Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Yaxha ruins

We had one day to do whatever we wanted and we didnt want to stay in Flores, so after some research we decided to visit Yaxha ruins that were on our way but were not covered by the guide (just mentioned) and there was no transport offered to them, meaning we were likely to meet less people and sure to leave the comfort of we-get-ur-ass-right-there services, which I liked.
We took a tuk-tuk to the bus terminal and denied several offeres to get us there for 75Q per person directly. Instead we took a collectivo for 25Q to the crossroad in the village of La Maqina from where we had 12 kilometers to go. Not surprisingly, there were 21 people in the van while it was designed for 16. What I find funny is that in the back, there is a seat for two that you can extend to make it take one more person. The extending leaves a gap between the seats and some locals carry a upholstered piece of wood which perfectly fits the gap so that one more person can sit there. Simply clever :)
We arrived at the crossroad at about 11 oclock. There was a little shop where we asked for transport but we didn't get any help. We asked again some guys with off-road car but they were going the other direction. Then a man living nearby offered to take us there on two motorbikes but it was too expensive. We decided to wait. There was a car with just two people in it - someone's private transport. The driver would take us but we denied because he asked for too much money.
We took a rest and I bought us two cans of Super cola. Before we could finish them, there was a police pickup. And they took us! I was soooo happy. It was just great - policemen were taking us to a Maya site in the back of their pickup, for free.
We jumped off the pickup at the entrance and went to find accommodation we were told about. Vasek wanted to stay there and I wanted to go and sleep on top of a Maya temple really badly. In the end I persuaded him and we walked to the ruins with all our luggage. It turned out we could stay right at the ruins at a camping site.
The ruins were really cool and there were few people around. We had our dinner (bread with cheese) on the top of the highest temple and just chilled out. Eventually we stayed to watch the sunset. That place was probably made just to watch the sunsets because it was the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen in my life. The jungle, the sounds of howler monkeys and the sun over the lagoon made it spectacular. Some people even brought a bottle of Champagne.
Both of us rented a hammock and hung it in a sort of bungalows. I haven't abandoned the idea of sleeping on a Maya temple, though.
Us and a couple from Finland were the only ones there. I packed my backpack and left for a temple that I chose to sleep on. The way there was kinda creepy because Vasek chose to stay. I found my way to Acropolis Norte where there were three pyramids, with the highest one being the place. The moon was full and shining brightly. I watched the starry sky,  listened to the jungle sounds and tried to fall asleep which I eventually did. Later in night, the forest got covered in fog.
The sunrise was not as I was picturing it: the sky was gray and I couldn't even see the sun. The animals, though, were very active at that time so I took my camera and went to watch the wildlife. And boy was I lucky! I saw a lot - toucans among other - and took some nice photographs.
Getting away was not easy but after some time there was a pickup that took us to the crossroad. Then we caught a collectivo to the border with Belize...
Awesome!

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