki began the fire ceremony. The Moon was directly overhead, about two hours from reaching official full-moon status. This photo was taken at 12:12 a.m. on Tuesday morning.
A time-delay nighttime photo of Temple I after the moon had risen high enough to fully light the entire Grand Plaza.
Hotell Tikal Inn
My hotel room in the Hotel Tikal Inn. I spent two nights in this room, not arriving my second night until 1:30 a.m. — the front door to the lobby was chained and locked.
The back area of the hotel. My room was on the far right end of the building. I found my way around the hotel’s exterior wall, about fifty feet to the right of the photo, successfully returning to my room.
Flores, Guatemala
My room for the first several nights in Flores. I am still here at the Hotel Mirador Del Lago, but I am now in a lake-front room with a balcony.
My view from just outside the doorway of my first room here in Flores. My friends Carolyn and Marty were staying in a balcony room at the far end of this walkway.
The front of my hotel. This type of building front is very typical for the small city of Flores.
The lake-side of the same hotel. I am now on the top floor, about three rooms in from the far left end.
The street in front of the hotel, looking north along the Lake (Lago de Peten-Itza).
Armed soldiers standing on the sidewalk below my balcony.
Looking south from my hotel balcony window. In the distance you can see the town of Santa Elena, Guatemala.
A typical street in Flores. This street runs in a loop all the way around the island.
The interior of a little catholic church that sits in the very center of the island at the top of a small hill. The waterfront is never more than two or three blocks away from this point, no matter which way you go from here.
A statue of Christ with a blindfold. This statue is mounted to a large platform, and I can only assume this is what was carried around Flores during the Palm Sunday celebration of “Semana Santa” (Holy Week) here in Flores. I was not here for the Palm Sunday celebrations.
One of the beautiful scenes in the central town plaza at the top of the hill, right by the church.
A view looking down a street that runs from the center of Flores back down to the waterfront. In the far distance is the town of Santa Elena. If you look closely you can see the blue lake between the two towns.
The catholic church in the town square at the top of the hill.
Looking down a different street, toward the north. The little village of San Miguelito is just across the water. This village sits on a peninsula of the lake.
Narrow walkways such as this one frequently join the outer waterfront street with the inner circular street, both of which completely encircle the island.
A view along the outer waterfront street.
A little restaurant that faces the water. The name of this restaurant is “Cool Beans.” I have eaten here four or five times. Their wireless internet uploads photos faster than any place I have ever found during my travels.
A portion of the causeway that joins Flores to the mainland town of Santa Elena. You can see water on both sides.
A fascinating old man resting on the railing, part of the way across the causeway. I found this photo opportunity to be very unique.
Looking back at Flores from the causeway.
Another typical street in Flores.
The Market in Santa Elena
Severall times I have ventured across the causeway to visit the town of Santa Elena. There is a large market here in Santa Elena. It is fascinating to explore. Notice that the streets are all dirt. I wonder what this street would be like during rainy season.
A variety of fruits and vegetables are available for sale.
A huge portion of the market is an indoor maze of hallways filled with vendors selling a large variety of items–mostly clothing and shoes.
I was quite surprised to see several bicycle riders cruising through these narrow indoor sidewalks.
This is one of the many colectivo vans filled with passengers for some unknown destination. This one does not have a roof rack, so I wonder if it might be a taxi or private vehicle.
This area of the market is usually filled with these little colectivos. The green one straight ahead is very loaded down with the roof rack packed. It is very possible that I will be on this one in a day or two. I talked to a driver and this particular one (or one like it) leaves every 15 minutes starting at 5:00 a.m., with a destination of Sayaxche — a village that I will probably pass through.
Daytrip with Marty and Carolyn
While in Tikal, I learned via email that my friends Marty and Carolyn–the same ones I met in Belize–the same ones with whom I went on the sailing adventure–would be in Flores. We arranged to stay at the same hotel, and I spent 36 hours hanging out with them. In this photo, Carolyn is in our boat as we head to the peninsula of San Miguelito.
