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Exploring the Dark Side: Dark Tourism Sites Visited Around the World
Is dark tourism a growing trend among travelers around the world? Visitors seeking out attractions and locations that are associated with death, tragedy, bizarreness, and the macabre. Dark tourism includes visiting sites that are considered to be unordinary, tragic, and sometimes even scary. I myself have always been fascinated by dark tourism, even before it was a thing. I enjoy learning about the darker side of history and realizing that travel is not always pretty and perfect. This post we’ll take a look at some of the dark tourism sites I’ve visited around the world. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! ***Warning*** There are images and topics in this post some viewers might find disturbing. What is Dark Tourism? To me, dark tourism is defined as visiting attractions and places that involve some sort of tragedy or unusual place of interest. Everyone has their own version of what dark tourism truly is. To some it might be visiting a war museum and to others it can mean visiting a site of immense tragedy. Dark tourism generally involves traveling to places or visiting attractions that are associated with death, catastrophe, haunted places, locations where horrific events occurred, or even places with bizarre artifacts and unusual oddities. When it comes down to it, every traveler has visited a dark tourist spot whether it be the catacombs in Paris and ruins of Pompeii in Italy or the atomic bomb dome in Hiroshima. Dark Tourism Sites We’ve Visited I’ve always been fascinated by dark tourism. I’d say I have morbid curiosity when it comes to traveling. I enjoy learning and seeing as much as possible, both good and bad. Traveling is not always pretty. Many people travel to Poland just to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau or maybe to the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology to catch a glimpse of Ötzi the Iceman. I’ve found myself traveling to destinations specifically for a dark tourist attraction, like the Mummies of Guanajuato in Mexico or paying a visit to the Yde Girl in Assen, Netherlands. If you are like me and curious about dark tourism, here is a list of dark tourism sites around the world that I have personally visited broken down by region. Asia Cambodia Siem Reap Killing Fields The Siem Reap Killing Fields are a tragic reminder about Cambodia’s dark history under the Khmer Rouge regime. Located between downtown Siem Reap and Angkor Wat is the Killing Fields of Siem Reap and this museum serves as a memorial to the victims of the Cambodia genocide. Today, visitors can go to the Killing Fields and learn about the atrocities that took place here. Some of the information and depictions are pretty graphic. There is well here on the site where upwards to 50 to 60 bodies were recovered from. There is also a mass grave site. Japan Aokigahara Forest (Japan’s Suicide Forest) When it comes to dark tourism, Japan’s Aokigahara Forest or informally known as Japan’s “Suicide Forest” is probably one of the world’s most famous sites. Known around the world as the “Suicide Forest,” Aokigahara Forest unfortunately received this name due to the high volume of suicides that occur at this location. Aokigahara Forest has been the subject of many horror films, folklore, and stories. Today, anyone can visit Japan’s “Suicide Forest.” Honestly, the forest is quite beautiful. There are hiking trails throughout the forest and visitors can even explore Narusawa Ice Cave and Wind Cave. Okinawa Battle Sites During the Battle of Okinawa, anywhere from 12,000 Americans and over 100,000 Japanese lost their lives. The island of Okinawa has a long history, unfortunately WWII is one of the most notable historical events that occurred on and around Okinawa. Some of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific occurred on Okinawa. There are many sites in Southern Okinawa related to the war that can be visited today. I’m surprised dark tourists don’t flock to Okinawa. Some of the famous sites include Hacksaw Ridge, the Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters, and the Peace Memorial Museum. The Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters is not to be missed especially if seeking out the darker side of history. Visitors can walk through the tunnels and view some of the special rooms. One room that stood out to me had holes all over the walls and ceiling from a grenade that was used by an officer to end their life. Hiroshima and Nagasaki Besides visiting Aokigahara Forest, dark tourists will most likely find themselves visiting either the cities of Hiroshima or Nagasaki. Both cities were devastated by atomic bombs during WWII and there are still remnants remaining around each city left as a reminder of the devastation that took place. If visiting Hiroshima, you can pay a visit to the hypo center, A-Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park and Museum, Honkawa Elementary School, and Bank of Japan. Although Nagasaki is less visited then Hiroshima, there are many sites related to the war that are of interest. Visitors can go to the Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park. Sokushin-Butsu (Buddhist Mummies in Japan) Japan might be one of the last countries you’d think would have mummies. But in northern Japan in Yamagata Prefecture, there are Sokushin-Butsu, which is a Buddhist Mummy. I am definitely interested in visiting dark tourist sites in Japan. I visited the Buddhist Temple of Dainichibou while on a road trip through the Prefecture of Yamagata. This temple has the mummified remains of Shinnyokai-Shounin. According to information at the temple, Shinnyokai-Shounin was a Buddhist Monk during the Edo period who became a Sokushin-Butsu. These monks sacrificed their lives and practiced ascetic disciplines according to the temple. The monks would not eat grain, instead they ate nuts, tree roots, bark, wild plants, among other natural edibles. They then fasted on saltwater for 42 days and drank Urushi (An ingredient in lacquer) basically beginning the mummify process while still alive. After self mummification, Shinnyokai-Shounin buried himself alive. Again, according to the temple, after 1,000 days of being buried, the body would be exhumed. Today, visitors can go to Dainichibou and see the mummified body of Shinnyokai-Shounin sitting there. You can partake in rituals. Just be warned, photographs of the mummy are not allowed. Vietnam Hoa Lo Prison No trip to Hanoi, Vietnam is complete without a visit to Hoa Lo Prison. Vietnam has many dark tourist sites, mainly around Ho Chi Minh City but Hanoi has its fair share like the Vietnam Military Museum or the notorious Hoa Lo Prison. Hoa Lo Prison, or “The Hanoi Hilton,” is a historical prison that was built in the late 1800’s during the French occupation. First, the prison was built to house political prisoners. Then it was used by the Vietnamese as a prison for US prisoners of war. During the French occupation, Hoa Lo Prison was a place of nightmares. Prisoners were kept in horrendous conditions where sickness spread, food was poor, and the prison was at max capacity. Europe Croatia Froggyland More bizarre then dark is the Museum of Froggy Land in Split, Croatia. While exploring Split, we stumbled upon this museum by accident and of course our curiosity led us to visit one of the more bizarre museums I’ve ever visited. Froggy Land is a museum in Split, Croatia. The museum has taxidermied frogs on display. Each display has several taxidermied frogs that appear to be doing human day to day activities like going to school, working in a shop, or getting into some sort of trouble. According to the Froggy Land website, the collection consists of 507 stuffed frogs. Germany Berlin Wall The Berlin Wall was a 155 Kilometer (96 Miles) long wall that separated West Berlin from East Berlin. The Berlin Wall was nearly built overnight on August 13, 1961 separating neighborhoods and even families in an instant. The Berlin Wall was heavily guarded and guards were ordered to shoot on sight if anyone