NYE in the Mexican jungle!

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Hola, still no pix as my camera is still RUBBISH and apparently knackered. I{m in Palenque, which really is in the middle of the jungle! The modern town of Palenque is hell, but we are staying at the gates of the National Park where the ancient hidden Mayan city of Palenque is - my accommodation is a hut in the trees!! Very basic but brilliant for a couple of nights. No roof in the bathroom, just mosquito mesh, and whilst showering last night I heard the (not) dainty foot/clawsteps of a howler monkey! The hut enclave is called El Panchan and is a stinky dreaded type hangout. How I enjoy receiving their looks of disdain whilst they think I am a mainstream cog with normal hair, when I had a matted barnet when theirs was still short back and sides. Ha! Anyway, despite this there is a great open air restaurant amongst the trees with cheap cocktails, so tonight we are going into town for a meal at a place the guide assures us is worth going to, then heading back to El Panchan for midnight. Hopefully I can contain myself and have no drunken stumbles into bushes which contain scorpions etc as got a 7am bus tomorrow for 8 hrs (the logistics of this trip are ridiculous) so I will be staying up past midnight tonight but not for much longer (I hope. Can{t take another hangover like the one in Oaxaca...)

I have just got back from the ancient ruins of Palenque. Oh. My. God. They basically got forgotten about for centuries and a whole forest has grown over the site. Only 10% of it has been excavated - and it is an other-worldly experience to see this small portion - which is still huge to visit. Some people there today said it was very similar to being in Macchu Piccu. There is still so much of the site covered by jungle - it is amazing to see.

OK better go as this pikey travellers joint charges skyhigh prices for internet use and my time is nearly up. It{s 3pm here and therefore 9pm in UK - happy new year!!! Will be in Merida tomorrow afternoon hopefully not feeling like death. XXX