Guatemala - Seeking the Past in Tikai and Yaxha
5/17/2022 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Joseph explores Guatemala’s Mayan legacy at the temples of Tikal and Yaxha.
Joseph combines the legendary with the natural when he explores Guatemala’s Mayan legacy at the temples of Tikal and Yaxha and then discovers the wonders that wait at the El Quetzal Biotope Nature Reserve.
Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope is presented by your local public television station.
Distributed nationally by American Public Television
Guatemala - Seeking the Past in Tikai and Yaxha
5/17/2022 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Joseph combines the legendary with the natural when he explores Guatemala’s Mayan legacy at the temples of Tikal and Yaxha and then discovers the wonders that wait at the El Quetzal Biotope Nature Reserve.
How to Watch Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> male announcer: WELCOME TO TRAVELSCOPE, WITH JOSEPH ROSENDO, WHERE EACH WEEK, YOU JOIN US AS WE ACCEPT THE WORLD'S INVITATION TO VISIT.
>> Rosendo: TODAY ON TRAVELSCOPE, I GO IN SEARCH OF GUATEMALA'S MAYAN LEGACY IN ITS ANCIENT TEMPLES AND ALONG THE WAY, DISCOVER GUATEMALA'S NATURAL TREASURES.
>> announcer: TRAVELSCOPE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES.
DK CITY AND COUNTRY GUIDES FEATURE EVOCATIVE PHOTOS, HOTEL AND DINING CHOICES, GUIDED WALKS, AND TRAVEL ITINERARIES.
DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES: THE GUIDES THAT SHOW YOU WHAT OTHERS ONLY TELL YOU.
[festive instrumental music] >> Rosendo: MY GUATEMALA HIGHWAY TO ADVENTURE TAKES ME FROM THE WESTERN HIGHLANDS NORTH INTO THE TROPICAL DEPARTMENT OF PETEN.
AND AS WITH EVERY JOURNEY, THERE ARE ALWAYS SOME UNEXPECTED PLEASURES TO DISCOVER ALONG THE WAY.
YOU SHOULD MAKE EVERY PART OF YOUR JOURNEY AN ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE.
AND HERE IN GUATEMALA, THEY HAVE THESE WONDERFUL STANDS WHERE THEY HAVE COCO FRIA, COLD COCONUT.
SEE, SHE JUST MAKES A LITTLE HOLE.
AH, QUE BUENO.
GRACIAS.
OKAY.
MM.
THE SIGN SAYS "COCO BIEN FRIA," VERY COLD, AND IT IS.
IT'S LOVELY.
MUCHAS GRACIAS.
MY NEW FRIEND GARCIA MORALES-- HE'S A HIGHWAY PATROLMAN-- HE JUST SHOWED ME THAT--HOW TO REALLY EAT A COCONUT, YOU KNOW?
YOU TAKE IT OUT OF HERE, AND THEN PUT A LITTLE LIMON, LEMON, A LITTLE BIT OF SAL, LITTLE SALT, AND IT'S BETTER THAN A TEQUILA SHOOTER, REALLY, AND BETTER FOR YOU.
GRACIAS.
WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO THE BIOTOPO DEL QUETZAL BIRD RESERVE.
IT'S IN ONE OF THE LARGEST CLOUD FORESTS IN GUATEMALA.
AND YOU CAN SEE WHY THEY CALL IT A CLOUD FOREST AS WE DRIVE INTO A CLOUD.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE A BIRD.
[indistinct whispering] QUIET, QUIET, BE QUIET.
QUIET, QUIET.
OH, GOD.
OKAY.
IT'S CALLED QUETZAL.
IT'S ON THE MONEY.
IT'S THE NAME OF THE MONEY.
IT'S THE NATIONAL BIRD OF GUATEMALA.
THE MAYAN CHIEFS WORE THEIR FEATHER IN THEIR HEADDRESS.
IT'S EXTREMELY RARE, AND WE'RE AT THE BIOTOPO DEL QUETZAL, WHICH IS A BIRD RESERVE FOR THE VERY FEW THAT STILL EXIST.