attempted to flee into Western Germany. Overall, around 140 people lost their lives before it finally fell on November 9, 1989. Today, there are portions of the Berlin Wall that still stand in certain parts of the city. Medieval Crime Museum (Rothenburg Torture Museum) Who doesn’t love a good torture museum? Well, the Medieval Crime Museum in Rothenburg ob der Tauber has thousands of exhibits related to history, humiliation, punishment, and torture. You can spend hours at this museum viewing the shame masks, torture devices, and other historical artifacts. There is even an Iron Maiden on display and various types of axes and swords used for beheadings. Italy Capuchin Crypt in Rome In Rome, visit the Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini. This is the site of the Museum and Crypt of the Capuchin Friars. The museum itself was interesting, you get an audio guide and learn about the Capuchin Friars. But the reason I visited the church was to check out the crypt. The crypt is decorated with the skeletal remains of over 4,000 Capuchin friars. In the crypt there are interesting displays from bone chandeliers to wall art made from the bones of the Capuchin friars. Rome Colosseum If you think of the Roman Colosseum, you probably would not think of it as a dark tourist site. In my opinion, it fits the whole concept of “Dark Tourism” based on the historical events that took place. Think about it, you are visiting a monumental site known around the world, the Roman Colosseum which was home to brutal gladiator battles, public executions, and animal hunts where at times tens of thousands of animals were slaughtered. The colosseum although impressive is kind of a symbol of violence and human suffering. Netherlands Bog Bodies of Europe I took a road trip from northern Germany to Assen, Netherlands, just to visit the Drents Museum and see the Yde Girl. The Netherlands has plenty of dark tourist sites and seeing the Yde Girl, a Bog Body is one of them. Bog bodies are mummified bodies that have been discovered in bogs, primarily in Northern Europe to include the United Kingdom. Bog bodies can be thousands of years old. Many of them, so well preserved they have been mistaken for recent murder victims. The Yde Girl is a well preserved bog body at Assen’s Drents Museum, in the Archaeology Department. The Yde Girl was dug up in the Netherlands in 1897. Found with a noose around her neck, which appeared to be quite common among other bod bodies, she most likely died from being a victim of sacrifice or from wounds inflicted of being tortured. Veenhuizen: National Prison Museum Another dark tourist site in the Netherlands is the National Prison Museum in Veenhuizen. We stopped at the prison museum while en route to the beautiful city of Groningen. What we know and see today as the National Prison Museum in Veenhuizen was at one point an actual prison housing criminals. The prison is pretty interactive and starts off with torture and forms of punishments that date back hundreds of years. From here you can walk through the rest of the prison. Visitors can see what cells where like, get to know, more like read about some of the prisoners that stayed here in the past, and learn a little about the Netherlands past and current legal systems. Poland Auschwitz-Birkenau One of the most intense, sad, and chilling places I’ve ever visited has to be Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland. Auschwitz is huge, you can spend most the day here walking around the concentration camp. Visitors will see the “Arbeit Macht Frei” sign, Gate to Auschwitz, crematoriums, barracks, the “death wall,” gallows, and even the site where Josef Mengele performed medical experiments. Some of the rooms that really hit me hard were the evidence rooms showing piles among piles of items that
San Ignacio, Belize
Adventure – To me, this is the one word that describes the country of Belize. Travelers come to Belize to experience an adventurous vacation whether it be exploring caves, hiking the jungles, taking a 4×4 expedition, or just tubing down rivers. Belize is a small country that makes up one of the eight countries in Central America. Belize is bordered by Mexico and Guatemala and English is the official language. You won’t find many Spanish Speaking people here like the other surrounding countries but many Belizeans speak creole which is a language that has been developed by mixing different languages into one. Belize is a relatively new country, at least the name Belize is newer since prior to 1981 it was known as British Honduras. Belize is generally divided into 5 separate regions: Belize District, Cayo, Northern Belize, Stann Creek, and Toledo. A majority of the visitors to include myself will head to the Cayo District for a few days to explore the jungle then many might head back to Belize City to hop on a ferry to one of the nearby islands. The Cayo District is where my adventure really started and the main hoping point here is the town of San Ignacio. Getting to San Ignacio San Ignacio is located in the jungles of the Cayo District. Belize does not have the best infrastructure or highway networks, so getting to San Ignacio does take a little bit of planning but it’s really quite simple. There is a small airport in San Ignacio that has flights to and from Belize City. We met a couple on their Honey Moon here in Belize, and they flew and used the airport and said everything worked as expected without issues, so there is that option. The cheaper option and the option we opted for was to hop on a bus that went from Belize City to San Ignacio. Think of the “Yellow” school buses we use in the States. These are similar to the shuttles used for transportation. The journey is about 2.5 hours and isn’t the most comfortable journey but it is interesting and one heck of an experience. All the buses will make a stop in the capital city of Belmopan before being directed to San Ignacio or other destinations. Here is what we did to arrive at the bus station from the Philip Goldson International Airport (Belize City Airport). Set aside $50, this will pay for the taxi to and from the bus station from the airport, $25 each way. A taxi is basically the only way to get here from the airport. Once you arrive at the bus station, buses leave toward San Ignacio every 30 minutes so no worries if one pulls out once you arrive. Bus fares are 7 Belizean Dollars which equates to about $3.50 USD. You pay there and wait for one of the buses to start boarding. Generally, it is first come first serve and you can sit anywhere on the bus. The bus will make frequent stops between Belize City and San Ignacio but all buses will stop in Belmopan for about 15 minutes before continuing on to San Ignacio. To get back to Belize City, buses pick up is the same location as the drop off area and it mimics the same route back to Belize City. Many locals ride the bus but most travelers especially budget travelers use it as well. We met many interesting people while taking the bus. We met a guy from Canada who goes around the country planting trees. We also met a group of Germans from my hometown, Wiesbaden who were traveling around Central and South America for months. It’s funny, since San Ignacio is not very big and many people have similiar itineraries, we ran into many of the same people every day we even made friends with a Portuguese/Canadian couple because we saw them on a few tours, in town at restaurants, and even ended up in Cay Caulker at the end of the trip. We went out together for drinks and had an incredible time and made great travel memories with them. San Ignacio, Places to Discover and Eat! San Ignacio is a relatively small town in the middle of Belize. Although small, San Ignacio is a great base station for travelers looking for an adventure and take part in day trips and fun exploration. The Cayo district is full of Ancient Mayan Ruins, sacred caves, lush jungles, and is close to the border of Guatemala. San Ignacio is pretty walkable so I wouldn’t recommend renting a car or anything and most tour companies will provide transportation anyway. Many of the restaurants, shops, markets