TIKAL

 

TEMPLE OF THE JAGUAR

 

While we were having the bottom painted on Le Chat Beaute', we decided to take a 4 hour "white knuckle" bus ride to Santa Elena/Flores to tour Tikal, one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centers of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization.  Tikal National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.  This ancient Mayan city has evidence of construction back to the 4th century BC, peaking in 200 - 900 AD.  There was no water source available for the 45,000 Mayans that lived there, so they constructed an interesting "pond" configuration allowing them to collect water and survive from the natural rainfall.  The Mayans are known as the ancient "architects", creating massive temples and pyramids.  The difference between the two is a temple can only be accessed from one side, as a pyramid can be accessed by all four sides.  This site was not discovered until the mid 1800's and numerous buildings have been excavated, but some only the top portion because of all the undergrowth.  It has been determined that the Mayans imported @ 131 tons of salt each year - but from where?  It is believed that the population for this area which covers @ 225 sq. miles, reached a maximum of 120,000.  (that's 30,000 more then the Ben Hill Griffin stadium holds!)

 

Grand Temple

Imagine this area completely cleared.........no wonder it's taking time to expose all the buildings/remnants.

 

It's fascinating to walk around an ancient city that's thousands of years old.  How did they do it?

We joined a group to ride from Santa Elena to Tikal.  And fortunately we were the only ones that spoke English so we had a guide, Manuel Banos, all to ourselves.  Alot of information was passed along that day including the medicinal usage of the plants and a discussion on the ancient methods of food preparation.

 

Courtyard at the hotel, Santa Elena

 

This road/sidewalk went straight up!  City of Flores

 

 



Work, Work, Work

 

Since our return to the Rio Dulce, we have been working hard to complete the chores, installations, repairs, and projects we had on our list.  Yeah - !  We're done!  Some of new additions are a new ICOM 802 single side band radio, wifi BULLET booster, new wench covers, and dinghy cover.

 

Paddy fine tuning the opening for the hatch installations.

 

 

 

 

Yours truly.........very thankful for my 9th grade Home Ec class to finally use my sewing skills.  I was behind the sewing machine for @ a week  - that's tough on the ole back!

 

 Of course we  have to have something pretty to look at.  Bought these roses at the Saturday market for 15 quatzales = @ $2 USD.  Oh yeah.  Cheap, huh?

 

 Just to give you an idea of other costs here, we bought these veggies, plus garlic, avocadoes, potatoes, bananas and a papaya for less than $4.00 USD.  Needless to you say, it is necessary to eat your fresh foods within a day or 2 because they just don't last and our refrigerator is only big enough for the BEER!  Priorities, priorities! 

Took a break last week to visit the Finca Parasio waterfalls.  At the top of the falls, there is a pool of HOT water, so when the water flows down it is still quite hot!  The contrast of the hot and cold water "swim" was very refreshing.  The most interesting part of the day was the round trip "collectivo" ride.  Remember that old joke about how many elephants can you get in a Volkswagen?  Well, you can get at least 28 adults and children in a mini van.  Did you know that?  We were very thankful that the temperature that day was somewhat pleasant, otherwise we would have suffocated!  "Hold on while we go around the corner at @ 45 mph!"  Oh, and there was a guy on the roof holding down the luggage and sacks of produce the locals were taking back to their villages."

Finca Parasio

 

Le Chat Beaute' was hauled last Thursday for a bottom job - that actually means getting the bottom painted, not a butt lift!  It was amazing watching this huge piece of machinery simply lift 10 tons and roll down the road to place the boat into it's temp home for the next few days.

Boards and jack stands are placed under the hull to secure it as it is now "on the hard".  For all you landlubbers, that means "out of the water".  The bottom is then pressure washed to remove the yuck and make it nice and clean for that coat of fresh paint.  The guys are also going to wax and polish the hull and topside.  Paddy says it's just too hot and he's too old to be doing that himself.  Amen!

Here's the new motor cover I made, and Paddy made the gas tank cover.  I applied a manatee applique (thanks for the design Karen!) and the dinghy has been appropriately renamed the

 "Little Manatee Mari".

 

The boat is scheduled to be done and ready to go back in the water this week.  Our next big chore is purchasing provisions as we will be leaving the river this week and heading for the atolls off Belize to go diving! 

 

We visited the ruins of the ancient city of Tikal.  Photos to follow.