Arriving in the still-dark, we showed our tickets, had our bags checked, and followed our guide to the first stop: the tree of life. He expertly wove a tapestry of Mayan life and culture all those ages ago in a way that we could visualize. His humor kept us entertained, and his facts kept us enthralled. 

We climbed up to the top of Temple IV, and watched as the sun rose, beckoning the jungle to awaken. The soft purple sky serves as the backdrop for this phased-event. The array of tropical birds sing from one side of the trees, then quiet down to let the rapturous cacophony of howler monkeys greet the day.