Tikal - Monday, June 22

Tikal was amazing and the kids did awesome. We had a marvelous young guide, David, who was fantastic with the kids. They loved him and he was really a delight with a great sense of humor.
We “cheated” at the beginning and got a truck to take us to the farthest point of our journey and only had to walk back, thereby avoiding the hour+ walk into the park. I don’t think we would have fared as well without that! It was certainly hot and exhausting, but we all survived…
We started right off by climbing to the top of the highest temple in Tikal- it’s 22 stories high! Yes, we all made it to the top of Temple IV- 190 stairs (Elizabeth counted and confirmed), and the view was spectacular. My heart only half stopped functioning once at the top watching my six treasures so high above the canopy, and no railing. We were on the back side, which appeared to me to be a pretty straight drop down. Of course, you can’t quite take my word for it as I stayed as close to the wall as I could get. The ledge was only maybe 4 feet wide? Our guide just walked along it as if it was no big deal. Of course, he has been there like 2000 times (for real, we asked) and hasn’t yet fallen off. I guess you probably don’t meet many guides who have… I did insist that my kids all stay seated on that top stair and NO walking along the edge. Gheeesh. My heart is racing now just thinking about it and I can hardly type! OK, next topic or I might pass out now just recounting it… :-)

Starting our climb...

The view from the top, looking out over Tikal with the temple towers rising through the forest canopy...
We're at the top!!!

Yes, I think that is a death grip I have on Alex’s hand…

We explored through the forest as we journeyed from one site to another, inspecting ants, birds, lizards and monkeys. With all the time David spends there, he is incredible at identifying animals and knowing when they are near. Several times he would stop us because he could hear the movements or calls of an animal, and sure enough, he would locate it for us. At the top of Temple IV, we heard our first howler monkeys in the distance. Alex desperately wanted to see them and really could not understand my reasoning that we couldn’t just produce them for him. Well, David pulled out his cell phone to call his monkey friends, and they agreed that they’d come soon, but it might be a few minutes as they were busy howling right now. Within moments, the monkeys (spider monkeys, but Alex didn’t know the difference!) came swinging through the canopy below us… David’s got connections!

We saw some more monkeys playing in the trees later… they were so fun to watch!

Dad and Alex hike through the forest to our next site...

There is only one structure in the park that you are allowed to climb straight up on the original steps, and the kids took off! Even those not so fond of being up high ventured at least part way up for the experience. I was so proud of them today- hot, sweaty, exhausted and red-cheeked, they took on those climbs and temples! Even Ella, who has complained nearly every week day of the last two years three times as day as we walk the few blocks back and forth to school that it’s “too far,” climbed to the top of the last temple for the great view of the Temple of the Jaguar- of her own initiative!


For those that have known Maria since she was just little, I have to include these next two photos. Seeing her a few years ago, would you ever have imagined that she would someday climb to the top of an ancient Mayan temple all by herself? She has come so far and accomplished so much! I am so proud of her and today was just one of those moments when we can clearly see how far she has come. To think the original question was “will she walk?” Amazing! I had tears in my eyes!

The Temple of the Grand Jaguar, as seen from the top of the temple facing it across the plaza.

Back at La Lancha, it was a race to get into swimsuits and jump into that pool! So nice to be all wet for a different reason! :-) Oh, it was a glorious time and a lovely relaxing evening.

We had an incredible dinner tonight outside, treated to thunder and lightning throughout the evening as we dined by candlelight. The kids got to tour the kitchen and meet the chef, and it was just altogether a beautiful evening. It started raining just as we left to walk back down to our rooms.
Tomorrow will be nice and relaxing with no place to be at any certain time. We’ll get up, eat some breakfast and explore- perhaps take a hike nearby, go canoeing on the lake, or just spend the morning swimming. As we’re currently the only guests, late check out will not be a problem… :-) We’ll play here all day, then check out and head to the airport late afternoon for our return flight to Guatemala City.