I don't think enough can be said about Tikal, Peten, Guatemala.It's history alone would take years to fully understand, and then a lot of it is speculation at best.Tikal seems to be in the middle of no where. Jungle no where. I was told the reason Tikal flourished was the presence of flint in the area to make weapons. Makes sense. There are several archaeological sites surrounding Tikal. The most recent discovery being in the el Mirador Basin that is being excavated and restored now. The tallest Mayan building is here and the restoration project is being run by Dr. Richard Hansen.I am still letting all of this seep into my being. Truly life changing images and experiences.
Tikal is simply one of the most incredible archaeological sites in the world.The site itself is in a national park that covers approximately 576 square kilometers. There is ongoing restoration work being done so some of the structrures, even though you can still climb up to them, are not totally visible due to scapholding. Not a problem as the hundreds of other buildings are almost sensory overloading in their sheer size and splendor.You have no doubt you are in the jungle when you visit Tikal. The paths to the building complexes are through paths cut in the huge jungly trees. Spider and howler monkeys live in the tree tops, and the sound of their calls is enough to make your knees turn to jelly the first time you hear them. They are quite active in the early morning and afternoon. Y
Below is a video of Tikal Mayan Temple in Flores, Peten, Guatemala. Rob and I flew from Belize to Flores and spent about three days there. The feeling was that apart of me was going home. My great grand mother is from Flores, Peten. I am proud knowing the Mayan blood run through my veins, that my ancestors had it in them to built these temples.
