Thursday, November 29, 2012

Finca Paraiso

 Paraiso is a short thirty minute collectivo ride from the Rio. We had 28 men women and children in this Toyota van on the way to the park
 The waterfall is actually warm/hot water flowing into the river. The geothermal pool is at the top of the falls.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Tikal

 The first thing you encounter as you enter Tikal Park is the scale model. The place was enormous.Most of the Park is still covered by jungle. to uncover all the ruins would be a huge task of debris removal and disposal. So in order to show the temples the debris would destroy the countryside. So it was determined years ago to expose tops of pyramids and side of some of the buildings. Tikal was discovered in 1842.
 National tree of Guatemala, the ceiba.
 Gran Temple overlooking the Peten.
These new squares filled with water were placed all over the park. Apparently they are there for animals to get a drink. The Peten is a thin layer of top soil over limestone so water disperses quickly so very few watering holes. Jaguars, birds and monkees frequent these holes.

Flores Tikal

 Flores is built on a lake. Lago de Flores. Flores is the gateway to Tikal, a National Park and World Heritage site in the Peten Region of Guatemala. In Mexico the area is the Yucatan.
 A boulevard surrounds the town.
 We especially enjoyed the narrow streets that go up tp the church on the highest point of land.
 Building the Christmas tree in the town square.
Curious crocodile.