Crossed into Guatemala yesterday. We're staying in a colonial style town, Flores, located on an island (joined by causeway) in the second largest lake in Guatemala. The amazing thing about the island was that it was man made by the Mayan people a few centuries before the Conquistadors came. They flattened all the Mayan buildings and set up a garrison town there.

On Sunday we visited Tikal, one of the most famous of all the Mayan ruins. It was a lot different from many of the others I've seen being surrounded by jungle (even more so than Planeque). Wondering through the jungle surrounded by spider monkeys, the occasional quartemundi (spelling? - a cross between an ant eater and raccoon) and all kinds of birds you come across the massive stone temples and pyramids that seem to jump out at you from the green foliage. I'm getting to the point where I've overdosed on ruins in the last month or so but this one was extra special as there were many local Mayan people (or I should say ancestors of Mayan people) who we performing rituals at the site. This wasn't touristy staged stuff but actual people practicing an ancient belief system. It was a really cool experience watching this and really made the site alive for me.

If you are ever in the area go on a Sunday as it is free entry to Guatemalans so it is usually the day that these practices are observed.