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Latin America - part II

Tikal, Antigua, Lake Atitlan

Hector Yague
2005-10-11 10:31:03

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Tikal

Like I said in the Mexico entry, getting to Tikal had been a pain in the royals. Transportation combinations are really awkward and there's two borders to cross on top of that (Belize, in and out). So when I finally arrived on the 24th of December 2004 to the twin town of Flores / Santa Elena (they are virtually together), I was absolutely knackered. Plus, as I was to realize pretty quickly, they are both an uninteresting, dusty, uneventful pit hole. The very only reason as of why travelers come here is because it's a natural jump point to the nearby Mayan ruins of Tikal.

Guatemala wasn't looking very good so far. I had not seen such a poverty-stricken country since Cambodya: roads are barely paved, brashes and rubbish piled up on the sides of the streets, houses looking about to collapse any minute, etc. It's no surprise that over 50% of the Guatemalan population live under the poverty level designated by the UN. But, overall, the persistent feeling I had here in Guatemala is of un-safety: gun-holding violent crime is not uncommon here and highway robbery (trucks blocking the highway assaulting tourists-filled buses) does occur. I was maybe paranoid or something, but I seldom went out at dark unless strictly necessary, and I always carried a couple of US$10 notes in case I was robbed in the street. I dunno, what can I say, I just didn't feel comfortable walking alone in the streets, and that I am afraid was a joy-killer during my entire stay in this country.

Alright, personal paranoia aside, I will now tell you guys how I spent my 2004 Christmas day exploring the mother of all Mayan ruins: the once super power Tikal. Indeed, Tikal had probably been the most influential Mayan city of its time and reigned above the rest for centuries. Unfortunately, and since tourism is nowhere near as present here as in Palenque or Chichen Itza, the restoration works have ...