Friday the 13th, a beautiful day to fly but first let's go back to thursday the 12th. It had been busy all week at work, and thursday was no exception. In between work, I was also trying to check in. I was able to do so, but could only pick a seat for the first flight, which was the shortest so less important. I then noticed that my middle name wasn't on the ticket and so the marathon of calling both airlines began. I eventually called British Airlines again and was helped by Harshit, which he told me means 'finder of happiness' and eventually he did help me (and yes, I looked it up and it's true)! But then something went wrong again and by chance I spoke to Harshit again. It took a while but he had seated me on 80B, an exit row. Perfect for a long 10hr flight! I finished working around 8pm, cleaned the house and stopped by my neighbor to drop off my key and we chatted for a while. I pretty much went without sleep until my friend picked me up around 3:30am.
Our first flight was to London and we almost missed it haha; this is what happens when I don't take charge haha my friend wanted to sit a bit further down so we hadn't notice that boarding started and almost endend! Last call!! Or maybe it was just friday the 13th haunting us. The flight was delayed, but I had an empty seat next to me so didn't really care, wootwoot. Got to London, and the delays kept piling up. After hourssss, due to 'last minute sickness of a crew member', we finally were able to board for our 2nd flight to Miami and Rashit heald his word, 80B! But then...the screen did not work, 3 resets and a few hours passed but still nothing. I started reading a magazine but that wasn't the plan for 10hours!! The guy next to me offered to switch seats and I accepted but was still reading so I said it was okay. Maybe after dinner and he didn't mind. He would sleep anyway. And ao after dinner we switched but then Tessa walked by, so we drank, drank, drank. And after that I finally watched one movie haha, Bullet train and Nina Conti's ventriloquist comedy show, very funny!
Due to the delays, over 3hours (!), we arrived in Miami with only about an hour left for our next transfer, so did a lot of other passengers (different destinations). And for a little while (maybe 10min) rushing through the airport, we had hope we would make it. And then we got to the passport control line..hundreds of people waiting in line and only a few guys checking the passports. We still hoped that maybe this flight was also delayed, but of course, it left on time. We were in line for about 2 hours!! The airline compensated for it with an overnight stay close to Miami airport + 60usd to spend for dinner and lunch. It was so weird being back in Miami and also not to leave the airport area. Its been a while, but it was kind of part of my life, my 2nd home, for ten years.
The next morning I tried to reschedule some stuff, because we were suppose to have one night in Guatemala city and then fly out to Flores. And we would not make the Flores fligt, so I was on the phone again, I also called the night before. And in the end we had to rebook our flight for later that day. And so off to the airport we went after having our complimentary breakfast. Again, so weird being back at Miami airport. I hardly flew to Miami, always Fort Lauderdale or West Palm Beach, and so it was even weirder. Brought me back to earlier times and also wanted to get a car and drive, visit Florida, go to the Keys. But I settled for having the Florida sunshine warm up my face outside the airport before going through security yet again, for about 5min. The Florida sun felt sooo good, missed it!!
Okay, vamanos!! Flying to Guatemala City! Finally!! Got there, went to the baggage belt, but no baggage...not mine anyway..stayed there until they closed the hatchet. My bag did make it last night haha. So we had to pick it up and check in again for our Flores flight about 3hrs later. This gave us enough time to get some cash and chill for a bit. Wasn't much to do or see at the airport. Few shops that gave us a first glimpse of how cheap things were here. After boarding the propellor plane, we had a quick one hour flight and finally got to start our Guatemalan adventure!
We made it to our final destination, Flores, Guatemala!! There's was a huge party! Made us forget the last two days. And also, do we have to leave in two weeks? It was the end of a 15day celebration (well almost, it ended on sunday). So great fun to be here for the weekend with live music, streetfood, drinks, etc.
"A big beer at the festival is 750ml = bottle of wine! Nice small island, steep hills but theres a way around it :-)! Cheap cocktails if you go to the right places."
After two nights in Flores, we took the bus to Tikal, time doesn's mean much here either. The road was very nice. Kept thinking and comparing to Madagascar, the roads were so bad there. Am curious to see what the rest of the roads will be, closer into the jungle. We arrived around 12ish and went to our hotel with poool!! Super nice! Power cuts throughout the day, just like in Madagascar so no worries. Ended up doing a sunset tour in Tikal. My friend really wanted to go, so taking one for the team ;-)! Did not want to be the reason she missed out and money is easily earned back. You can't go without a guide, could easily get lost..and DIE they said hehe. So we took a guide, went inside. Woody woodpeckers, tucans, super cool!! the tucans were smaller than I thought but maybe it's just a smaller type, tucan real. And parrots, although we only heard them. After that we saw the first temples, and I kind of research if it was worth it after seeing Ankor Wat, Bagan, but people said yes. Well, it was nice and one hell of a climb up, but I was more excited seeing the birds! 100 steps up again and lots of green, did remind me of Borobudur with my mom. So I mostly enjoyed the nature parts and animals! Going to see the sunrise tomorrow, which I also did in Ankor Wat and Bagan, so who knows!
Back at the hotel for dinner and tried a Michelada (made it once at home, wasn't very good). This one was better! Back to the room for 90days hehe! Until the power went off and we checked out the stars outside, clear skies, millions of them. So so so cool! Last time was in Australia and Fiji I think. The pool chairs were wet so I layed on the edge of the pool looking up into the stars! It brought me back to the time I was in Alice Springs and we slept under the stars!
As I was typing this part, the noises of the jungle started to get louder. It feels like I am in Jurassic Park, rather than Tikal park. The howler monkeys apparently can sound like velociraptors and that is what I've been hearing for the past half hour. Not what I had in mind when I read 'love waking up to the sounds of the jungle'. Although, who knows, tomorrow it might be Snow Whites birds singing we hear! Buenos tardes!
Here come's the sun tuututuuutuuu is what was playing in my head when, after a 30min walk and 30min sit down, the sun started to appear behind the mist. The howler/velociraptor monkeys had been up for a while, but the birds woke up to the beams of sunlight as it moved higher into the skies. Its chilly up on temple IV, the place to be for the sunrise. We saw a group leave earlier as the only paid for a sunrise tour and had to leave before it was actually visible. Advise; don't. Just get a regular day ticket and get here at 6am or a bit before so you can go in at 6 and stay the rest of the day as well. The sounds of the jungle waking up are far more interesting to me than the actual sunrise. And everyone is quiet, we had to, same rules applied for the sunset. Reason? So that everyone is able to hear the jungle come alive.
My friend annihilated the sacred Maya temple IV when she dropped a plastic cookie wrap, yikes. Hihi, it happens I guess. We sat there for a while but it was still very foggy and so we decided to make our way downstairs again and walk around to see other temples. We climbed a few others and saw some wildlife, more tucans and woodpeckers, but also green parrots and spider monkeys! And of course, turkeys, I say ofcourse because it is very strange! And also nasua, but bot in the actual park, just the parking lot.
After hours of walking, climbing, etc, we went back to the hotel and chilled at the pool until we had to make our way to the bus again. Back to Flores for another night! We got to Flores and had some lunch at this place we had been to before. They did 2 cuba libres for Q15, which is about €1,80! Keep m coming haha. We only had 3 each and also some food. We then checke in to the hotel next door and crossed the bridge to get to the supermarket. After that, we walked back and had a relaxing evening! We have another early morning tomorrow to catch the bus to ou next destination! So sleep tight, have a nice day.
Cheers,
T.
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