can be found in the downtown area while other restaurants and attractions are a short walk from the down town area. We stayed directly downtown at the Maya Bella hotel. Although most people come to San Ignacio for day trips away from the city, there are a few fun attractions to do within the city that should not be missed. Jill and I had a full free day here without any tours to exploring the town and we have a few hours after the tours to explore and eat. Here are some of the fun attractions and activities to do within San Ignacio. AJAW Chocolate & Crafts – We stumbled upon this place and went inside since there was a big advertisement for chocolate tours and we can’t pass up learning about and eating chocolate. It was not quite what we expected, in fact it was much more interesting and better then we expected. We got to watch and partake in making and eating traditional Mayan chocolate. The staff showed us the whole process from extracting the cacao bean and turning it into a paste using traditional stones to grind the beans. We then made chocolate drinks from the paste with hot water. At first you could taste how bitter real chocolate really is. Then by adding natural sweetener to it like honey it becomes more familiar to our taste buds. Trying the chocolate at various stages and learning about it here was a phenomenal experience. The owner here who presented the tour to us was of Mayan descent and we ended up learning a lot about the Mayan people and their cultures. [envira-gallery id=”3171″] Cahal Pech – Cahal Pech is a arge Mayan site just outside of the downtown area. We walked here from our hotel in just a few minutes. We started our day early here and arrived at 7 am when they opened. We practically had the whole site to ourselves for several hours. I’ve been to several Mayan sites around Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico, and this one is ranked up there with my favorites. We freely explored the ruins on our own pace, you can even climb the ruins and walk around the structures without issues. This site is not commercialized like some of the bigger ones making it even more enjoyable. There is an interesting museum here and I think we paid around $5 USD to visit the site. Cahal Pech is a must! [envira-gallery id=”3180″] We spent a few nights in San Ignacio and we love to explore a new place by sampling local restaurants and trying new things. Here are some of the restaurants and dessert shops we tried that I think are worth trying. Erva’s Restaurant – Located downtown this small restaurant serves up fresh cuisine from the area. They had outdoor seating, which I generally prefer. I ordered the fried fish fillet and Jill had coconut fish. Both fish dishes were cooked nicely and we were very pleased with our first meal in Belize. Guava Limb Cafe – This restaurant was probably our favorite. It caught my attention right away, the decoration and atmosphere was just so welcoming. This restaurant was two-storied. For dinner, I had the jerk chicken quesadilla and Jill had a traditional panini, both meals were excellent. They also had great looking cake here for dessert, have to save room for cake next time. Ko Ox Han Nah – This restaurant was a popular one, we came at the right time because shortly after, there was a long line. Jill had the lamb burger and I had pork cutlets with coconut rice. The flavors here were unique to us, we really enjoyed it. Sweet Ting – Passed by this cute little cake shop on the way to downtown from Cahal Pech. This place was tiny, but there were two tables inside and cakes in the display case. We purchased a couple slices of mocha rum cake and some cookies. Yumm Yumm Yumm! The Ice Cream Shoppe – Who doesn’t love a good ice cream? Especially in new places with interesting and tropical flavors. I kept hearing the term soursop and saw it as an ice cream flavor and had to try. Soursop is a dark green prickly fruit and the inside is a whitish color. It’s super refreshing and tasted especially yummy in ice cream. Day Trips from San Ignacio Day trips are why tourists come to San Ignacio in the first place. I’ve said it many times, San Ignacio is where everyone comes to before going on single and multi day excursions. Honestly, there is no way anyone can fit in all the excursions they want in one trip. We planned on two, but after spending time here I can say there are at least 5 other trips I want to take that I didn’t even know about, looks like I’ll have to go back! We Here are the two trips we went on that were literally life changing! We booked our two day trips online prior to our visit. The tour company we went with is called MayaWalk Tours. They were incredible on both trips. You can go to their shop downtown to book tours, we just thought we have to book in advance, which is not the case but it can’t hurt especially during tourist season. They provide transportation, lunch, equipment if needed, and are full of informative information! The two tours we booked were the ATM Cave Tour and the Caracol Mayan Ruins and Rio Frio Cave. Other tours they do include trips to Tikal, Guatemala, and other nearby Mayan Sites, they also do cave tubing, horseback riding, birdwatching, and other cultural tours. Actun Tunichil Muknal Tour – Otherwise known as the ATM Cave, was literally one of the best experiences in my life. I wrote a whole blog post about this, so I won’t go into to much detail. But If you only have time for one tour, I highly recommend doing the ATM Cave. This cave is famous for the Crystal Maiden, who is believed to be a young female sacrificial victim. There are other skeletal remains and artifacts throughout the cave. The main draw of the cave beside the Crystal Maiden, is getting to the cavern where she rests. For the most part, you have to swim your way through narrow alley ways of the cave, climb rocks, and slide down natural water slides. Cameras are not allowed here as people previously have damaged the skeletons with their cameras and it’s just a safety hazard, after exploring the cave, I completely understand why. Before getting to the cave and after exiting the group has to walk a bit to get to the actual cave through lush rainforest, we saw a fresh jaguar paw print in the mud! Caracol Mayan Ruins – Expect rain if you are in the rain forest. Getting to and from Caracol was an adventure in itself. We lucked out as we were the only visitors that day and got a private tour with a guide through MayaWalk. Our tour guide Darryl, was great and used his own 4×4 to get us safely there. Caracol is tricky to reach, the roads are basically mud and everyone has to depart at a certain time and get escorted
Day Trip to Teotihuacan, Mexico
When you think of Pyramids, most people will likely imagine the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Many people don’t realize that the country of Mexico is home to ancient pyramids and civilizations that in my opinion rival those of Ancient Egypt. In fact, the Americas have more pyramids then the rest of the world combined. One of the largest archaeological sites in the America’s is Teotihuacan (Pronounced “Tay-Oh-Tay-Wah-Khan”) located just 30 miles (50 Km) from one of my favorite cities, Mexico City. A day trip to Teotihuacan is very doable from Mexico City and highly recommended. Getting to Teotihuacan from Mexico City You would think getting to Teotihuacan from one of the world’s biggest cities would be difficult, but in reality it was fairly simple and straight forward. Sure, you can take a taxi or Uber to the pyramids, but it will cost you. Jill and I found the cheapest and more adventurous way was to take the bus. The buses were actually quite nice and reliable. We did our research beforehand, and found many great sources even with images of how to find the main bus station, which gate to look for and what bus to get on, we wrote these helpful directions down and without any issues we arrived at the great city of Teotihuacan as they opened for the day, We stayed in the Zocalo, or historic center of Mexico City and hopped on the subway at the Palacio de Bellas Artes and headed toward the bus station. Look for Terminal Central del Norte