Monday 18th Feb
15.25: I am sat in the shade at a beautiful casa at the rope swing destination just across the lake from Flores. We have come here in a big group and we have been swinging into the water all afternoon. I feel like a massive kid, like we are the lost jungle children. We took a boat out here together after having a huge (and cheap) breakfast at ‘cool beans’ on the waterfront. I am so pleased that I travelled with Penelope and Kyle, having known them since Caye Caulker it feels like months, the journey across the border was much more enjoyable and we feel like a little unit now. The scenery en route was stunning, so many animals, open land, big palms, mountains. Guatemala is just perfect in my eyes, I immediately like it here more than Belize and Mexico. Flores is beautiful, colourful again, feels a little more European than other places, cobbled streets and tuc tucs. Bumped into the English painting boys, of course. So lovely to see their faces again. We all spent the evening drinking beer and chatting with a little bit of dancing, this hostel has a great mix of everything.
Tuesday 19th Feb
07.57: I had a wonderful sleep, the mattress here in Los Amigos is the comfiest yet. I went for a short run and threw a little circuit into the mix, the first one since I have been at home. It felt good despite the beer consumption the previous evening. I did some actual real life work last night, Ryan; another friend from Caye Caulker and his girlfriend are also in Flores. They were sat behind me at breakfast yesterday, Kathleen asked if I would cut her hair and of course I jumped at the chance. Spent the remainder of the evening in the English boys apartment next to the hostel, chatting and watching Jack draw a portrait.
17.50: I am sat atop the sunset temple in Tikal, we’ve walked over 4 miles already around the ancient Myan village. I am a little ill prepared; wearing birkenstocks instead of trainers! I feel a little hormonal and irritable today, damn being a female. The sun is setting as a huge red fireball in the sky, we have a 360 degree view of the jungle and the tips of the ancient ruins.
21.33: I am now sat at the waterfront watching the moon in the dark eating an ice cream. We saw the moon rise whilst we were still in Tikal, it came up next to one of the temples. It was glowing orange at first, slowly turning more cream as it rose higher. The jungle was pretty quiet in that clearing. The bus back felt long. That little trip confirmed that group tours are not for me! When I got back to the hostel Penelope and Kyle, who were sharing a room with me, were gone. They left with the three English boys, so now it definitely feels like time to head south. Get me to my spiritual/yoga spot.