Approaching the little village of San Miguel.
From the peninsula looking back at Flores.
Marty and Carolyn standing on the Mirador (lookout tower) at the top of a hill, looking back at the town of Flores in the background. If you look closely, you can see a strip of blue water separating the island from the mainland.
Me and Carolyn, standing in the same spot.
And another photo with just me.
Next, we hiked down to a small beach on the far side of the peninsula. On this side of the peninsula, the lake is much more expansive.
As it turns out, this beach is very hard and rocky–but the water was nice.
You can see how rocky the beach is here. The water had even more rocks.
A view of San Miguel from the Flores side.
Good Friday – Morning Procession
Friday morning, as I began to write, I was interrupted at 7:30 a.m. by the sound of a procession winding through the streets. This is one of many alters along the route where the procession stopped to worship.
Another one of the many streetside altars.
Yet another.
Every one of the altars were unique and beautiful. In front of this one, the street was covered with leaves.
These beautiful young girls marched at the front of the procession, carrying their colorful signs.
This figure, and the two in the far background of Mary and another woman, joined the procession right in front of my hotel. They then followed the statue of Christ all the way around the island, ending up back in the church.
This statue of Christ, carrying his cross through the streets, was as the head of the procession, immediately behind the young girls dressed in white. I followed this procession, observing every detail, for about 90 minutes. I did not leave until the statue was safe back in the church.
The statue of Mary following behind. I noticed that Crist’s statue was carried by all men. Mary’s by women.
A view of the crowd following the procession.
This band played music during the times when the procession was walking between altars. At each altar, the procession would stop, and a small organized worship service would unfold.
Another view of the Good-Friday morning procession.
In this final morning procession photo, the parade is now arriving at the plaza near the church, at the top of the island’s center.
Alfombras
About 10:45 a.m. on Friday morning, I noticed this group of people beginning to create a work of art in the street in front of my hotel. I later learn that they are creating what is called an “Alfombra” or large carpet. This particular Alfombra is created entirely from colored sawdust.
These bags of died sawdust were sitting on the edge of the street as these artists worked on their masterpiece.
Their work was slow and intricate, progressing very slowly with tedious details.
I kept thinking they were almost finished, but they kept adding more and more layers.
A lady working on the next colorful layer.
The amazing colorful finished product.
Another carpet (alfombra) being laid out down the street.
I caught these girls and women mixing their sawdust colors right here on the sidewalk.
A few hours later they were nearly complete with their masterpiece.
A few hours later, I was very surprised to walk by and discover that they added this wine glass to the bottom of their masterpiece. It reads “He will live in our hearts — Don Cruz”
Another alfombra, created from chalk, palm leaves, and sawdust.
This Mayan woman was working with some type of jungle plant, crushing and smashing, creating a rough fibre-rich naural filling to place on her alfombra.
This same natural plant fibre is now being used to create the kneeling angels in the above photo.
Some Mayan women placing the final touches on their unique alfombra.
Another beautiful homemade sawdust carpet.
This one was decorated with fruits, watermellons, candles, and corn stalks.
Good Friday – Evening Procession
I captured the first few minutes of Santa Elena’s procession before rushing back to Fores. This is Santa Elena’s large hand carried statue of Christ, now dead, with two angels sitting by his head.
This statue of a mourning Mary follwed closely behind.
I walked quickly back across the causeway to catch the full procession in Flores. The Flores procession was led by about eight of these men, dressed in black costumes with skulls, waving incense burners as they walked in front of Christ’s dead body. Kind of reminds me of Ku Klux Klan costumes.
The procession getting ready to trample one of the beautiful alfombras.
The procession beginning to walk on another sawdust carpet.
Another alfombra about to be trampled. This one popped up quite quickly, right before the procession began.
The procession walking down the street.
Men carrying the body of Christ on their shoulders. Mary is standing over his dead body, at his head.