I find it so difficult to photograph jungles and rainforests - I can never quite capture the light and dark, the greens, the moisture and coolness all at once. So you will just have to imagine how lush and mystical were the Mayan ruins of Palenque and the village of El Panchan.
Following jungle paths criss-crossed by mountain streams, the ruins were there for you to discover as if you were the first. And they're full of tunnels and winding passages, windows and little rooms, all great fun to climb about. And the birds were spectacular. Royal flycatcher has an incredible crest, but no matter how hard I tried to sound like a sexy female Royal flycatcher he didn't give us a look (google it - amazing). What we did see, however, enough to make me die a happy woman (which I almost did), was a KEEL-BILLED TOUCAN! It flew across the stream not 5m from us. So you all don't care and think I'm a boring idiot to go on about birds but I very nearly fell over I was so excited. So was Andy by the way, which proves this bird stuff is rubbing off on him (bru-ha-ha! 'Bruja' is Spanish word for witch. Interesting). It was like being in a dream. Luckily there is no way of mistaking the Keel-billed toucan, so I have confidently ticked him off in my book. Locals said they are unlikely to see more than one every 10 years, so we do feel very lucky.
The village of El Panchan is an equally remarkable place, a kind of driveway of cabanas through the jungle. And in the middle of it is the most wonderful, sprawling, and not at all incongruous Italian restaurant. The village is full of hippies and fire-twirlers but we managed not to step on any.
I'll leave you with these photos. Then soon I'll write about the beautiful town of San Cristobal de las Casas, where we are now, and which we may never leave.
xx
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