or Autobuses del Norte Metro Station. Once at the station, head across the street to the bus terminal and walk to the end to Gate 8. At this gate you can buy your ticket, I recommend purchasing round trip tickets, they are only about 100 pesos or $6. Buses leave every twenty minutes and drop you off right at the entrance of Teotihuacan, once you leave the park at the end of the day, come to the same spot the bus dropped you off at and make your way back to Mexico City, that’s it! History of Teotihuacan Not much is known about Teotihuacan prior to the arrival of the Aztec’s. Archaeological evidence suggests that Teotihuacan started around 400 BC, and reached its height in 400 AD. At this time Teotihuacan was the most powerful city in Mesoamerica with a population of 200,000 inhabitants. Sometime after the year 800 A.D. Teotihuacan was abandoned for unknown reasons and was not discovered until the Aztec’s discovered the city. The reason for the inhabitants abandoning the city could be several reasons to include the spread of disease, drought, lack of resources, or conflicts between other tribes or groups of people. Once the Aztecs discovered the city in the 1400’s, they were so amazed by the sheer mass of this city and the pyramids they named it Teotihuacan which translates to “The Place Where the Gods Where Created.” Entrance Prices and Information The entrance price to visit Teotihuacan cost 80 pesos which is just under $4. The ticket to the park includes the entire archaeological site of Teotihuacan to include the Cultural Museum. The ticket is good for the entire day. Visitors can leave the park and re-enter, so feel free to leave the park to have lunch at La Gruta. I found this site, Archaeology Travel to have helpful and additional information regarding entrance fees and general information. Teotihuacan – The Palaces, Plazas, and Temples Covering a space of roughly 12 square miles, Teotihuacan is a massive site. The site hosts nearly 2,000 buildings and structures. The main road (The Avenue of the Dead) that goes through the city is 1.5 miles long. The most prominent structures along the Avenue of the Dead are the Pyramid of the Moon, Pyramid of the Sun, The Citadel, and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl (Feathered Serpent). The Pyramid of the Sun – The largest pyramid in Teotihuacan, and third largest pyramid in the whole world. The Pyramid of the Sun stands 216 feet tall (66 m) and has a base of 720 by 760 feet or 220 by 230 meters. This pyramid was most likely built around 200 AD. There are roughly 250 stairs to the top, which is open to the public, meaning anyone can hike to the top! Here you get great views of the entire archaeological site. The purpose of this temple remains unknown today, but archaeologists continue to discover new findings and clues to this civilizations past. Recently, a tunnel was discovered under the Pyramid of the sun. As of now, not a whole lot of artifacts have been found or reasons to why these tunnels exist. Pyramid of the Moon – This pyramid is the second largest pyramid at Teotihuacan and was created between the years 100 and 450 AD. The Pyramid of the Moon is located at the end of the Avenue of the Dead. The Pyramid of the Moon was most likely the site of a ritual temple, created to worship the Goddess of water, fertility, and creation. The Pyramid of the Moon can be climbed as well, from here you get stunning views of the Avenue, surrounding pyramids, and Pyramid of the Sun. Once at the top, keep an eye out and look for several mounds that are hill-like covered in natural vegetation, these are smaller pyramids and structures that have yet to be excavated. The Temple of the Feathered Serpent – The Temple of the Feathered Serpent is the third largest pyramid at Teotihuacan and to me the most impressive at least when it comes to architecture and design. This pyramid is unique because the carved sculptures that can be seen on the each side of the staircase. This temple can be found on the southern end of the Avenue of the Dead, somewhat close to the entrance. I read an article that said the eyes on the serpents were constructed so that obsidian can be placed within them, once the sun hit them, the eyes would glimmer. Apparently during excavations in the 1980’s, over a hundred sacrificial victims were found lying beneath the temple. Outside of visiting the pyramids, visitors can walk the length of of the Avenue of the Dead and discover the many plazas and other complexes. There are many side trails that take you to various complexes that are worth visiting. At the time, murals and paintings were abundant on each building and to this day some of these paintings can still be seen on some of the buildings around the plazas. Many of the complexes around the plazas are accessible and have boardwalks. For a day trip to Teotihuacan, I recommend visiting the Pyramid of the Sun first and then the Pyramid of the Moon. On the way back to the Pyramid of the feathered Serpent near the entrance, take your time and explore all of the plazas and structures to the left and right of the Avenue of the Dead. Don’t Leave Without Visiting la Gruta Restaurant If it weren’t for doing my research and reading other blogs, I would have never found or even heard of La Gruta, or the “Cave Restaurant” behind Teotihuacan. La Gruta can be found by exiting near the back parking lot near the museum and back side of the Pyramid of the Sun. Walk about 650 ft and you will see yourself looking down into the cave and seeing the lovely restaurant. Like most places in Mexico, the prices were very reasonable. We ordered a sampler plate and a huge bowl of freshly made guacamole, I think the waitress said they use 5 avocados for each order. Walking all day in Teotihuacan under the sun, you should have worked up quite the appetite, so enjoy! No day trip to Teotihuacan is complete without a stop at La Gruta!
Visit Tikal, Guatemala – The Ancient Mayan City
Tikal, Guatemala, one of the greatest ancient cities of the Mayan world. This famous archaeological site is well known, yet hidden to many tourists because of it’s secluded location. Tikal is located in northern Guatemala within the Maya Biosphere Reserve. The most notable features of Tikal are the tall and slender pyramids surrounded by lush jungles and the abundance of wildlife. You can explore the site for days and continue to find new ruins, many which have yet to be excavated. There are thousands of structures that have been uncovered and only a small percentage of the ruins have been thoroughly explored. The Mayan Civilization at Tikal It is believed that settlements started in the area of Tikal, Guatemala as early as 900 B.C. until its abandonment in 900 A.D. At its prime, this site potentially supported a maximum population of 100,000 people. During the the classic period at about 200 A.D. to roughly 900 A.D. Tikal was the powerhouse in the area with a powerful military, economy, and politics. Tikal was a major contributor in regards to trading within Central America. Goods found at Tikal included several natural resources from the Coastal Caribbean areas and several artifacts were traced back to the ancient city of Teotihuacan, in Central Mexico. In fact, Teotihuacan influenced the Mayans so much, archaeologists found depictions carved in stone at Tikal, of Gods that were worshiped in Teotihuacan. You can read more about Teotihuacan in a post I wrote about my trip here from Mexico City. All good things must come to an end. Well not entirely, but at the end of the Classic Period it is believed that Tikal and most major Mayan cities were abandoned. The major question is why? There are several hypothesis, some more valid then the others. Drought, illness, stripping of natural resources, invasion, etc.. I tend to think overpopulation and drought may have caused these advanced civilizations to seek new areas. I know the Mayans were not entirely wiped out, around Guatemala and surrounding countries, a high percentage of the population has Mayan heritage, in fact there are 22 Mayan languages still spoken throughout Guatemala. Getting To and Exploring Tikal Guatemala Tikal is