Tikal Mayan Ruins in the Guatemalan Rain Forest

We returned recently from Belize

and while there, took a 2 hour bus ride from San Ignacio across the border

into Guatemala to visit Tikal National Park and its amazing Mayan ruins. 

During the bus ride,

we got a view of one aspect of a typical day 

in the lives of Guatemalan women.

Our tour guide said 

"No woman would EVER use another woman's washing stone!" 

He also said the women very often get their family's laundry done in the morning 

and then must get home before noon to make the mid-day meal.

"No easy feat," he said. 

Like in Belize,

there was laundry hanging outside every little shack.

We also realized after driving through Belize over a 9 day period

that right about noon, school children were let out of school

and were all headed somewhere. 

So, like Europe in the old days,

the children go home for lunch. 

The Mayan ruins of Tikal are located inside Tikal National Park,

222 square miles of jungle and rainforest

which includes 285 species of exotic birds and animals.

On the way into the jungle park,

we stopped along the road where the driver spotted Howler monkeys.

Though I didn't get any good shots,

there were indeed large monkeys high up in the trees who,

when the driver and our tour guide began making loud, bellowing sounds to them,

responded with their own unique howls. 

At the entrance to one of the Mayan sites,

we came across these funny creatures:

Coatimundi.

Though you can't quite tell from these photos,

their tails are about as long as their bodies

and their noses are long snouts.

They cared very little that we were there 

or how close we got

so gave us plenty of opportunity for photos.

Tikal was one of the most powerful kingdoms of the ancient Maya

during its heyday between 200-900 AD. 

While the site dates back nearly 6,000 years,

its population peaked at about 120,000 during the 1st century AD

and then suffered what is still described as an unexplained steep decline.

Bloodletting and ritual sacrifice were a regular part of life.

Our tour guide explained that to the Mayans, 

the blood was everything,

the source of all life. 

And the Mayans believed that the Gods

gave their own blood for man

so that man's blood was a part of the God's

which meant it was man's obligation to return it.

Often blood was scattered on paper

so they could burn it 

and watch it vaporize back to the form of the Gods. 

Ball courts were also popular in Mayan daily life.

Little is known of the ball game

except that the ball, like the sun,

must stay in constant motion. 

Lost for centuries, 

the jungle continues to try to reclaim the site

with work having to be done every few months to keep it clear. 

During 1956-1970,

the University of Pennsylvania carried out the most extensive excavations

and while it is one of the largest archaeological sites in the Americas,

much still lies uncovered and lost to the jungle. 

Some of the sites are littered with stele, or stone tablets,

covered with hieroglyphs telling stories about the people and certain events

including wars, invasions and prominent figures. 

Our guide mentioned
that pyramids and temples were built according to the four directions.
And each time a set of four were finished,
they were often abandoned and a new site was established.

The most sacred room was at the top of the pyramid or temple

where the door opens into a small room.

Everywhere we went

our guide pointed out hills with barely-visible steps leading into the dirt.

"You can bet there's another temple in there." 

While nearly 10 square miles

and 3,000 structures have been uncovered,

there is still miles of jungle, and structures, left undiscovered. 

The Lost World.

At the end of our tour,

we stood at the top of a structure

which gave us a breathtaking view over the top of the jungle

where other structures poked through the rainforest. 

Another dream come true for me:
All my life I've wanted to view the Mayan ruins.
And happy to share it here with you
in all its magnificent, ancient, mysterious glory.


(All photos copyright: Kirsten Steen) 

Back from Belize!

We just returned recently from Belize

where we traveled for a wedding. 

Some beautiful sights to behold

as well as some stunning wildlife. 

This is just the first post 

with some photos to share. 

While in Punta Gorda for the wedding

(in Belize's southern Toledo District,)

we visited the ancient Mayan ruins of Lubaantun,

which means 'place of fallen stones.'

(The ancient name of the site is not known.

The current name is a modern Mayan word.)

The city dated from the classic Mayan period

roughly 700-900 AD. 

The site claims to be the origination of one of the 

infamous Crystal Skulls

(though Wikipedia disputes this

as well as the idea that any of the skulls are pre-Columbian.)

But it is known for the many small, ceramic figurines found here

many of which were whistles.

Like many Mayan civilizations,

the site was abandoned for no known reason

after flourishing. 

We came across many flowers of beauty...

and some interesting signs.

Before the wedding,

we began our trip in San Pedro at Ambergris Caye

to explore the cayes (pronounced 'keys', meaning islands) 

and do some snorkeling along the Barrier Reef. 

From there, we visited San Ignacio

to take our guided trip to Tikal in Guatemala

(pictures of which will be in a future post.)

And after the wedding, 

we spent a few days relaxing on the beautiful beach

at the Jaguar Reef Lodge on Almond Beach. 

A view of the accommodations.

A guest living under the porch. 

And the view from my porch hammock.

I'll be back with more photos from our trip to 

the amazing Mayan ruins of Tikal. 

(All photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)