It looks like the adventures never really end. I think I’m just going so fast that it’s almost impossible for me to just chill and enjoy a time off. It’s been a lot more stressful than I thought it would be, although I was aware that it would be a stressful endeavour.
Right now, I’m still thinking about the shipping process, what that’s going to entail, how long it’s going to take, how much money, and how in the world I’m going to find and agent that will get me the right person from the right ship to take the car at the right time. So I’m in a bit of a rush to get down to Costa Rica/Panama. I think I will do one major stop at both Honduras and Nicaragua, and then spend more time in the other countries.
Today, we took off around 8AM to get to Tikal. We found our exit out of Antigua alright, but once we got to Guatemala City, it was a totally different story. I think that city was much worse than the other cities in Central America so far. It requires virtually every traveler to venture through it if you were to go to Copan or Tikal from SouthWest Guatemala. I think it has some potential as a city itself, but I wasn’t very much intersted in it.
Then we kept driving, driving, and driving. I drove almost 400 miles today. The CA9 and the CA13 is in great shape. I was very impressed. And some of the roads leading in and out of Guatemala City were in major construction. Guatemala I think is very up and coming and I am strongly considering buying some ETF for Guatemala.
We stopped once for fruit inspection again, and used that opportunity to use the restroom. We got to Tikal at 4PM (not 5 like the GPS says), and had something quick to eat and went into the ruins, since the tickets purchased after 3PM are good for the day after as well. We went up Temples 2 and 4, since 1 and 3 are closed. Temple 4 looked like it’s supposed to be closed to the public, but one of the Tikal security guards, Rene, was bringing a shotgun and came up to the Temple with us. At first I was apprehensive and thought he would kick us out, since there were some torn yellow tapes that we passed through and the ruin was clearly in a phase of reconstruction. But he instead invited us through the signs that said ‘do not pass,’ and went around the top of the ruins, onto the scaffolds, and watched part of the sunset at Temple 4. It was simply beautiful.
But we had a chance at a better sunset, at Mundo Perdido. We climbed up the steps, and although it was well past 6, the park’s closing time, we were able to watch the sunset at our leisure. The 2 guards were always with us, with their shotguns, but we felt safe and never felt rushed to climb down.
So tomorrow, I need to wake up and meet the guards at 4:30 to see the sunrise from Temple 2. I want to climb Temple 5 as well, and I think we’ll pretty much be done after that. We did about 2 hours today, and I assume we’ll do another 4 or 5 tomorrow. It’s definitely better than Palenque, at least in my honest opinion. Perhaps I just like the fact that I can actually climb up these ruins, no matter how dangerous they may seem to be.
Right now, I’m typing in a tent. We decided to camp today, and today being the first time, I realized that this tent really isn’t big enough for 2 grown ups. It’s barely big enough for me, and Fiona is sleeping in the car. We paid 25 Quetzales each, which we were really excited about, but I feel bad since she’s got the car to sleep in. It doesn’t even recline all the way back. I offered to pay for the room tomorrow, but she responded by saying don’t be silly.