yet another magical day was spent in lanquin last week. we departed from our backpackers paradise El Retiro--which consisted of a cabin on a hill side facing nothing but gorgeous mountains and a river (which we tubed down!!!yay!).
we havent done a lot of tours but this was said to be worth it and everyone we had met at El Retiro were really great so we did. the group was about 10 people and as we got to the cave we were all given a candle which was immediately needed! i have been in a few caves before, but nothing like this! it was small and narrow with all kinds of stalagtites hanging and you were always standing in water--sometimes up to your neck--sometimes swimming in it!! which was tricky with the candle. the guide said that the formations were millions of years old, formed from when this part of the country which is quite inland was covered in ocean! it was really mystical looking with the line of candle flames as we were lead up little mounds and around corners and there were even waterfalls inside this little narrow cave that people could choose to climb up and jump down! not me, oh no. the steep and slippery ladders that we used to scale the rocks into little caves were quite enough to challenge me!
the scariest part of all though was at the end. i noticed that the cave was getting smaller and smaller and that since we were towards the end of the line i noticed we were waiting for people to take turns doing something. doing what? welll... at the end of the narrow section was a hole in the cave which was half filled with a little waterfall and then some air. i looked at jose the guide and said, YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAT?! he wanted me to put my hands where my feet were and dangle at the edge of the hole and drop down---into what, how deep, which direction, he didnt say.
as for me, i think that i held on too long and only realized it cause i was getting pummeled by the waterfall so i let go and was taken down with the water and submerged and came up to...what? darkness? where is everyone? thankfully i realized i was turned around and the other group peeps were up on a ledge nearby all wild eyed and a mix between freaked out and excited!
all in all it was a really good time. after we got out of the pools we had some lunch at a little tienda. nachos consisting of doritos with cheese wiz on it? and then headed over to seumuc champey. spectacular pools of water where a big river is split with half going over a natural limestone bridge forming huge and crystal clear pools and the other half down into a cave below it! truly spectacular!
since i still dont have my pix up from this month take a look at semuc champey here if you want! just open a new window and cut and paste
http://www.jaunted.com/files/3/semuc_champey.jpg
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