SEMUC CHAMPEY - a Sensory Blog Post!!!

SEMUC CHAMPEY - Senses

I SAW bats flying, cameras flashing, eyes blinding, 

Stalactites, stalagmites, candles and the dim light that radiated from them, smoke clouding the ceiling, dirtied white quartz formations on the walls, stone ribbons above me. A 2' mini water fall & a larger one 8' up, candle-reflecting black  water, candle-lit people crowded together - waiting. A 20-something guy standing on rocks 20' up...  and he jumps... SPLASH! Head popping out.

I saw cool, blue, green, clearness, crystal, magestic...

I HEARD bats squeaking, people "ooh-ing" and "ahh-ing"...water dripping, people "shushing", cameras clicking.

Swishing water, people hooting and laughing(along with my self), Mom squealing; Solid slapping sound of wet shoes on rock, the roar of a water fall, swoosh, splash! "Woohoo!" "Awesome!"  "jump right here, not there, rocks over there" "BAAAALLLLLLLLS!!!" shloopsh, "YEAH!" 

I FELT bats flying right by my ears, cold water on my ankles, cold water on my legs, colder water on my mid section, coldest water on my chest and neck. Feet slipping and sliding, stability of my fingers curling around a rope, stone pressing against the souls of my shoes, my hands and feet pulling and pressing on the rungs of a ladder, my body squeezing through a small space, feet attempting to grip a ladder flat against a rock, cool black water up to my neck, rough-sharp rocks poking and bruising my knee, feet suddenly not touching the ground, hands and feet pushing, pulling through the water and every stroke anticipating another sharp rock... watching Mom & following; nervous, then determined, climbing a 20 foot rock with the direction of my guide, weightlessness, water engulfing me, water up my nose, air - ahhh.

Body twisting and sliding down a smooth hard water shoot - almost decapitated.

I SMELLED lit candle smoke, wet candle smoke, then air, saturated with sweetness.

I TASTED dust on the way up, then fresh, clear water... then dust on the way down

Marcus in front of our hotel (El Retiro, Lanquin)  - you can see a little bit of Lanquin River in the background (right in the middle of the photo).  This place had the BEST FOOD we have had so far on the trip... it was VERY difficult to leave!!!

Typical side road in the quaint little town of Lanquin.

Our <$1 lunch - Huge Carrot, Mango, 4 bananos, 3 breads... I know, I know - high glycemic levels, but the leafy greens at the market were very sad and we didnt have time to clean veggies this meal.

The opening at Lanquin River - exiting Lanquin Caves (the bat caves)

Formations

Look at this huge, but dead, spider!

 

 ----- NEXT DAY --------

SEMUC CHAMPEY CAVES!!! Before entering, each person's face is painted individually (in reverence to cave gods)... This red color is from the _______ plant (to be filled in when I remember :-)

No need for words...

Semuc Champey River that feeds the pools...

One of many streams that feed into the pools.

After swimming bliss...

Clarity & Healing...