definitely not the easiest site to reach. I provided a map above as a reference to where Tikal is located in Northern Guatemala. If you fly into Guatemala, via Guatemala City (Guatemala’s capital), then you have quite the drive ahead of you, 9 hours on average. You can also fly from Guatemala City to Flores, which is the main town before Tikal. Flores has hotels, hostels, restaurants, bars, etc.. I also found that you can access Tikal from the Belize side. This can be achieved by taking a bus ride to San Ignacio from Belize City. From Flores you still need to find transportation to Tikal which is about 1.5 hours away. I went here with a school group and we had our own personal bus. The great plus about Tikal, are the hotels right outside the park and Tikal is huge, I highly recommend more then one day here. Once arriving at Tikal, there are no 5 Star resorts here, well at least when I was there back in 2012. Tikal, Guatemala has three convenient lodges right outside the park. There are a few restaurants, a gift shop, and a museum as well. Within the park there are a few bathrooms, but plan accordingly and bring water. The jungle gets hot, humid, and muggy! When arriving at the park and paying the $20 entrance fee, you are free to walk around and explore the park by yourself! People at the main entrance might hassle you about paying them to take you on a tour, but you are free to tell them no and just enter. I highly recommend starting at the Great Plaza, and then branch out from there. Unfortunately, you are no longer able to climb the pyramids, to many tourists have slipped and tumbled down the steep stairs to their deaths! I stated, earlier that Tikal has thousands of structures within the park. They are scattered around, so distances can be quite long between sites not to mention you will encounter wildlife everywhere, so take your time, and be aware of your surroundings. Once you get away from the main plaza, Tikal is basically all yours. There is an option to do a sunrise tour. You can book this tour at the entrance or online. The tour started at 4-ish in the morning. After meeting our guide, we hiked through the jungle in complete darkness to Temple IV, which is the tallest of the temples, and yes you can climb the wooden stairs to the top. From here, you wait for the sunrise. Unfortunately, for my group it was cloudy and drizzly, so no sunrise, but it still looked awesome! You can hear various birds and howler monkeys off in the distance. From Temple IV, you get that iconic view of Tikal, where you see Temple of the Great Jaguar and Temple II rising above the rain-forest canopy. The view here is so famous, it was used as a filming location in Star Wars. Temple V was my favorite, just because the sheer size of it was so impressive! The Temples Temple I (Temple of the Great Jaguar) – This pyramid is at the heart of Tikal in the Main Plaza. This pyramid was dedicated to Jasaw Chan K’awil and he was buried here in AD 734. This temple is 47 meters (154 ft). Temple II (Temple of the Masks) – This temple stands 38 meters (125 ft) tall and is adjacent from Temple I. Temple II was built and dedicated to the wife of Jasaw Chan K’awil, although a tomb has yet to be found of her. Temple III (Temple of the Jaguar Priest) – Temple III is 55 meters (180 ft) tall. This temple is said to be where the tomb of King Dark Sun was laid to rest. Temple IV – Temple IV is the tallest temple within Tikal at 70 meters (230 ft). Visitors can take the stairs to a viewing point on this temple. From here, you can see the tops of other temples pocking out of the jungle canopy. Temple V – Temple V, my favorite temple is considered the second largest structure in Tikal. This temple is 57 meters (187 ft). Temple VI (Temple of the Inscriptions) – This temple is most known for its roof comb, which is the structure on the roof. The roof comb is 12 meters and sticks out of the ground. This temple was newly discovered so a lot of it has yet to be excavated. The Colorful, Vibrant, and Beautiful Wildlife! From all the places I’ve traveled to, Tikal has had the most abundant and impressive wildlife. In the span of a few days, I saw crocodiles, various types of monkeys, bats, coatimundi’s, foxes, and birds. Not just your average robin or jay, I saw parrots, toucans, large birds of prey, and the most gorgeous and vibrant turkeys. Below are some of the animals I encountered while exploring the jungles of Tikal. Howler Monkey – At Tikal, you are likely to hear the roar of the howler monkey. The howler monkey is everywhere in this park, I saw them daily in several locations. The howler monkey gets its name from its loud roar that can be heard throughout the jungle canopy. Typically, the roar comes from the alpha males, generally at dawn and dusk, but honestly it can be heard throughout the day. Spider Monkey – The Geoffrey’s Spider Monkey or simply Spider Monkey, is another common species of primate that is found throughout Tikal. These monkeys are most notable by their appearance. They have very lanky limbs. Their arms and longs are long as is their prehensile tail, which is basically a fifth limb. Coatimundi (Coati) – The Coati is a a relative of the common raccoon. The Coati’s most notable features are its long snout and bushy ringed tail. The coati can be found resting high in trees or on the grounds of the rainforest searching for food. Unlike the raccoon who is mainly nocturnal, the Coati is active both during the day and at night. Gray Fox – I didn’t expect to sit there on a temple in the main plaza at sunset and see a little fox running around the steps at Temple II in front of me. Sure enough, it was a gray fox and they are pretty active in Tikal. This species of fox is found in both North and South America. What is most unique about the gray fox, is their ability to climb trees. Crocodile – Near the entrance of Tikal was a lagoon that I walked daily. There are signs posted warning visitors that crocodiles call this lagoon home. Almost every day, I saw crocodiles here in the water. Doing some research, the crocodiles here are known as Morelet’s Crocodiles, otherwise known as Mexican Crocodiles. This species of crocodile is generally smaller then other species of crocodile. Ocellated Turkey – Perhaps the most surprising animal I saw at Tikal National Park was the Ocellated Turkey. I am familiar with the looks of farm raised and wild turkey in North America. When I happened to first see an Ocellated Turkey, I could hardly believe what I saw. This species of Turkey is primarily found in Yucatan, Mexico as well as in parts of Belize and Guatemala. Their most notable features are their vibrant green and brown colors as well as the orange “bubbles” located on their heads. Parrots – Tikal, is a bird watchers paradise. I saw so many various species of birds. Other then the ocellated turkey and toucans, the parrots were among my favorite birds to watch at Tikal. The specific type I saw here is the Red-lored Amazon. I saw this species daily, whether it be high up in the canopy or flying through the open sky. They are a relatively small parrot but have a beautiful green body with a red forehead and yellowish cheeks. Toucans – I spotted two types of Toucans at Tikal. The Keel-Billed Toucan and a type of Aracari Toucan. I mainly saw the toucans flying above the canopy, especially when climbing the stairs to Temple IV. Bats – Bats are found throughout planet earth. Honestly, this was my first time seeing them up close. I spotted several bats in the inside of a few temples around Tikal. I believe the bats pictured above that I took in the temple are called Jamaican Fruit Bats. Although rare, the jaguar does roam these jungles! Other animals you might encounter include tapirs in the lagoons. I saw a crocodile in the lagoon but the tapir was not visible, although our guide saw one the previous day. One of the most fascinating animals I thought were the leaf cutter ants. These ants form little highways throughout the jungle floor and the highways are very apparent! When visiting Tikal, pay close attention to your surroundings, you never know what types of wildlife you will encounter!!