MANY OF THEM THRIVE HERE.
UNBELIEVABLY, WE JUST DROVE INTO THE PARKING LOT, AND THERE IS ONE BEHIND US UP IN ITS TREE.
UM, OUR GUIDE HAS BEEN HERE NUMEROUS TIMES AND NEVER SEEN ONE OF THESE BIRDS IN THE WILD.
AND IT'S JUST THE GODS HAVE SMILED ON UPON US TODAY AND HAVE GIVEN US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THIS RARE AND BEAUTIFUL CREATURE.
AND NOW WE'RE GONNA TAKE A WALK IN THE WOODS AND SEE WHAT OTHER WONDERFUL THINGS WE CAN SEE.
THE BIOTOPO DEL QUETZAL IS OVER 2,000 ACRES, AND BESIDES THE QUETZAL BIRD, THE STAR OF THE SHOW HERE, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SPECIES OF BIRDS AND PLANT LIFE AS WELL, OVER 50 SPECIES OF TREES, SOME OF THEM 450 YEARS OLD AND GROW AS TALL AS 120 FEET.
IT'S REALLY A WONDERFUL SURPRISING PLACE TO COME AND VISIT.
THE RESERVE'S OFFICIAL NAME IS THE BIOTOPO MARIO DARY RIVERA.
IT'S NAMED IN HONOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTALIST WHO STRUGGLED TO SAVE THE NATURAL HABITAT OF THE QUETZAL.
HIS EFFORTS PUT HIM IN CONFLICT WITH POWERFUL TIMBER INTERESTS.
THE RESERVE WAS CREATED IN 1976.
HE WAS ASSASSINATED ON DECEMBER 15, 1981.
I STOPPED IN THE 16TH-CENTURY TOWN OF TACTIC, WHERE I MET MARGARITA, WHO INTRODUCED ME TO SOME VERY TALENTED WOMEN.
I'M WITH MARGARITA ISEM.
AND MARGARITA IS THE--BASICALLY THE CONTACT PERSON FOR A COMMUNITY OF WOMEN WEAVERS.
[speaking Spanish] >> [speaking Spanish] >> Rosendo: AND WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING IS, IT'S NOT JUST PUTTING THE THREAD TOGETHER AND MAKING A LONG PIECE OF FABRIC.
THEY'RE EMBROIDERING AS THEY'RE WEAVING, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE TO WATCH.
[speaking Spanish] >> [speaking Spanish] >> Rosendo: OKAY, SO THIS, THEY BOUGHT.
[speaking Spanish] >> [speaking Spanish] >> Rosendo: WOW.
WOW, THEY HAVEN'T EVEN MADE THE CLOTHES THAT THEY'RE WEARING, BECAUSE IT-- IT'S CHEAPER FOR THEM TO BUY CLOTHES, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE DONE.
THE CLOTHES THAT THEY WEAR IS CHEAPER THAN THEM TAKING THEIR--USING-- MAKING THE THINGS FOR THEMSELVES TO WEAR.
SO WHAT THEY DO WITH THE STUFF THEY MAKE, OF COURSE, THEY SELL, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO SURVIVE WITH THE MONEY THEY MAKE FROM THAT.
AND SO THE CLOTHES THEY'RE WEARING IS PROBABLY STORE-BOUGHT, MACHINE-MADE.
[scraping noise] I'M SURE YOU'VE OVERHEARD THE WOMEN SPEAKING WITH EACH OTHER AND-- [speaking Spanish] >> [speaking Spanish] >> Rosendo: [speaking Spanish] MUCHAS GRACIAS.
FROM THE STUNNING TRADITIONAL CRAFTS OF MAN, OR RATHER, WOMAN, I DETOUR OFF THE MAIN ROAD TO THE CANDELARIA CAVES, LOS CUEVAS DE CANDELARIA, A FINE SAMPLE OF NATURE'S HANDIWORK.
THIS IS BEAUTIFUL HERE.
LOOK AT THE TOUCANS.
ELICEO?
>> SI.
BUENOS DIAS.
