MAYAN TOURS & TRAVEL is delighted to have welcomed back many of their clients over the years. Read what some of them have to say about their adventures and read extracts from a travel journal.

TESTIMONIALS

DISCOVERY HOLIDAY: HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS
& MAYAN CULTURE

"Thank you for the excellent holiday, it was truly an "Experience", but restful as well as interesting. We particularly enjoyed the snorkeling & reef exploration in Belize."

Dr Margaret & Mr Julian Thomson

"It really was a great holiday, thanks to all your hard work - and of course with Jim to cater for all our frailties, how could it fail. Many, many thanks."

Dr Jean McMillan

"Altogether, a stimulating and enjoyable trip with many memories to be relived and shared. Thanks to Philippa and her team for the varied tour giving more than a holiday, a real insight into the Guatemalan hopes and fears in the 21st century."

Dr Anne Bell

DISCOVERY HOLIDAY: GUATEMALAN EXPERIENCE

"My visit to Guatemala was a one off amazing experience, due no doubt to the events you organized and people you chose to operate them"

Savitirie Balchoo, UK

"IT WAS A GREAT TRIP!!! I need time to reflect and absorb the myrian of experiences, the wonderful people, varied scenery. My husband is green with envy... and will sign up for the next trip!"

Carolan Gosselin, UK

"A huge thank you for all the effort you had put into making our Guatemalan trip such a success. Very many thanks."

Ruth Hopkins, UK

TRAVEL JOURNAL

Day 2 - Havana, CUBA

Blue sky, hot sun (29°C) and a walk around the streets of old Havana. American Dodgers, Buicks and Chevrolets from the 1950's, bright yellow Coco taxis and Camel buses. Grand and
beautiful colonial houses line the street. The fascination of a city ....is great.

Dinner tonight was at La Bodeguita del Medio, Ernest Hemingway's favourite haunt. He spent most of his time at the bar: we enjoyed good food and the mandatory Mojito while entertained by the inescapable guitars and vocalist. Cubans love their music.

Day 4 - Havana, CUBA

Today was focussed on Health Care in Cuba with an opportunity to meet Jose Portella Garcia, at the Ministry of Health. Health Care in Cuba is always said to be good with free, accessible Health Care for everyone: the statistics that were offered supported this message. In the last 45 years, the number of Physicians has risen from 6000 to 68,155, life expectancy from less than 60 to 76, all common infectious illnesses reduced or eradicated and the number of Medical Schools upped from 1 to 22.

Day 13 - Livingston, GUATEMALA

We are so lucky. Guatemala is the most amazing country when it comes to scenery and atmosphere. Today we experienced the isolation and magnificence of this green and forested land as we chugged down the river from The Rio Dulce to Livingston on the Caribbean coast. The largely uninhabited forest seems endless and we spent some magic moments drifting through the mangrove swamps, past lily beds and watched Jacarana, coot and the inevitable cormorants and egrets. At some stretches, local fishermen paddled around in their dug out canoes making their catch for the day.

We stopped at the Ak'Tenamit Project at the riverside. In 1992, leaders from all the villages in the area around Livingston approached a man called Steve Dudenhoefer. He set up this community project to help the 7,000 strong population of Q'eqchi Mayan living in the rain forest.

Day 17 - BELIZE

People and houses do not feature largely in Belize. It is a small country, the size of Wales but has a population of only 250,000, many of whom live in the capital, Belize City. Belize was previously occupied by the British when it was known as British Honduras. It became independent in 1981 but is still a member of the British Commonwealth and has the head of the Queen on its currency.

Medical Care varies. Private care is available but expensive. The Government Hospitals and Health Clinics are free but some treatment may be in short supply. Those in the outlying areas often choose to rely on the shaman.

Day 18 - Ambergris Caye, BELIZE

Mercedes was waiting for us at the pier to take us on a boat ride around the lagoon and out to the coral reef.....to snorkel. The coral is alive and varied, waving in the motion of the sea. Finger like fronds, cauliflower coral, brain coral and orange plaques of coral. It was all there, and in amongst its depths, bright yellow and blue fish were hiding......They swam around us.....Overhead the frigate birds and terns hovered, diving occasionally to make a catch. Thank you Mercedes.

Day 20 - Antigua, GUATEMALA

Now we are back in Antigua. We had a great welcome from Philippa and it feels like being back home. We are staying at The Cloisters, the old convent next to the arch. It's amazing that behind a pretty insignificant frontage we find spacious accommodation and cloisters that are enhanced by the delicate sound of wind chimes.

A woman came tonight to fill us in about the real side of Cuba. Life must be tough for a people who live as prisoners on the island and have no real view of life outside. Health care is promoted as being the best and the workers do, indeed, do great work under difficult circumstances. However, Hospital buildings are in a poor state of repair and if a patient is admitted they must take in their own light bulb, sheets and food, while medicines may be in short supply.

Day 21 - Antigua, GUATEMALA

We walked to the busy Artisan's market where brightly coloured handicrafts were on sale. Next door the Chicken Buses filled and took off round the country, and the local market was selling everything from food, hardware and clothes to Piñata dolls. We also took in the Cathedral and the "wedding cake" church of La Merced. Weddings were taking place at both.

We owe so much for all the effort she put in to coordinating and organising the trip. All this effort has certainly been rewarded by a fantastic experience. Thank you.