2 Days in Guanajuato, Mexico
Guanajuato is one of Mexico’s 31 states. Surprisingly there is a city in Guanajuato named…Guanajuato. It lies about 240 miles (390 KM) northwest of Mexico City. The terrain around Guanajuato is very hilly making this town very unique as it is built throughout the valley. Most alley and walk ways are narrow and quite steep. Another unique feature about Guanajuato are the roads, which are primarily underground. Guanajuato got its start in the mid 1500’s after silver was discovered in the area. Today, the whole town of Guanajuato is listed as a UNESCO site, filled with colorful buildings and historical structures. We were fortunate enough to travel to this beautiful city and got to spend 2 days in Guanajuato. ** This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or widgets throughout the page, whether it be Viator, Booking.com, Agoda, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! How did we end up in Guanajuato? Not many people have heard of Guanajuato. In fact, most people think of beaches and resorts when Mexico comes to mind. What fun is that? What are you actually gaining just lying on the beach sipping margaritas for days. I mean you can’t really say you’ve been to a place until you really explore a country’s culture, cuisine, and way of life. With that in mind, I wanted to see the “REAL” Mexico. I don’t think we were quite ready yet for Mexico City (We’ve traveled here since and it is quite lovely), we wanted to find something on a smaller scale. I was listening to a podcast and Guanajuato came up. I was curious and looked up the city and was instantly intrigued. I brought it up to Jill and shortly after we booked flights and a hotel. Getting here Getting to Guanajuato was easier then expected. We flew from MCI (Kansas City) airport to Dallas and then to Guanajuato International Airport, located near the town of Leon. We found just hailing a cab was the easiest way to get to our hotel from the airport. Don’t worry, the taxis here were safe, cheap, and took about 30 minutes. Price wise, I believe it was 350-400 pesos, so around $20 USD. Personally, I would not rent a car and drive around Guanajuato. Not because of safety, but the underground road network and narrow road ways can be rather confusing to travelers unfamiliar with the layout of the city. Lodging I do a lot of the food and attraction planning, I leave lodging up to Jill, she never disappoints. We stayed at Hotel Boutique 1850, and to this date it is still one of our favorite hotels. It was locate on Jardin de la Union, and there were other hotels situated here. Jardin de la Union was a small town square lined with restaurants, entertainment, and beauty, it was quite lively! The location here is central, so you can make frequent stops at the hotel throughout the day before going back out. Hotel Boutique 1850 was pricey for Mexico standards, but very reasonable considering what we pay for in the United States. Each room at the hotel was unique and different, a mix of historical and modern influences. I always say, the perfect travel day starts off with a great coffee and breakfast. The hotel had free breakfast. Instead of hosting breakfast there, you receive vouchers daily for the restaurant next door. The breakfast was no joke, there was a menu to chose from everything from enchiladas to pancakes, with a bowl of fresh fruit and free coffee/teas. Sitting outside with a phenomenal breakfast watching people go by at the square was some of the best mornings we’ve experienced. 2 Days in Guanajuato We spent 2 days in Guanajuato, which I feel was perfect. I feel like an extra day or two would be nice though for day trips outside of Guanajuato. But, two days in Guanajuato was all we had so if you want to cover a lot of ground and see the spectacular sites within Guanajuato then check out our itinerary. Day 1 If your hotel does not provide breakfast as ours did, there are so many small cafe’s and restaurants that serve breakfast around Guanajuato, there are even a few traditional bakeries. After breakfast, take a few hours and walk around the entire downtown area which is very walkable. Explore Universidad de Guanajuato and walk up the stairs to get a view of the city. Basilica of our Lady Guanajuato dominates the cityscape, it is the yellow and red church seen in every photo. This Basilica was build in 1671 and is open to the public. The photo below was taken of the Basilica at night. Once you get familiar with the layout of Guanajuato I recommend getting a taxi to one of the mines, we visited Mina La Valenciana but there are at least 3 hours to choose from. Mina La Valenciana was nice because it was located near other attractions. After visiting the mine, we visited the Temple of San Cayetano and the Museum of Purgatory. The Museum of Purgatory was a little cheesy but super fun! There was a tour guide that explained the museum exhibits to us, mostly in Spanish so I couldn’t catch everything. This was a great attractions to kill an hour and it was very cheap and a bit spooky! After exploring Valenciana, we flagged down another taxi and had him take us to Museo Exhacienda San Gabriel de Barrera. This was an estate owned by the Barrera family at the end of the 17th century. The admission was $2-3 USD, and you could explore parts of the estate and gardens. The gardens were fascinating, there were 17 of them all unique and different from the rest. After spending time at the Hacienda we took a taxi back to the center of town just in time for dinner. Dinner options are widespread throughout Guanajuato. Our first day we ate at Los Campos to try their Guacamole Azteca. This guacamole was like any other guacamole except it came with a side of grasshoppers! Actually it tasted fantastic. You can read more about Guacamole Azteca in my Bizarre Foods post through this link: Our Take on Bizarre Foods. After dinner, walk around the town at night to see the lights. I always say that every city deserves a walk both during the day and at night. Sometimes cities are even more impressive with the city lights on, and don’t worry! Guanajuato is SAFE! Day 2 There are a few options, I recommend starting the day off by walking to the statue of El Pipila. There are two ways of getting here, you can take the easy route by boarding the funicular, or take the narrow paths up San Miguel Hill. Once at the top, you get a beautiful view of Guanajuato and surrounding hills. I highly recommend doing this both during the day and at night. El Pipila – For those wondering who El Pipila is, well he became a hero during the Mexican War for Independence. During the Independence, the Spaniards were barricaded inside Alhondiga de Granaditas, waiting for more troops to arrive. El Pipila performed an act of heroism and strapped a stone on his back for protection against archers, grabbed a bucket of tar, along with a torch. He neared a wooden door, splashing it with tar and igniting it with his torch. The door crumbled and the rioters from outside raced in to claim victory over the Spaniards!! After hiking to the top of San Miguel Hill, lunch is well deserved. Head over to Mercado Hidalgo for some fresh tacos and fruit. When eating fruit make sure to eat only fruits with a shell (sanitary reasons). Mercado Hidalgo has a nice selection of fresh produce, meats, and souvenirs. Museo de las Momias – Warning Mummy Photos After grabbing lunch, it is time to visit one of the most morbid attractions I’ve ever seen. Maybe I am just odd, but I have a bit of morbid curiosity so the weirder the better and this attraction is definitely that! Time for the Museo de las Momias or the Mummy Museum! This is a sad yet interesting story. In the 1850’s a cholera outbreak struck Guanajuato. The cemeteries filled up quickly and the local government started to tax families for the plots. If the tax could not be paid, their loved ones were dug up and stored in a storage unit. Because of the arid climate and ground soil, the bodies that were uncovered were very well preserved. Locals wanted to see the bodies and eventually the owner started to charge people to view the mummies eventually becoming Museo de las Momias. Some notable burials include a mother who died during childbirth and her fetus was mummified, possibly being the smallest mummy in the world, a corpse that appeared to be buried alive, and a notable doctor. Most of the mummies still had articles of clothing on. For just $3 USD, you can walk around and view the 59 mummies on display. We got there early, it opens at 9 am, we practically had the museum to ourselves! After exploring the mummy museum, we ended up just exploring the alley ways and streets throughout Guanajuato. We ended up at Presa de la Olla, which is a lake on the complete opposite side of town. You can paddle boat here or just walk around the lake. We walked by several food stalls that are worth trying out. If looking for restaurant options, I recommend heading back to the town square. Two other restaurants we ate at were Van Gogh, which had great local dishes and Casa Valadez for desserts and drinks! Guanajuato to this day, is one of our favorite cities. Because of its size, you can come here to relax and enjoy all the sites at a slower pace. The vibrant colors and architecture of the buildings along with the cobble stone streets reminded me of towns in Europe. For a city of its size, there are so many sites to see and the history is rich! Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️ 🇲🇽 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars.
