El Mirador

Sasha and I had the most amazing week! We spent 5 days hiking in the jungle to a largly undiscovered Mayan city. It was Sasha, our guide, Adonis, his son, Alan and another guy...I can´t remember his name.

I was a little nervous when the trip started out. We started at 3 am down the bumpy road to Carmelita, the last town before the road ends and the hiking begins. I had been really sick the days before and still had lingering nausea, which made for a fun ride. The truck we road in, would have never passed inspections in any state in the US. It was awesome, except the door clicked opened while we were driving, while sasha was leaning against it. Thankfully it didn´t open all the way.

Finally we reached Carmelita, and we were served breakfast. It was NASTINCA! Sasha swallowed hers down, but I gagged with every bite. I don´t know what it was, but there was no way in hell I was going to finish it, especially with my stomach. I claimed the ¨I´m not hungry¨ card and ate a whole bunch of Werthers candies to rid the taste from my mouth...mmmm werthers















Carmelita

Adonis explaining some of the plants

After hours of walking, we arrived at Tintal, a city close to El Mirador. We relaxed, studied, and slept. That evening we hiking the highest temple to watch the sunset and the moon rise. It was beautiful!













Sasha and Adonis climbing the temple

The view from the top of the next largest temple

Alan looking up a word in Spanish for us

Sasha at sunset

The moon

Look how awesome my hair is

A group of new friends

The following morning we woke early and headed to Tikal, after serveral hours of hiking we arrived at the boarder of El Mirador. There we explored a Mayan prison.
















Sasha practicing juggling in front of a Mayan prison

Snake skin

Taking a break

Alan taking Sasha to prison

Peek-a-boo

I always wanted to be an archeologist

We arrived at El Mirador. The first day all we wanted to do was relax. So we read our dictionaries, played flash cards, and watched the spider monkeys above us.
















That was later our bath water

Sasha´s new favorite book...the Spanish dictionary

The following day we spent exploring the ruins. It was amazing to be in the middle of all of it.

On top of Templo mono



We didnt see the monos there, but we did listen to Toucans
(the toucans sound like frogs, and if you listen really hard you can hear howler monkeys in the background...right before Sasha laughs)

Climbing down from Temple Mono

Climbing up Templo Danta

Alan explaining this face to us

Sasha and Adonis standing at the end of a Mayan Clock

I am not sure what it is, but I know it´s cool

Mayan pottery
















My guide and I were both thinking ¨Damn that is high¨

Standing in front of Templo Danta

A mayan house--Suckers didnt have a bathroom

Alan showing us a recently discovery...Laynie, dont tell your dad!!

On top of Templo Tigre for the sunset

A recent discovery

This monkey had the right idea

We did not have the right idea...really all those stairs??

That night we watched the sunset from the top of Templo Tigre.











Sasha talking to a new friend

Alan and co. playing ¨damas¨ (Checkers)

Sasha and the sunset

Sasha and me

The sun is only this big in Guatemala

You know, just haging out on top of Mayan temple

The hike back was beautiful and full of studying. The trip was well worth it!










Sasha looking up another word in Spanish

This is what our hike looked like

Studying and hiking at the same time, that is what I call talent

Carmelita!

The trip home was an adventure of its own. Not only did we have to travel down a bumpy road for three hours, we also ran out of gas in the middle of the blazing heat. Alan was a good sport and walked to the next town.











What a trip!!

The End!