>> Rosendo: BUENOS DIAS.
>> [speaking Spanish] >> Rosendo: AH, QUE BUENO.
GRACIAS.
>> [speaking Spanish] >> Rosendo: 'CAUSE THEY'RE SMALL LITTLE TOUCANS, THEY'RE CALLED TOUCANCITOS.
>> [speaking Spanish] >> Rosendo: QUE BUENO.
THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S ALMOST PRIMORDIAL IN ITS BEAUTY AND ITS LUSHNESS.
WELL, THIS IS INCREDIBLE.
>> [speaking Spanish] >> Rosendo: THE WOODS, THE RIVER.
THIS IS THE ESCONDIDO RIVER, THE HIDDEN RIVER THAT IS OBVIOUSLY THE MOTHER OF ALL THIS BEAUTY BEHIND US, CUT THROUGH THIS ROCK EONS AGO.
THIS IS THE THIRD LARGEST CAVE IN THE WORLD.
AND ON THIS RIVER HERE, THEY DO ALL SORTS OF ACTIVITIES: KAYAKING, TUBING, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FROM TWO HOURS TO TWO DAYS.
AND MUCH OF IT IS IN CAVE-LIKE FORMATIONS.
IT'S INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL, AND EXTREMELY SURPRISING.
YOU JUST COME UPON THIS, THIS NATURAL BEAUTY.
QUE BONITA.
GRACIAS.
>> [speaking Spanish] >> Rosendo: HOME TO PERHAPS THE LAST MAYAN KINGDOM, TODAY FLORES IS THE GATEWAY TO GUATEMALA'S MAJOR MAYAN RUINS.
MOST VISITORS FLY IN TO BEGIN THEIR JOURNEY TO TIKAL, UAXACTUN, AND THE REST.
AFTER A BRIEF TOUR THROUGH FLORES, I CONTINUE MY GUATEMALA ROAD TRIP INTO AN INCREASINGLY REMOTE LANDSCAPE.
ALL TOURIST ROADS LEAD TO TIKAL, YET MY FIRST STOP IS THE LESSER KNOWN MAYAN CEREMONIAL SITE OF YAXHA.
AH, ERIC GARCIA?
>> HOLA.
BUENOS DIAS.
>> Rosendo: MUCHO GUSTO.
>> WELCOME TO YAXHA.
>> Rosendo: NOW, ONE THING I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR SITE IS, BECAUSE IT'S LESS VISITED BY TOURISTS, WE HAVE MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WILDLIFE.
AND I HEAR SOME.
>> YEAH.
>> Rosendo: CAN WE TRY AND SEE IF WE CAN FIND THOSE HOWLER MONKEYS?
>> HOWLER MONKEYS, YEAH.
>> Rosendo: LET'S GO.
>> IT'S A BIG FAMILY.
>> Rosendo: OH, MY GOD.
OH, MY GOD, LOOK AT THEM.
OH, MY GOD, THEY'RE BIG.
>> YEAH.
LOOK AT HERE.
THIS SIDE, YOU CAN SEE VERY WELL THE FACE.
LOOK AT THAT.
>> Rosendo: YES, HE'S LOOKING RIGHT AT US.
HE'S SAYING, "WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING DOWN THERE?
LEAVE ME ALONE.
WE'RE JUST LAYING HERE IN OUR TREE HAVING A GOOD LIFE."
>> THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN THE SPIDER MONKEYS BECAUSE THESE ARE REALLY LAZY.
90% OF THEIR LIFE, THEY ARE SLEEPING AND-- >> Rosendo: AND HOWLING.
AND HOWLING AT EACH OTHER.
>> OF COURSE.
[growling noise] >> Rosendo: WHAT DO THEY USE THE HOWLING FOR; DO YOU KNOW?
>> USUALLY THEY WITH THE SOUND, THEY MARK THE TERRITORY.
>> Rosendo: THEY'RE MARKING THEIR TERRITORY.
>> [makes barking noise] [monkey growling] >> Rosendo: THEY LIKE YOU, ERIC.
