Trip to Guatemala

Today was a really long, but adventurous day. We were at breakfast at 6 am Belize time and then on the road to Guatemala by 7 am. We enjoyed sightseeing from the van through Belize and Guatemala until we got to Tikal National Park. We were able to see various villages, housing, and daily routines of the Guatamalan culture. We made two stops on our way to Tikal. The first stop was by the river at the Macache Village. People use the river to bathe, wash clothes, and swim. Our second stop was at a gift shop right outside of Tikal National Park. A lot of us bought multiple gifts there in hopes of supporting the local economy.

Once we got to the Mayan Ruins, the day really began. We hiked about 6 miles through the jungle and climbed to the tallest Mayan temple, which was also in Star Wars. We had an amazing tour guide named Noel, who taught us many different aspects of the Mayan culture. The temperature was perfect. It was a bit warm, but the breeze helped keep us cool. We had lunch at El Restaurante in Tikal. One thing we have all noticed is that the food here is AMAZING!!

We are looking forward to tomorrow’s adventure into Independence and seeing the schools! Tomorrow is Belize’s Labor Day, so we have one more day before we are in the schools! We are all so excited about meeting the students, teachers, and learning all about their culture!

Ashli Laeng & LeAnna Jones