A must-see list on any itinerary to Guatemala is, of course, Tikal – the remains Mayan civilization at its apogee. Hidden almost complete in jungle, the pyramids of Tikal peek over the canopies to loom imposing over the tropical landscape. The howl of monkeys and calls of myriad species of birds echo off the ancient walls of Tikal like voices calling from an extinguished past (interestingly, the etymology of ‘Tikal’ means “place of voices”) – a reminder of a time long lost. The footfalls of visitors, likewise, echo off the walls to intermix with the sounds of the jungle,vas if the ancient Mayans were attempting to convey the legacy of their culture. I remained for for a few hours wandering the park and ascending a few of the temple pyramids… each time remaining in long silence trying to picture what it must have been like in this metropolis during the peak of Mayan culture. And though the site altogether is not as stunning as Angkor, nonetheless, it holds a beauty all its own that is incomparable.
The beauty of the road less traveled is always the unexpected beauty that takes one astray. As this journey draws to a conclusion, the intended quick stop to the ancient ruins of Tikal lead to the unexpected town of Flores – an islet located in the middle of a lake. The easy quiet and uber small-town feel compelled me to linger yet another day, if only just to swing on a hammock overlooking the placid lake at sunset. 
C H R O N I C L E S . O F . T H I S . F L O A T I N G . L I F E