>> THEY KNOW ME VERY WELL.
>> Rosendo: THIS IS MAGNIFICENT.
>> [growling] >> Rosendo: WHAT'S HAPPENING, ERIC?
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
>> THE SPIDER MONKEY'S COMING.
YEAH.
>> Rosendo: LETTING THEM KNOW.
IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS.
YEAH, THERE'S THE SPIDER MONKEY RIGHT IN THE MIST.
>> YEAH, IT'S OVER THERE.
>> Rosendo: AND THEY'RE GIVING HIM SOME WARNING, BUT THEY'RE LETTING HIM KNOW, "STAY AWAY."
>> EXACTLY.
>> Rosendo: [sighs] [chuckles] TALK ABOUT THE MAJESTY OF NATURE.
TO BE SO CLOSE AND TO REALLY FEEL-- >> YEAH, IT IS SPECIAL.
>> Rosendo: YOU REALLY CAN FEEL SOMETHING SPECIAL HERE, FOR SURE.
I THINK THEY'VE BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO LET US VISIT WITH THEM.
I THINK MAYBE WE SHOULD LEAVE THEM ALONE.
>> YEAH.
OKAY, LOOK AT HERE.
WE ARE WALKING INTO THESE DIFFERENT HILLS, MANY STRUCTURES.
>> Rosendo: THESE ARE HIDDEN STRUCTURES?
THEY'RE BURIED STILL?
>> YES.
WE HAVE MANY OF THEM HERE.
>> Rosendo: LIKE A PYRAMID.
>> YEAH.
>> Rosendo: THIS SITE, LIKE TIKAL AND SOME OF THE OTHER MAYAN SITES, WAS MOSTLY USED FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS?
>> FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS, YES.
EXACTLY.
>> Rosendo: WELL, I CAN SEE IT.
IT'S A RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE JUST CLIMBING UP THE STEPS.
>> [laughs] I THINK IT'S BETTER OVER THAT OTHER WAY FOR YOU.
I TOLD YOU, THIS IS MY ENVIRONMENT.
>> Rosendo: YES, YOU'RE AT HOME HERE.
YOU'RE MAYAN.
IT'S A LITTLE-- I DON'T DO THIS EVERY DAY, BUT IT'S BEAUTIFUL UP HERE.
MY GOD!
>> OKAY, JOSEPH, LOOK AT THIS.
THAT IS THE BIGGEST TEMPLE THAT WE HAVE HERE IN YAXHA.
THAT IS OUR NEXT CHALLENGE TODAY.
>> Rosendo: AND I SEE, LIKE, A LITTLE TRIANGLE HERE.
>> EXACTLY.
AND IT PRODUCES THE ECHO HERE IN THIS PLACE.
>> Rosendo: SO WHEN THE SHAMAN WAS AT THE TOP, THEY COULD HEAR HIM DOWN BELOW.
>> YEAH, AND ACCORDING TO ARCHAEOLOGY, THIS IS COLONY OF TIKAL-- >> Rosendo: OH, THIS IS LIKE A SUBURB OF TIKAL, OKAY.
MY GOD.
WELL, HOW FAR DID YOU SAY, TO THERE?
>> IT'S A KILOMETER AND A HALF APPROXIMATELY.
>> Rosendo: WE BETTER GET GOING.
>> OKAY.
CONTINUE.
OKAY, JOSEPH, LOOK AT HERE.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST TEMPLE HERE IN YAXHA.
>> Rosendo: THIS IS THE HIGHEST TEMPLE?
>> THIS IS THE HIGHEST ONE.
>> Rosendo: HOW HIGH?
>> IT'S 35 METERS.
>> Rosendo: ERIC, I DON'T THINK I CAN CLIMB UP THAT.
I DON'T SEE-- >> BY THE OTHER SIDE, WE HAVE WOODEN LADDERS.
>> Rosendo: YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF UP AND DOWN WHEN YOU COME VISIT ONE OF THESE SITES.
IT'S WORTH IT, THOUGH.
[speaking Spanish] >> [speaking Spanish] >> Rosendo: AH!
