The border crossing to Tikal

It fills like being a part of a movie, when I’m taking the first step into the small boat which is taking me over the river between Mexico and Guatemala. There is nearly 100 meters between the two countries, and I’m just in the middle of them.

I’m on my way to Flores in Guatemala a trip that is estimated to 8 hours in total, a estimate that nearly never is true. On the other side of the river is there a small village, where I have to wait for a small minivan which is taking me to Flores. Even though that I was on a 14 hours bus ride from Mexico city to Palenque is the next 2,5 hour in the minivan a lot harder since the road is made of stone where there is big holes, so the driver need to siksak the most of the time. When we are changing from stone road to normal road are the others in the car starting to klapping finally time to relax. From here is there only around 1,5 hour to Flores which is a city on a island in a lake.

At the site of the road is there a lot of voting pictures hanging because Guatemala had an election the 6th of september, where Jimmy Morales a Television comedian won first round of Presidential vote with nearly 24%. As my taxi driver is telling me is there a lot of corruption in the politic in Guatemala, for him is all politicians corrupt and doing the last period have there been a lot of corruption. Therefor is a lot skeptical about the system which can be seen in the votes giving to Mr. Morales who are going against corruption.

While I’m crossing the bridge to Flores, can I see that flores not is a big city which can be seen as a very touristed place doing the season, so I’m glad that I’m out of season, while I’m entering my Hostal.

Tikal the tower in the forest

It is 8 in the morning, it is rain season so it is still cloudy when I’m getting into the minivan with Erick, from Mexico and Padraig from Ireland who I shared the journey from Flores with.

While I’m standing in from of the first Maya Ruin in the national park of Tikal, which became a part of UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 1979 I’m I impressed about the reality that this city was build in the Classic Period ca. 200 to 900 AD and is located 64 kilometers from Flores. The sun is starting to get through while I’m at the main square from where I can’t stop thinking of how hot it must have been for the mayas since there were no tries to make shadow at their time.

At the end of my tour in this beautiful place I’m I claiming site nr. 4 which is the highest located Maya Ruin and from where the view over the forrest and the ruins is remarkable.

The swim

To hang in the line over the lake with the light from the sun just in my face is a relaxing feeling for the seconds it holds before I’m losing my grip and is falling into the water. In the evening (friday) will I be going to Antigua with a nightbus to be close to Guatemala City from where I’ll have a flight back home to Mexico City Sunday.

To have a relaxed day have Erick, Padraig decided to take a tour with a local boat on the lake and get a a queried place from where you can go bathing, be swinging in robes and just relax in hammocks while the sun slowly are going down in the horizon. At this time is it difficult to understand that every 50 year does the water rise more 2-4 meters so the two first streets at the island will be flooded which is why we saw a hold hotel at the lake with now just is a ruin. Another pace was it possible to see that the street has got into the water, doing the last two years. The silence and the calmness at the lake is just what I need so when I’m getting on the boat back to Flores am I in a good mode which is perfect for a 9 hours nightbus trip to Antigua.