Leanne Says:
On day three we were awoken to the sound of howler monkeys roaring as these small creatures take on the sound of a powerful lion.
Despite a restless night I was ready and willing to take on the jungle.
We spent the day hobbling around this impressive Mayan site. First discovered in 1926 this huge complex of buildings remain largely hidden in the jungle. It has not received the same funding from the Guatemalan government as the more famous Tikal. What work has been carried out has been privately funded. Some of the money being donated by the actor Mel Gibson who shot the film Apocolypto using this location.
There is only one archaeologist who works on the site with up to 200 workers. We had arrived the day before they were due to commence their next dig so had the place to ourselves.
El Mirador was a lot different to what we had seen before on the more developed and restored sites in Mexico and it was interesting to see how the site would have looked when it was first discovered.
There is a lot still unknown about the Mayans and the small bits they have excavated are constantly providing more and more clues into the workings of this mysterious civilisation.
The centrepiece is the huge Pyramid de la Danta. At 70m high this is the largest to be found in Mesoamerica. I block out the pain in my feet to enjoy climbing around this impressive structure and take in the surreal environment we have placed ourselves in.
Another highlight of the day was the ‘shower’ which we found on the workers campground. For less than £1 we were given a bucket of water which poured into an actual shower head. Finally we could make some attempt at cleaning ourselves.
The refreshing feeling did not last long, as soon as we stepped out the water the humidity caused sweat to reappear and what clean clothes we had left did not say clean for long.
Karl Says:
We wake at first light to what sounds like a zombie apocalypse. This frightful sound is in fact a group of howler monkeys who are well deserving of their name. The day starts with breakfast provided by the cooks.
After watching the sunset from the tallest temple El Tigre last night, today the first thing we do is head to La Danta. Not quite as tall this temple is one of the biggest ancient structures ever built. In total mass it’s the biggest pyramid in the world. Comprising of 3 layered platforms, the bottom layer being the size of 18 football fields. Its hard grasp the size of it as the bottom layer is still covered in jungle. However several excavations have revealed the stairs leading to the first platform.
We walk for a while and then move on up to the second layer which is made easier by make shift stairs.
And then through the trees we see the top section, which in itself is quite a size.
The jungle has not quite taken over the top of the temple but it has certainly tried.
Of course we have to climb it.
In the afternoon we visit several others sites and I climb another pyramid. Alone this time. Perhaps the most impressive of the other structures is what is thought to be a swimming pool attached to a royal palace, archaeologists have uncovered the perfectly preserved image of a swimming man.
El Mirador is an impressive place, to see the effects of time on a 2000 year old city is stunning. Thinking about what is left to be uncovered makes me want to get a trowel and wide brimmed hat and start digging. I would love to come back here in 30 years’ time and see how the site has progressed.
In the evening we have quite possibly the best shower ever. Even though it’s constructed of four posts with a piece of thin plastic wrapped around the watering can\shower is like heaven.