>> OKAY, JOSEPH, LOOK AT THIS VIEW.
THIS IS THE YAXHA LAKE.
>> Rosendo: IT IS SPECTACULAR.
HOW LARGE IS THAT LAKE?
>> THIS IS ABOUT 20 KILOMETERS.
>> Rosendo: SO THIS WOULD MAKE IT VERY EASY FOR THIS SETTLEMENT TO BE DOING TRADE WITH OTHER SETTLEMENTS ALL THE WAY TO BELIZE.
>> EXACTLY.
EXACTLY.
>> Rosendo: FABULOUS.
WELL, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IT AS MUCH AS THEY KNOW SOME OF THE OTHER SITES, BUT IT'S REALLY SOMETHING THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND TO THEM.
LISTEN TO THE HOWLER MONKEYS.
>> YEAH.
>> Rosendo: SO AMAZING, THE NATURE HERE IS SO BEAUTIFUL.
I LOVE CITIES, BUT I REALLY LOVE BEING IN A NATURAL ENVIRONMENT LIKE THIS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING ME, ERIC.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
AND WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE TIKAL.
>> Rosendo: OOH, I CAN'T WAIT.
AS AN INTRODUCTION TO THE JUNGLE AND THE FOREST SURROUNDING TIKAL, THERE IS THIS CANOPY WALK SLASH ZIPLINE RIDE THAT YOU CAN SAMPLE, AND IT'S A FUN WAY TO GET TO KNOW THE TREES.
OH, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW I GET MYSELF INTO THESE SITUATIONS, BUT IT ALWAYS SEEMS THAT I'M HANGING OFF OR FALLING OR SOMETHING.
OH, WELL, IT'S ALL PART OF THE FUN.
CESAR AND FELIX ARE OUR GUIDES ON THE ZIPLINE.
ALL RIGHT.
>> [speaking Spanish] >> Rosendo: OKAY, SO IF HE TELLS YOU TO SLOW DOWN, SLOW DOWN.
OTHERWISE, ROCK AND ROLL.
AND GO AS FAST AS YOU CAN.
>> [yelps excitedly] >> Rosendo: YOU WILL NOT BE SEEING ME DO THAT.
ALWAYS KEEP YOUR HAND HERE AND PUT THIS WAY BACK.
WAY, WAY, WAY BACK.
SEE?
OKAY.
WHOO-HOO!
AHH!
ALMOST.
ALMOST.
OH.
[grunts] OKAY.
I'LL BE BETTER ON THE SECOND ONE.
OOH, REALLY GREAT VIEW UP HERE.
IT'S EIGHT LINES, ABOUT 1,300 METERS OF FLYING THROUGH THE FOREST, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU MAY NOT SEE WILDLIFE, BUT IT'S A FUN WAY TO GET UP INTO THE TREES.
THERE'S A--THERE, RIGHT THERE.
THERE'S THE SPIDER MONKEY, RIGHT THERE.
RIGHT THERE.
HE JUST CROSSED-- HE'S COMING--THERE HE GOES.
WHOO-HOO!
HE JUST KIND OF GOES THROUGH THERE.
NOW WE'RE PLAYING WITH THE MONKEYS IN THE TOP OF THE TREES.
AND WE'RE AT ABOUT 120 FEET ABOVE THE FLOOR OF THE FOREST.
IT RANGES FROM 90 TO 120, BUT IT'S A THRILL.
OKAY.
WHA-HOO!
TA-DA!
WHOO!
THAT WAS FUN.
THAT'S FUN.
ACTUALLY, IT'S FUN.
WHOO!
WHOO-HOO!
ALL RIGHT.
THE BEST WAS THE LAST.
GRACIAS.
ONCE THE CENTER OF THE LARGEST CITY-STATE IN MESOAMERICA, THE TEMPLES OF TIKAL TOWER ABOVE THE JUNGLE CANOPY.
AS MY GUIDE ERIC AND I MAKE OUR WAY AMONG ITS ANCIENT RUINS, I CAN IMAGINE DISCOVERING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME.