Interesting Food Around the World that We’ve Tried
Exploring a cultures culinary traditions has become one of the motivating factors and reasons we travel. Plain and simple, it is fun to try authentic, new, and down-right weird food. I always say, I am willing to try everything at least once! Living by that rule, the two of us have become adventurous when it comes to local cuisine. What may seem bizarre in our culture can be a daily diet in others. I mean here in the United States we eat beef right? While the cow is sacred in some states in India. Did you know that over 80% of the world’s population eats insects, yet the sound of that disgusts most Westerners. Lets face it, they are rich in protein, low in fat, and there is an abundance of them. ** This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or widgets throughout the page, whether it be Viator, Booking.com, Agoda, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Interesting Food Around the World that We’ve Tried I grew up watching Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre Foods and Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations and have always shared a fascination with foods from around the world no matter how weird, interesting, or unique the food is. I believe you should try everything once. How else are you going to know if it’s a good dish or not! I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the taste of some of the more bizarre foods I’ve tried and have disliked some foods that are standard to so many people. I say it is all part of the experience, and it is fun to say, “I’ve tried that!” Here are some of the most interesting food dishes I’ve had throughout my travels. Asia Cambodia Tarantula: Siem Reap Eating tarantula in Cambodia is a well known and definitely an adventurous dish to try for any traveler. During the Khmer Rouge, when food was scarce, people had to eat what they could to survive and that included tarantulas. Since then, it has kind of stuck around as a delicacy and fun thing for tourists to try, including myself! I found a place that sold tarantula and brought it back to my hotel room, hence the fancy plate! I ate the tarantula starting with the legs as they were the least threatening looking spider part. I then worked my way to the body. Overall, taste wise, it was not great! Tasted a bit like dry cardboard even with the chili lime seasoning. But hey, Tarantula is an excellent source of protein and mierals. Japan Natto Natto is a Japanese dish that consists of fermented soy beans. This is definitely an interesting dish that I’ve had twice, once as an appetizer over rice with a raw egg and the second time at a sushi go round where it was wrapped in seaweed. Honestly, I think I would rather eat Hákarl again then eat Natto. Natto has a distinctive smell and a slimy gooey texture. It is definitely an acquired taste, people here love it! It just wasn’t for me. The benefit of Natto is that it is very healthy to eat, it is said to help against strokes and is great for people on diets and helps manage stress, so that is a plus, it just isn’t for me! Irabu (Sea Snake) Soup: Okinawa Irabu (Sea Snake) soup, probably the most nerve-racking food I’ve had in my life. I’m seen so many sea snakes while diving and snorkeling around Okinawa, I’d never think I’d actually eat one! In a way, I felt bad eating Irabu soup, I’ve grown quite fond of these snakes. Yes, they are deadly. Yes, they can be terrifying to swim with. But at the same time, they are peaceful to watch as they glide through the water. I love watching them swim up to get air and see their tiny heads pop out of the water. At the same time, I love trying local cuisine. Irabu Soup is found in restaurants around Okinawa and it is a local delicacy, especially on Kudaka Island. I found a restaurant on the island that specializes in Irabu Soup, so I had to try it for myself. On Kudaka Island, the sea snakes are caught bare-handed. Keep in mind, these are highly venomous snakes and are deadly. But they are shy and gentle creatures unless harmed. Once caught the snakes are killed, boiled and then smoked before being turned into soup. The soup generally consists of broth, pork, konbu (which is a type of kelp), and a piece of snake. I placed my order, once finished the waiter called me up to pick up my soup. I double checked with him that Irabu was in fact safe to eat. He assured me it was safe. Not only is Irabu safe to eat but it is full of nutrients, protein, and vitamins. The soup was fantastic! I ate the snake, skin and all and it tasted nothing like chicken! It had its own distinct taste, it was a bit chewy but had a nice flavor. If given the opportunity to try Irabu soup again, I would eat it without question. Torisashi (Raw Chicken): Okinawa Usually, I’d never recommend eating raw poultry of any kind. But if I were to eat raw chicken, it would be in Japan, and I did. The dish is called Torisashi and it is thinly sliced raw chicken. It’s basically chicken sashimi and it is often served in Izakaya’s in the Japanese Prefectures of Kagoshima, Miyazaki, and Okinawa. I’ve tried Torisashi in Okinawa at several different Izakaya’s and honestly, I like the flavor and texture. Some Izakaya’s will slightly sear the outside, the inside is pink and slightly chewy. Yagi Sashi (Raw Goat): Okinawa Yagi Sashi is the Okinawan word for the raw goat dish that can be found throughout the island of Okinawa. In Okinawa, many Izakaya’s and specialty restaurants serve Yagi Sashi. It’s usually served chilled and thinly sliced with ginger and soy sauce on the side. The raw goat has a gamey feel to it and a very distinct taste. I really enjoy the flavor and texture of it. Philippines Balut: Cebu I’ve been wanting to try Balut for a while now and in July of 2024, I took a trip to Cebu, The Philippines and finally got a chance to try it. Balut is a fertilized duck egg. The embryo of the duck develops for several days usually between 14 and 21 days. Most people are put off by the look of the egg once opened. It’s not your typical hard boiled egg that is white on the outside and yellow on the inside. No, instead, Balut is layered, there is a juice you suck out first, followed by a hardened white piece, yolk, and the unlucky duckling. I found a street vendor selling Balut on the side near Carbon Market. I cracked the egg, sucked out the juices and began to disassemble the egg, biting off one layer at a time. I’ll be honest, it was not easy on the eye, looking down at what I was eating, but taste wise, Balut was actually good and I really enjoyed it! It tasted just like a hard boiled egg with a little more texture to it. I would definitely eat Balut again. South Korea Beondegi: Busan Next stop while trying interesting food around the world is Busan, South Korea. While in Busan, we visited the Haedong Yonggung Temple right outside the city. The temple lies along the coast and is considered to be one of the most well known in all of South Korea. To our surprise, there was a small food market right before the entrance to the temple. Several vendors had huge steaming pans full of something we’ve never seen before. Turns out, these pans were full to the top of a popular snack item known as Beondegi, otherwise known as Silkworm pupae. You get a cup full of them, at a cheap price! In the images below you can see what Jill’s reaction was to eating Beondegi. I found the flavor to be a little nutty and very juicy, almost to juicy. Unfortunately, a cup was a little much, so we decided to share our Beondegi with the local wildlife! Taiwan Stinky Tofu You know how some cities have that bad city smell once in a while? You’ll walk around and smell sewage here and there. In Taiwan you’ll sense that same smell here and there and turn the corner and it’s just someone cooking Stinky Tofu. Stinky Tofu lives up to its name. The smell can be horrid! Rest assured, stinky tofu tastes better then it smells. Locals in Taiwan, love it. You’ll find stinky tofu in restaurants, at night markets, and from people selling it at a food stall. Stinky tofu comes in many different forms. I’ve personally tried it a few times, once as a block with onion and sweet sauce, the second time in Hualien where it was advertised as Stinky Tofu Fries. Trust me, no matter how you try it, it is going to be stinky. So, what makes stinky tofu, stinky? It’s all about the fermentation process! It’s soaked in a brine that is made from a mix of vegetables, meats, milk, and other ingredients. The tofu will ferment anywhere from a couple hours to several months. Europe Iceland Hákarl: Reykjavik Our next interesting food around the world takes us to Iceland. We’ve all heard of Hákarl (Fermented Shark). Based on stories and the media I’ve heard that Hákarl is potent and has a very unique flavor. After trying Hákarl I came to the conclusion that it was not as bad as I was expecting. Not that I’ve ever tasted smelly feet, but I kind of describe the flavor that way, mixed with a little ammonia, still not terrible tasting! It’s not found all over Iceland, but I did my research and saw that Kaffi Loki served it as an appetizer. You get a few cubes served in a small dish with an Icelandic Flag toothpick! Would I try it again? Sure! North America Mexico Ant Larvae, Crickets, and Maguey Worm at Mercado de San Juan: Mexico city Mercado de San Juan in Mexico City is paradise, that is if you are looking for unordinary food to try. This market is full of fresh meat, fish, and produce. I read about this market while researching and came here to explore the unique and interesting foods. There is a vendor here that even sold rare tiger and lion meat along with tarantulas and other creepy critters. You have to start somewhere, my plan was to start small and work my way up. I found a vendor selling a variety of insects that included grasshopper, crickets, and ant larvae. I wanted to try a few of each, there was a slight translation mix-up and I ended up with a mixed sack full. Thankfully there was a bar next to this vendor, I washed the bugs down with a local beer and even shared them with the bartender, he loved them. To be honest, the bugs were dry, salty, and not that great! On a side note, Mercado de San Juan had some other great restaurants and normal eats. We went to a small Italian vendor and ordered a delicious bocadillo. Scorpion: Mexico City At Mercado de San Juan, I wanted to try something I knew would be tough to come by in the states, so I was torn between trying a tarantula or a scorpion. Both choices were very intimidating, I opted for the scorpion. I thought to myself, “how the hell am I going to eat this thing!” For starters, remove the stinger not because it is poisonous, but because it is sharp and can get lodged in your throat! After a
ATM Cave in Belize, What an Adventure!
