sorry, only google translate…
As we were not able to fly back to Cancun as originally planned, we had a different plan. From San Cristobal we booked a tour to the ruins in Palenque (about 5-6 hours drive), which also included the two waterfalls that we wanted to see. So we got into a minivan at four o’clock in the morning, and we drove to the first waterfall “Agua Azul”, where we were to arrive three hours later. Although the waterfall did not look like in the pictures in beautiful blue (it had just rained the days before too much), he is still (or just because of it) extremely impressive. And blue pools we had already seen in Semuc Champey :-)
Afterwards we went on to the waterfall “Misol Ha”, the highest waterfall of something (we can not remember exactly, probably it is the highest in the state of Chiapas). Also incredibly impressive, especially because you can walk behind the waterfall and walk in a small grotto, where another small waterfall including bats can be found.
In Palenque, we were then passed by the tour to look at the ruins of Palenque the next day. These were ushered on several sides as the most beautiful Mayan ruins on the peninsula. Like all the others, they are very impressive, but Tikal has been a little better in the jungle.
In the evening began the probably longest return journey of our previous “travel career”. At 17:15 we left the hotel to board the night bus to the airport to Cancun at 6pm. After about 12 hours we reached Playa del Carmen where we had 1 hour time for a small breakfast and then had to change to the bus to the airport. From Cancun it was then at 12 clock on the plane to Atlanta, where we should actually change into a plane to Munich. Unfortunately, the hurricane Irma made a dash for us. We had already been informed about his career for some time, which should not concern us, unless it would affect the flight operations in Atlanta and so it came unfortunately also:
Approximately 30 minutes before Atlanta, our pilot made a statement that due to Irma the wind speeds at the airport would be too high for a landing. However, as Irma did not go directly to Atlanta, we were expected to improve and our pilot decided to use the remaining kerosene to fly around Atlanta for half an hour before we had to drive an alternative airport. After about half an hour came the next announcement that the alternative airport was changed and we would have another 10 minutes to wait. A short time later the last announcement, it would look better and a few fliers would have already landed, so we dare now just a landing approach before we have to drive the alternative Charlotte. The American next to us was slowly but surely a nervous breakdown … It was then also the hardest landing we had experienced so far, the approach was strewn with air holes and just before the landing we stood noticeably in the wind, but it worked! What can you say, within 72 hours an earthquake and a hurricane experienced, not bad :-)
Unfortunately it should not go so well, because although at the beginning still our flight was (for the same reason as our flight) only two hours belated, we had to realize at the gate that our connecting flight had not reached Atlanta and we therefore have been diverted via Amsterdam. At least we were able to continue the same evening and even got $ 90 in the hand.
Also the flight to Amsterdam went then instead of at 8pm only at 11pm, as far as we have noticed this because of lack of ground staff by failures in the local traffic of Atlanta. But since we should have anyway 7 hours stay in Amsterdam, we were in this case relatively no preference and we enjoyed the food. The warnings of our pilot that this would be a very bumpy start (Irma was still raging), but then were a bit exaggerated, really bad was not the same. But maybe we were just too tired to get it. In Amsterdam, we were once again pressed for consumption (but this time läppische 20 €) and we waited relaxed for our flight and should arrive at 10 pm (finally) but unfortunately without luggage at home, after läppischen 45 hours: – D