Saturday 10 March 2012

The 12 day Guatemala circuit (Day 8 - cont.) - Flores island - The 1st of April 2008


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We stopped several times on the way to Péten, though I particularly remember the "forced" stop when driving into this province, which implied having the bus checked through, once local government was worried about fruit being taken in and with it the fear of the Mediterranean fly destroying entire orchards.
























The island of Flores located in the Péten Itza lake (which means "Lake wizard") is the prehispanic city of the Mayas- Itzas, the ancient Tayasal. After the Spanish invasion in 1697 it became Nuestra Señora de los Remedios  y  San Pablo de los Itzae and later in 1831 it changed into its actual name, in honour of an autoctone born on the island, Civilo Flores.

The hotel Maya we stayed at was quite cosy and had a magnificient view over the lake, though we chose to soon head towards the centre of the island, unaware of the interesting colourful little "city" that would soon be unveiled.

















































We didn't stay long, as the next day we were heading fairly early to the archelogical site of Tikal but by the time we got back back to the hotel I felt I had had quite a nice day ...








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