Advantages: Breathtaking ruins in vivid jungle packed full of rainbow coloured birds and lively animals. Disadvantages: Violent crime awaits the unwary.
Far north in Guatemala?s El Petén State you will find this country?s must see attraction. Immense Mayan ruins that in 750 AD were once home to perhaps 100,000 people thrust up from the jungle floor and tower high above the steaming canopy. Toucans and parrots flicker through the twisted trees, monkeys bellow and battle and race, and daring coatis rush about in packs circling the day-trippers, eyeing up their picnics for a raid. Fat Petén Turkeys blunder along like drunk peacock gluttons, strutting and squealing amongst the ferns. At Tikal you find yourself surrounded not only by ancient history, but also by the crazy, thriving beauty of the natural world at its most forceful and vibrant.
The Tikal ruins were first seen by Europeans in the late 19th century, lead here by rubber farmers. What these first tourists saw were only ...
Hmatt 03.09.2002 (14.10.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Tikal (Guatemala)
Advantages: Spectacular ruins in a green setting Disadvantages: Becoming more popular and wildlife is suffering
I have visited Tikal twice now - once about 8 years ago and again two years ago. I say this, because I noticed the difference in the amount of birdlife between the two visits. Perhaps I was unlucky, but there seemed to be far fewer birds on this trip. Having said this, I still rate Tikal as one of my favourite ancient sites in the world.
Tikal really ought to be better known. Ok, it takes a special trip to get there - a flight from Guatemala city is the best option (unless you have lots of time and little money, I can't imagine that the overnight bus trip is a good plan), but it is worth it. Yes, the hotels aren't cheap, but this is a pretty special place, and it is good to be able to get into the site nice and early.
Picture the setting - water droplets gently drip off the large green leaves of the jungle as the early morning mist ...
Advantages: A jovial and attentive waiter Disadvantages: None
We were on our Annual Short break to Tavira in Portugal on the Algarve.
The previous September my Brother Rob, and his by far better half Roz had been caught up in the XL Failure so had ended up with a replacement holiday in Cabanas, a small town juts an 8 Euro Taxi ride from Tavira.
So on the Sunday Luch we tripped over to Cabanas, there were six on this jaunt, Rob/Roz Anne and Daughter Sheryl and Jane and I.
Rob/Roz had a Restaurant in mind, Restaurante Fonte (See Bostonianbeer review on it), but alas although owners were there and remembered Rob/Roz they were not open until the evening.
Never mind we had a wander, purused a few menus and settled on the RESTAURANTE O PEDRO.
It looked a small place with about 7 tables out front, as the Sun was shining we asked the waiter outside for tables for 6, at this point we ...
