Tikal!

Tikal (pronounced tee-call) is one of the coolest places I have ever been ... ranking right up there with Peru's Machu Picchu.

This is a map of all the ruins that make up Tikal ... very extensive. I am always in complete awe of things built SO long ago and yet are so much more impressive than anything we build today!

Archeologists have only been able to partially uncover the ruins here due to environmental concerns ... while it is sort of sad not to be able to see it how it would have looked originally, it makes your mouth drop right open when you round a corner in the jungle to see an enormous temple looming ahead of you.

The temples reach above the jungle canopy, making the climb up them, well worth it for the incredible views!

After a fun, but exerting day of climbing the temples and pyramids (and sweating more than I knew I was able to), I was very happy to spend the evening at this beautiful hotel in the town of Flores, Guatemala. These red tuk-tuk's were ALL over the city! They are so cute!