The majestic Mayan city of Tikal and the Guatemalan capital

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Date: 17/01/2013 to 21/01/2013

We went to Belmopan, em Belize, Rumo à Tikal, To Guatemala, not give 17 January, Thursday. Unfortunately, arrived at the Park of Tikal in the day and we only had a few hours to visit the majestic Mayan ruins. The next day we had to leave early towards the Guatemalan capital, a journey that would last all day, because the NAND (Leonardo) had a scheduled flight out of Ciudad de Guatemala to visit her mother. Passing through the entrance of the park had to pay the entrance fee salt for foreigners, of , worth for two days spent in the park, even we can only spend part of a there. We parked the car and have fled to the forest, under a light drizzle, where the trails (well signposted, by sinal) led to several ruins.

It was getting dark and we needed to run to see as much as possible. We walk through 20 minutes between jungle trails when, finally, we got to the first center ruins: feel, the evening already and no one there, was that we had just discovered the archaeological center.

The pristine jungle around the buildings gives the impression that since his abandonment of the ruins are there, while resisting. We climbed the tallest buildings in order to get a better sense of the area and we could see, above the treetops, other tall buildings that arose amidst the greenery. Moreover, it was possible to see the steam rising from the vegetation due to high humidity in the region. Film. We were jumping from center to center until the time when the park closed and we had to return the car, already dark.

The city of Tikal is one of the most important Mayan centers of their civilization, with its construction being started a few hundred years before Christ, and its peak being reached between the years 500 and 800 after Christ. At this time centered much of the economics and politics of the Mayan region and also found evidence of interaction with other important “metropolises” America of his time, as Teotihuacan, at the center of what is now Mexico.

We wanted to camp there in the parking lot of the park it, but the guards have left. So we went behind the parking lots of the few hotels that exist within the area of ​​the national park and one of them cleared the space for us to sleep! We dined in the restaurant of this hotel and went to sleep because the next day would wake early for another full day of travel. Despite the tropical region, overnight until it made a chill, reaching 13 degrees!

The next day, as scheduled, spend all the time traveling towards the capital and arrived in the early evening. Nandes would like to get the very early flight the next day, no sleep hostel The Spanish, very close to the airport, which offered transfer at the time of your flight. One good thing about Guatemala is that most hostels included in the accommodation price a hearty breakfast each morning, up beans! Well, the Nandes left early for the airport and we were taking breakfast tasty breakfast. Over coffee met two ladies that U.S. had known for a long time on a volunteer in Tibet and were now meeting again for a trip in Central America!

Gustavo a while since he was not feeling well, always coughing and fever. Therewith, soon after breakfast we take you to the hospital to see what was happening. We went to the hospital , associated with the health insurance we have, was one of the best Ciudad de Guatemala and then stop already started some tests to check what happened. After some time the result came: he had pneumonia! All were surprised, he even, because I was not feeling so bad. The doctor's suggestion was for him to come home and rest, taking the medication. However, after 7 months down the road the closest thing to a home that we have is Tanajura! So the doctor decided to admit him in the hospital for 2 nights for him to be accommodated and better able to recover more quickly.

Of course we do not want this to anyone, but it is no exaggeration to say that hospital facilities were one of the best housing for which some of us went on the trip: Cable TV, internet, rich and varied menu with meals, overlooking a well maintained Japanese garden, food and drinks between meals comfortable and air-conditioned room. With Gustavo already installed and recovering, What about us (Bruno, Andre e Gabriel) we seek a hostel closest to the center to stay. We ended up finding hostel The Coperacha, after searching the internet for references. The animated Luciano (Austrian who manages the hostel) welcomed us and we have already closed the next 3 we would spend nights in the Guatemalan capital there. The atmosphere was pleasant, limp and, again, We had a delicious breakfast in the morning.

The same hostel the couple was staying and Ricardo Renilza, who were also long-term travelers like us, but in their case the trip was the world! They have now returned to Brazil, but your blog (In the blog world) is still in the air with their experiences. We spent the rest of the night chatting with them, exchanging experiences and funny stories, until bedtime.

On the following morning, returned to the hospital to check on Gustav, who was feeling well but should stay one more day in hospital to recover better. We left the hospital and went for a ride through the city center. All without rushing, because we would expect the Nandes back a few days later also in Ciudad de Guatemala. Therewith, just using the time to relax and get some rest too, unlike the usual run we have almost daily on Shipping. Luckily the structure of our hostel It helped enough, even had a room with musical instruments!

After 2 nights in hospital, Gustavo was released by the doctor and was feeling much better, just needed to continue taking prescribed medications. There was still one day to go back Nandes, so we went to the nearby town of Antigua, antiga capital da Guatemala, but that's a story for another post ;).

For more photos, click here!