Saturday is Archeology and Eco-Tourism Day

It was stressed that volunteers should go out and see Guatemala. Antigua would be too touristy. Panajahel would be too expatriate driven. But there had to be other areas of interest as well. Tikal the largest asnd most famous Guatemalan Mayan archeological site is way up in the north and takes time to get up and back. Some people obviously fly up to and back from there.

Our shettle mini-bus service is run by Adrenalina Tours. They had a day trip out of Xela to see the archeological site called Takilak Abaj and then visit an eco-tourism part coffee plantation called Patrocinis Reserve Finca. So they require a minimum of 10 to go on on this trip. With all the weary and half-sick people we barely got the 10 recruits.

On our way to our first stop is by the highway to see puffs of hot stuff coming out of Volcao Santiaguito. The large Volcano Santa Maria is not active most days whereas the smaller is busy on a daily basis.

TA' KALIK AB'AJ archeology site probably has some different written forms. It is a Pre-Classic Mayan site in the ranges of 300BC and 300AD. Late Classic Mayan sites are usually in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and co-existed briefly with the Spanish invasion of the 1500s. So this site is not as dramatic as "later" Mayan civilizations but it affords links with the ancient Olmec people who inhabitated not too far off Mexican areas such as Vera Cruz province. Many glyphs and writtens are still visible from this site and a lot more is excavated each year. In one of the larger tented areas we were asked not to take pictures since the latest findings had not yet been fully published in scientific journals. Our tour guide claimed to be non-professional but he was very knowledgeable and ran us around for about 3 hours. Many step pyramids (not high), stelae, temples, pottery excavation area, star-observatory area, dedications to fertility and death. A small zoo area was attached to the site as well. Even the flowering trees such as the juacarandas were in fine form. Here they were light purple in colour whereas in other area they are orangey-red.

Petrocinia Reserva Finca: Guatemala is finally getting in the Eco-Tourism indusrtry.

Although coffee is grown in this finca they seem to focus on inviting nature lovers and bird watchers. We climb a tall bird watching tower and notice that you would be able to see a lot more bird activity in the mid to upper rain-forest canopy. These real bird watchers would have to get up before dawn or stay late at dusk to view most of the bird species. (80 species fly through here?)

Zip-lining is also important. Nevermind that we're all near or over 60 years of age. They have a series of 4 zip-lines. Turns out it is quite safe. The first zip-line is almost too short to fully enjoy. We can do only one more so it is nearly twice as long and everone gets a big thrill of it. Many pictures are taken but I've left my camera behind.

Just in case we're not dead on our feet we are again lead down a garden path. How long? Nobody knows. But again the guide is so aimiable and good-natured that he leads us as the Pied Piper has led the rats out of the city. Instead we are led into a rain forest of delights. Different bamboos. Some native ...some non-native. A controlled waterway yiels irragation and hydro-electric power. Flowers evcrywhere and we are running out of batteries for all the picture taking we are doing. The Ten brave volunteers complete their treks in the wild only to be confronted with missed appointments. Phone connections need to be made to say that someone is missing a message. Others will be a little later than expected for dinner. Adrenalkina Tours has given us a wonderful day out.