Mayan Temples in the Jungle

Tikal was high on my priority list. You could say that it was on my to-do list even before I left on my RTW trip. I probably included Guatemala in my itinerary just for Tikal alone.
Needless to say, I was SOOOOOOOOOOO excited to be going there!!!!!

From Flores, there are hourly shuttles to the ruins for $8 roundtrip. Due to my lack of Guatemalan currency on hand (see previous blog entry), I had no choice but to use my precious USD notes.
I would've actually preferred to explore Tikal on my own, but the German couple I met yesterday invited me to go along with them. Being the Japanese me, I couldn't refuse. There were certainly places I would've liked to have spent more time at, and others I could've totally ignored, but all in all, I had a great time.

Tikal is one of the largest Mayan cities, built inside a jungle. From the minute you enter the site, mosquitoes are on the attack!

OK, before I go any further, can I please complain, once again, about the entrance fees?! It's hard to believe, but Tikal charges you a whopping $21!!! I can stay 3 nights at my hostel for that money. And that's a single room with my personal shower and toilet.
So far, I've concluded you can travel around Central America for really cheap, just as long as you avoid the major tourist attractions...which is a bit hard to do : (
Compared to Copan, though, I'd have to say that my money was better spent here. Tikal really was wonderful!

Back to the mosquitoes. I HATE them. I usually end up with a week-long huge, itchy, burning bump due to some allergic reaction to them once bitten. Plus, the ones here may carry malaria. Better to be safe than sorry; I covered every exposed part of my body with the very effective Boot's insect repellent. Except, I guess, my ear. Which got bitten. ARGH. How annoying!!!

Anyways, Tikal encompasses a massive area, with the complexes spread over rather large distances. We walked to each and every one of them. And climbed every single climbable temple. How fun (unless you end up behind a bunch of retired, old tourists who need to take a break every 5 steps or so)!
Starting with the Great Plaza. As soon as I stepped into the Plaza, I knew I was in Tikal (well, duh!). I mean....it's exactly as I pictured it to be – really old, steep buildings surrounded by lush greenery.
The steepness of the pyramids in Tikal is very impressive and unique, resembling nothing that I've seen before. A few accidents seem to occur each year, probably by drunk tourists. You're not allowed to climb the original steps, but rather the wooden ones built along the sides:Given its height, the view from the top of these pyramids is breathtaking! You see the tips of other temples of similar height poking through the jungle bushes:I could've sat there for hours, just staring out at the greenery. Except that the sun was shining and there was absolutely no shade.
These temples were certainly the highlight, but I also enjoyed simply walking around the jungle, past the "I wonder what these were" buildings/rubbles. Loved the earthiness and mossiness:What a fascinating day : )