Direction to Actun Tunichil Muknal Actun Tunichil Muknal or as we call it, the ATM Cave. This archaeological site is within the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve about an hour away by vehicle from San Ignacio, Belize. It is required to book a tour to visit the cave due to safety and preservation. We ended up booking our tour online through a local company in San Ignacio Called Mayawalk Tours. The tour was absolutely incredible and visiting the ATM is one of the most adventurous and memorable experiences I’ve done. The Belizean Government made it illegal to take cameras within the cave due to the archaeological artifacts and because a tourist dropped their camera and smashed one of the skulls ruining it for all of us. But after exploring this cave, their is no way I would have even wanted to take anything but my water shoes and swim shorts. Because of the ban on cameras, I left mine behind, and all the photos on this post were taken from MayaWalk. ATM Cave in Belize – History Lesson! Our tour guide was in the process of receiving his PhD in Archaeology and his primary focus was the ATM Cave in Belize. Because of this, we learned so much about this cave, from its history to the local nature and wildlife surrounding it. Mayan life was not always about sacrifices and ripping beating hearts out of a victims chest as portrayed in our media. They did practice a ritual called Blood Letting. Blood letting was a ritual performed by the Mayans where they would cut themselves as offerings to the gods. When times were tough mainly do to drought, blood letting was not quite “cutting” it and they offered sacrificial victims to the gods, these victims were mainly of high status. To the Maya people, caves were an access to the underworld. So it is not unheard of to find archaeological evidence of Maya life within caves. The ATM Cave in Belize is a prime example of rituals taking place. Along the route to the main cavern there is evidence of human activity including alters and stains from smoke on the ceiling. The main cavern here holds 16 skeletons and thousands of fragments from pottery, not one of them fully in tact, these are known as kill holes. Archaeologists are not entirely sure why they performed this behavior but we do know they were ceremonial offerings for ritual purposes. How to Get here and what to bring Booking tours to the ATM Cave in Belize was fairly easy. We booked our tour with MayaWalk Tours online a few weeks in advance. There are several other tour companies, and you can even book through companies directly in San Ignacio a day prior. Simply walk up to one of the shops offering tours and sign up. We met at 7 am, and took the hour bus ride to the archaeological site. There is a parking spot here with restrooms and a pavilion. Now comes the good stuff! To access the cave, you need to get their via hiking and river crossings. Surprisingly, the water was kind of chilly. While hiking through the lush jungle pay attention as you might see animals. Our tour guide pointed out a fresh Jaguar paw print in the mud. Before reaching the cave, the tour guide will have you leave all things in a safe location outside, including water bottles. Trust me, you don’t want to bring anything into the ATM cave. But, below is a checklist of things to bring since I was curious at first on how to prep for an excursion like this. Bring Water Shoes Swim Suit Leave in Car or Cave Entrance Camera Water Bottle (Bring for the Hike) Backpacks Anything of Value Change of Clothes So it Begins! One of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my life!!! Once dropping off your personal items at the entrance you will walk down a set of slippery stairs and see the entrance of the cave. The entrance of the cave alone was a beautiful site to see! Be prepared to get and stay wet for the next several hours. In order to access the cave you have to swim through the entrance. At the very end of the cave is a natural spring feeding water through, but the tour does not go that far, it would add several additional hours. I mention this because the whole time you are exploring the cave you walk against the river and it can get deep in spots. One section you have to actually hold on to the rocks, tilt your head to the side and edge your way through. I’ve seen stuff like this on t.v. and always thought to myself ” Nope, not me, those people are crazy” Guess what? I did it and absolutely loved it! Along the trek, you will see typical cave features like stalactites, stalagmites, columns, cave bacon, etc.. As if hiking through a river in a dark cave is not challenging enough, your skills are tested once more. Before getting to the main event, one must rock climb (not as bad as it sounds), to get to the chamber. At this point, the guides recommend wearing socks and leaving your shoes behind, which you will reunite with later. I felt you had better traction with socks, so go for it! Once in the cavern, watch your step there are ceramics and skeletons laying around. This is the site where blood letting and sacrifices occurred. Meander your way through this cavern and you will see yourself face to face with a ladder! Hopefully you are good at climbing because what lies up there is well worth seeing. The main photo on this post is of the “Crystal Maiden.” She has been resting in this location for the last thousand years. So why is she so popular? Due to the natural crystallization in the cave, her skeleton remained in tact and she appears to be sparkling. She rests in a location alone and above the rest, she was most likely 18 at the time of her death. Like the other victims, blunt force trauma is most likely the cause of death. The only way out of the ATM cave is back the same way! There have been tours stuck in the main cavern due to high water. Generally, going back is quicker, there are not as many stops. If you are lucky though and have a cool tour guide, there are a few alternate paths they allow you to take that were pretty adventurous. Upon exiting the cave, take a final look back, because the entrance is just beautiful with the clear water and surrounding jungle. The hike back was the same, the water crossings seemed colder after having time to dry off. After 45 minutes of walking we arrived back at the parking lot just in time to put on dry clothes and enjoy lunch and Rum Punch! Actun Tunichil Muknal in all honesty was one of the greatest experiences of my life and definitely the most adventurous. I highly recommend adding the ATM cave to your Belize itinerary.