A disturbance in the force

Mayan ruins rock. Following are photos of the city complex at Tikal, in the north of Guatemala. Or at least of those parts of the city that have been reclaimed from the jungle.

And yes fellow nerds, if it looks familiar it´s because it also stars as the jungle base on planet Yavin in the first (fourth) Star Wars movie :).

Mayan pyramids. Very cool. Also very Jedi.

Jungle

Many of the (major) pyramids could be climbed. Issues of personal safety or respect for the relics were.. well... not issues.

For example, check out the following series I like to call 'tourists conquer the monument'. Apparently falls are common and deaths are not unknown (imagine this in the wet season!).







Nothing like a race up a pyramid.

But the views from the top were pretty impressive.

Everywhere you looked, ruins rising out of the jungle.

...and ancient Myan shuttle landing pads.


Finally, for perspective on the pyramids, two fellow tourists below...

...and the pyramid atop which you can (just) see them perched.

(also note the crazy ladder arrangement to the left by which the top was accessed)

Tikal was fun.