Tikal and Semana Santa, Flores, Guatemala

Greetings friends, and Happy Semana Santa!
We arrived back in Flores after spending a couple days in El Remate. It was really nice and relaxing and the place next to our hotel had the BEST pizza in Guatemala. We swam in the lake and Ill admit I spent most of my time chasing around these 4 newborn piglets. We stayed in a really great hotel, although I cant remember the name of it. Our host, Emberto, was amazing. We got there on Wednesday afternoon and booked the tour to Tikal for the next day.

Gregs up to no good

Cutest little things ever

Tikal was incredible! We took the shuttle at 5:30am which was perfect because we were in and out before it got too hot, and before the hoardes of people came. We basically had the place to ourselves, We would walk around for an hour without seeing anyone. It was incredibly beautiful. I took a tonne of photos but this computer is so slow it would literally take me days to upload them.

curious little spider monkey

the view from temple IV

My ridiculously good looking boyfriend

a Coati, equivalent to a raccoon

After Tikal we had a nap and went next door for awesome pizza. The next day we came back to Flores. It took a little while to get a minibus since it was Good Friday and everyone was on holiday, but we eventually made it. We had reserved at the hostel so they had a place for us and everything went smoothly. We met two girls from Williams lake and decided to have a little happy hour with them. About 8 daquiris later we went out for food at one of the street vendors and noticed that everyone was making carpets on the streets out of saw dust, flour, flower petals, fruit, roses, leaves, rose stems and corn. They were so beautiful and colourful. We asked what time the procession started and they said 7:30 so we hightailed it to the vendor, which made the cheapest, best food Ive had yet. It was such a pleasant suprise. We sat on the street watching everyone light the candles around their carpets until the parade started. Insense filled the streets as well as music and everyone was dressed in their best, except us of course. It was such an exciting night and a great suprise. We had figured something would be happening for easter, but it is usually celebrated in Antigua, so it was nice to be a part of it on a smaller and less crowded scale.

Today we were suuuuper lazy. We woke up late. I was the last person awake in the dorm. We showered and went to the grocery store to buy some food to cook in Belize, since it will be much more expensive if we buy it there. We had lunch at Pollo Camprero, which is like a KFC where you sit down, and what an experience it was! I had better service than Ive ever had in ANY restaurant in Canada, for about one fifth the price. We left feeling full and happy, and not nearly as greasy as we should have.

Oso, the puppy from our Hotel



We got to eat the fruit after



So beautiful, especially once the sunset

Happy Easter!!

We are leaving tomorrow at 5am for a shuttle to Belize City. We should arrive at about 11am, and our friends flight gets in at about the same time. I am so excited to see familiar faces after 2 months of travel! We have a beautiful house on Caye Caulker with a kitchen, hence the grocery shopping, an I cant wait to settle in! I am so excited to cook! Unfortunately Priya wont be joining us. She had some bad luck in Utila and her money and credit card was stolen. I feel bad for our friends because they were really looking forward to seeing her, and probably wouldnt have come to Belize otherwise. We just have to hope the weather cooperates and show them a really kickass time anyway! Less than 24 hours til paradise! I cant wait!
I wasnt going to do an update until we were in Belize, but I heard through the travellers grapevine that internet costs $6 an hour there so dont count on one until we are in Mexico. Probably about 10 days.
Anyways hope everyone is well, and enjoying easter and the spring weather! Lets hope the Canucks win tomorrow night! XO