>> OKAY, JOSEPH, LOOK AT HERE.
>> Rosendo: THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.
>> IT'S NICE, HUH?
HERE IN TIKAL, WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 4,000 BUILDINGS.
>> Rosendo: 4,000?
WE'RE NOT SEEING THEM ALL TODAY.
>> NO.
NOT TODAY.
>> Rosendo: HOW MUCH OF IT IS ACTUALLY RESTORED?
>> JUST 15%.
>> Rosendo: 15%.
SO THIS IS THE WAY IT LOOKED WHEN THEY FIRST CAME, AND LITTLE BY LITTLE, THEY'VE BEEN EXTRACTING IT.
WHEN DID THEY DISCOVER IT?
WHEN DID THEY DISCOVER IT?
>> IN 1948, CAME HERE THE FIRST EXPLORERS.
BUT IN 1956, PEOPLE FROM PENNSYLVANIA CAME HERE.
AND THEY STARTED TO CLEAN IT UP HERE AT TIKAL.
AND NOW I'M GONNA SHOW YOU THE MAIN PLAZA.
IT'S THE BEST PLACE HERE.
>> Rosendo: LET'S GO.
>> THE MAIN PLAZA.
THIS IS THE HEART OF TIKAL.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE EXACTLY IN THE CENTER.
OKAY, JOSEPH, LOOK AT THAT.
>> Rosendo: THIS IS THE MAYAN ALTAR.
>> EXACTLY.
THE MODERN MAYAN ALTAR.
>> Rosendo: MODERN MAYAN ALTAR.
>> YES.
THE MAYANS DESCENDANTS CONTINUED TO COME HERE FROM THE HIGHLANDS IN GUATEMALA.
FROM THE YUCATAN-- YEAH, THEY SAID THIS IS A SACRED PLACE FOR THEM.
THEY COME HERE, AND THEY BURN CANDLES; THEY BURN INCENSE BECAUSE THEY SAID THANKS FOR EVERYTHING.
THAT IS THE REAL PURPOSE OF THIS PLACE.
>> Rosendo: SO IT'S A PLACE TO GIVE GRATITUDE.
>> EXACTLY.
>> Rosendo: SO HERE WE ARE AT A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF TEMPLE ONE.
NOW, WHEN DID THESE TEMPLES REALLY BLOOM?
WHEN WERE THEY BUILT?
>> IN THE 7TH CENTURY A.D. WAS THE HEIGHT OF THE CIVILIZATION.
AND ACCORDING TO ARCHAEOLOGISTS, AT THAT DATE, THEY MADE THESE TEMPLES.
>> Rosendo: BUT THE MAYAN HAD BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE THAT.
>> EXACTLY, BUT THEY BUILT IN SMALLER STRUCTURES, BUT IN THAT TIME, THEY MADE THESE.
>> Rosendo: WHEN DID THEY-- WHEN WERE THEY FIRST HERE, THE MAYA?
>> THE 9TH CENTURY BEFORE CHRIST, MAKE A SETTLEMENT HERE.
>> Rosendo: IT'S ALMOST 1,000 YEARS OF CIVILIZATION HERE.
ERIC, YOU'RE HALF MAYAN.
WHAT DOES TIKAL MEAN TO YOU?
>> WELL, IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PLACE BECAUSE I TOLD YOU, MY ANCESTRAL PEOPLE WERE LIVING HERE, AND THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
>> Rosendo: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING ME HERE.
LET'S GO SEE SOME OF THE OTHER TEMPLES.
>> OKAY, LET'S CONTINUE.
>> Rosendo: I'M GLAD I'M WITH YOU, AND YOU KNOW THE SHORT CUTS.
>> I LOVE THIS PLACE.
>> Rosendo: OH, MY GOD.
>> OKAY, LOOK AT THIS VIEW.
>> Rosendo: OH, I AM LOOKING AT THIS VIEW.
MY GOSH.
>> NICE VIEW, HUH?
>> Rosendo: I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
THIS IS SO DRAMATIC.
