Tikal - Day Two

Oh hi! When the alarm went off, I can't say that either of us had gotten much sleep. It was 3:45am and very dark. Wiji really wanted to use the stove and make a cupper, so he dressed, putting his fleece on to avoid some mosquito bites and started up the stove. I started to pack up the stuff in the tent, reluctant to actually leave the tent and have massive insects flying at my head torch. When I did get out of the tent and mentioned how spooky it was, at that exact moment howler monkeys started to call really close to us and were answered by another group in the distance. It is misleading to describe it as a howl, it is more a gutteral roar, quite fearce. It certainly made us freeze and listen!

After much frenzied activity (and mosquito swallowing, on my part), by the time the water had boiled for tea, we realised that we had 10 mins to pack the tent away and get to the meeting point! We took our tea with us, and went to meet the group. We were ushered up hill at fast pace with our guide and group, the jungle was eerily quiet. We arrived at Templo IV, everyone was marched up the steps to climb the templo. I opted not to, and waited in a clearing on my own. It was still dark and I was treated to the cry of a howler monkey in the tree above me!

Wiji's view from Templo IV. The jungle canopy and dawn mist.


My view from the ground. The tree ferns and air plants make this silouette look a bit like willow pattern, non?


Wiji's view on his assent from Templo IV.


Massive strangler 'Tarzan' type vines were everywhere.


The pyramid in the Mundo Perdido section (the lost world). This section has 38 other structures surrounding this one. The pyramid is 32m high and 80 m along the base.


The pyramid from the front. Each side displays a different architectural style. Tunnels underneath reveal four smaller pyramids beneath. Archeologists believe the first structure dates from 700 BC, making this Tikal's oldest Mayan structure.


Super size jungle wood worm!


A templo in the Mundo Perdido grupo.




Classic.


And here is the point of interest, as the anthropologists might have viewed Tikal on 'rediscovering' it, the comb section of Templo V soaring above the jungle canopy.


Templo V still in the early morning mist. Unlike the other temples in Tikal this has rounded corners, this really added to the volume of the structure. Archeologists believe that this was built around 700 AD. We aproached with caution to the droning hum of a hornets nest.


Walking around Templo V at sun rise. The sheer size of it was incredible, so we had to do the tourist snaps to try to capture this.


Here is Wiji on the other side of Templo V. You could use the wooden ladders at the side to climb this...ha ha, its 58 meters high, and the steps are near vertical. The room at the top is less than a meter wide, but its walls are 4.5 meters thick.




Plaza of the Seven Temples. Three smaller temples grouped together in various stated of 'rediscovery'. Looking at the back of each of these we could clearly see how they had been built and rebuilt on by the Mayans. The last construction is believed to have been late classical, but archeologists believe that the original underlying structure is over a millenium old.


'Here's one I rebuilt earlier'. The rediscovery ofTikal seems to involve some major rebuilding. You can clearly see the shiny new B&Q temple and the old, but original, in the background. We found this quite disturbing.


Part of the Plaza of the 7 Temples.


After wandering about completely alone through Tikal, we made our way back to the Gran Plaza to have one last look before the crowds arrived. It was amazing to experience this alone with only the sounds of the jungle.

Acropolis del Norte (behind the Gran Plaza). The Stelae and alters. These final structures as they were completed around 800 AD, are the work of King Moon Double Comb, Lord Chocolate. It was possible to explore all 12 of these temples on foot.


Looking at the side of Templo II.


The stelae and altar in front of Templo II.


The only remnants of stone carving that we saw intact at Tikal. This temple base was opposite Templo I.




After our final look at the Gran Plaza we wandered out of Tikal accompanied by the sounds of the Oropendulas. We had done it, and missed the crowds! It was amazing! We caught a collectivo back to El Remate to collect our stuff. We then headed back to Flores and later onto Coban.