December 25th, 2004: The Royal City of Tikal
In the evening, we arrive in the Tikal National Park that guards the ruins of the most resplendent city the Mayas ever built. The park also protects about 600 square kilometers of jungle life. A 15 kilometers drive into the dense jungle takes us to the campsite, a nice park near the entrance to the archeological site. Colorful birds chat in the trees.
The jungle grows louder as we open the tent.
We wake up early and walk to the main structures of the Tikal city. The forest is busy. The monkeys jump from canopy to canopy. We hear the squawk of parrots. Toucans compete for the highest branch of the ceiba tree. Something bigger moves through the bush. We cross the leave cutters highway.
Only a dozen aunts are transporting materials on the highway now. Maybe because it is Sunday, maybe just because it is Guatemala.. We even spot the elusive quetztal. The jungle experience is so fascinating we almost forget we are here for the temples.
The first temple emerges, the Temple of Inscriptions.
This is the only temple with inscriptions in the discovered structures in Tikal. Next comes the first palace, the so called complex G. The palace has a tunnel entrance.
Twenty-nine very old smelling rooms open to an interior courtyard.
Howler monkeys do not like intruders. Their howling amplifies between the walls and sends shivers to the back. We walk some more and suddenly see the steep back of the Grand Jaguar Temple. With its 47 meters height and a massive base, it inspires respect.
We enter the Great Plaza. Opposite the Great Jaguar Temple sits its twin, a temple built by the 26th governor, so called Sir Cacao.
We climb the twin tower, for a view on the Great Plaza and the Acropolis.
The Great Plaza began to take its present shape two thousands years ago. Before the Tikal's greatness waned in the tenth century, this place was admired and perhaps feared by the city's sixty thousand inhabitants.
From the Great Plaza, we continue to the so called Temple V. The ascent on a steep ladder to the top of the 51 meters high temple requires some deep breathing.
The view from the top is breathtaking. The jungle ocean never ends.
From the green poke the temples.
The highest temple of Tikal, and indeed of Central America, is the Temple of the Snake, at 64.6 meters. It is not possible to climb until the top, but the view is again spectacular.
Around the Mundo Perdido, the Lost World complex, the jungle falls silent.
The silence is interupted by the funny animal feeding on ants. The animal is incredibly quick when climbing up, then it turns itself upside down and slides like on a toboggan.
We return to the campsite, passing along the northern structures. The 10 kilometers long Maya trail was an extremely interesting experience.
In the night, we try to read the stars in the cloudless sky, at the very spot Mayas chose for this purpose. We put on additional layers of clothing. The temperature falls close to zero Celsius. Tomorrow morning, we depart for Belize.