>> YEAH, BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE TOP OF THIS TEMPLE NUMBER FOUR, THE BIGGEST ONE HERE IN TIKAL.
>> Rosendo: I CAN IMAGINE WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR THE FIRST EXPLORERS TO COME HERE AND SEE JUST THESE OTHER TEMPLES POKING THROUGH THE TOP.
IT MUST HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY SHOCKING, EXCITING, EVERYTHING.
>> BECAUSE WHEN THEY CAME HERE THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS COVERED COMPLETELY.
THEY SAW THE HUGE MOUNTAINS.
WELL, NOW WE KNOW IT'S A TEMPLE.
AND WE CAN ENJOY THIS VIEW.
>> Rosendo: YES, IT'S ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
HOW LARGE IS THE AREA THAT ACTUALLY WAS THE CITY OF TIKAL?
'CAUSE I'M TRYING TO IMAGINE THIS WAS, LIKE, THE NEW YORK OF THE MAYA WORLD.
THIS WAS THE CENTER OF POWER.
SO HOW LARGE IS THE CITY?
>> THIS IS ABOUT 16 SQUARE KILOMETERS.
>> Rosendo: 16 SQUARE KILOMETERS.
WOW.
THOSE HOWLER MONKEYS DON'T EVEN SOUND REAL.
>> YEAH.
>> Rosendo: WHAT A TREASURE.
YOU SHOULD BE PROUD TO BE FROM THE PEOPLE WHO CREATED THIS PLACE.
>> YEAH.
NICE COMBINATION, HUH?
BETWEEN NATURE AND ARCHAEOLOGY.
>> Rosendo: I REALLY AM PRETTY MUCH SPEECHLESS.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME ON MY GUATEMALAN ADVENTURE.
WE ARE YOUNG AMERICANS.
OUR NATIONAL IDENTITY GOES BACK A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN 200 YEARS.
75% OF THE GUATEMALAN PEOPLE, OUR CENTRAL AMERICAN FELLOW AMERICANS, CONSIDER THEMSELVES MAYAN.
AND JUST HERE IN TIKAL, THEIR ROOTS GO BACK TO 900 B.C.
GUATEMALA AND ITS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE HAVE LIVED THROUGH MANY MAN-MADE AND NATURAL DISASTERS.
AND YET THEY'RE STILL HERE, ALIVE AND WELL.
AND THE GREAT THING IS, WHEN YOU VISIT, YOU GET TO SHARE IN THEIR EXPERIENCE.
UNTIL NEXT TIME, THIS IS JOSEPH ROSENDO, REMINDING YOU OF THE WORDS OF MARK TWAIN, "TRAVEL IS FATAL TO PREJUDICE, BIGOTRY, AND NARROW-MINDEDNESS."
HAPPY TRAVELING.
>> announcer: TRAVELSCOPE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES.
DK CITY AND COUNTRY GUIDES FEATURE EVOCATIVE PHOTOS, HOTEL AND DINING CHOICES, GUIDED WALKS, AND TRAVEL ITINERARIES.
DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES: THE GUIDES THAT SHOW YOU WHAT OTHERS ONLY TELL YOU.
TO ORDER A DVD OF TODAY'S SHOW OR ANY OF JOSEPH'S TRAVELSCOPE ADVENTURES, VISIT: OR CALL: VISIT US AT TRAVELSCOPE.NET TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TRAVELSCOPE AND TO JOIN JOSEPH'S WORLDWIDE ADVENTURES ON HIS BLOG.
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US: OR EMAIL US AT: >> Rosendo: JOIN ME NEXT TIME ON TRAVELSCOPE WHEN I TRACE OUR COUNTRY'S BIRTH IN AMERICA'S HISTORIC TRIANGLE: JAMESTOWN, COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG, AND YORKTOWN, VIRGINIA.
Captioning by CaptionMax www.captionmax.com >> [growling] [monkeys growling] >> Rosendo: THEY LIKE YOU, ERIC.
>> THEY KNOW ME VERY WELL.
Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope is presented by your local public television station.
Distributed nationally by American Public Television