Around 1PM yesterday the rioting stopped (we aren't sure who won) and we got word that we could move out for Flores. This was great news because it meant we wouldn't have to turn back and lose a day, but by this point the temperatrues were in the low 90's. There is no A/C anywhere and we have been sweating like pigs for nearly five hours. Do you appreciate the anguish I'm trying to convey in piling 13 ridiculously sweaty and stinky people into a tiny bus for 6 straight hours? Ugh..

But it wasn't all bad. While we waited a guy we stayed with in Semuc got on top of the bus and sang a bunch of songs, which really entertained the locals. A good 20 or 30 people came out of their little stalls to see him and take pictures. I can't say much for his 'talent' but it certainly helped the time pass.

Our bus driver was in a mad rush to get to Flores, and we made record time. This was great at first, and we were amazed that, time after time, we would pass people around hills and corners with blinding speed and no consequences. This good fortune didn't last long though and while passing a truck around yet another blind corner we encountered another truck headed straight at us. We couldn't get back into our lane quick enough so both we and the petrified truck in front of us had to slam on the brakes and screech to a complete stop, finishing only feet apart. I think that was the closest we've ever come to dying on a backpacking trip. Let's hope it stays that way!

When we finally pulled in to Flores around 8PM last night, our entire car group was being dropped off at the local cheapie hostel. It was tempting (so cheap!), but after so many hours covered in sweat we craved our own room and a hot shower. Plus we wanted to sleep in today and knew that hostels just aren't good places to do it. So I ponied up the cash ($40US, our single greatest expense so far) and we got a room in a nice hotel. They must have thought we wanted to do something naughty because when we asked how much a room was, he looked us up and down and replied, "Per hour?". We have ice-cold A/C, scaldingly hot showers, and a late check-out. I'm still bracing Brittany for tonight, which will be spent on the floor in a tent outside of Tikal. The shuttle will be getting us later today and we'll check out Tikal for an hour or two to see the sunset, then visit it again tomorrow morning, before the crowds arrive. After that it's on to Copan, Honduras or Rio Dulce, we haven't decided!

I finally found a computer that likes my camera so there are now pictures for the past couple of entries. I doubt we'll have internet for a few days, but we'll try to keep you posted.