Guatemala

Guatemala Observations

by Sam on November 22, 2010

Flores, Guatemala After 56 days today marks my last full day in Guatemala. After almost to two months here I’m ready for a new country but in this time I’ve noticed some things that I think are worth sharing. Some of these may have been true in Mexico and will probably be true in other [...]

{ 0 comments }

Tikal on a Hangover

by Sam on November 22, 2010

Flores, Guatemala I would have never guessed that the jungle surrounding Tikal would smell like allspice and cloves. It was a pleasant surprise and helped ease away the hangover from the night before. Early this morning I was walking through Tikal nursing a hangover, smelling allspice and gawking at how thick the surrounding vegetation was. [...]

{ 0 comments }

Lanquin to El Estor to Rio Dulce to Flores

by Sam on November 19, 2010

Flores, Guatemala Since I’ve been in Guatemala I’ve wondered if it was possible to reach capacity on a chicken bus or colectivo. No matter how many people are on the bus they never say no and always manage to cram on more people. I now know it is possible to reach capacity….sort of. I got [...]

{ 0 comments }

Semuc Champey

by Sam on November 16, 2010

Lanquin, Semuc Champey, Guatemala 160 Quetzals for a trip to Semuc Champey and the nearby caves was way too expensive. There had to be a cheaper option than the tour given at El Retiro Lodge and I struck out on my own looking for the cheaper option. The promise of a cheaper trip also sounded [...]

{ 2 comments }

The Dichotomy of Travel Days

by Sam on November 15, 2010

Lanquin, GuatemalaIt was 3:45 and I was still waiting for the 2:00 shuttle to Lanquin. The shuttle was on it’s way from Coban but was delayed two hours from construction. This was not the way I had planned my day. If my day had gone as planned I wouldn’t be taking the afternoon shuttle because [...]

{ 3 comments }

An Afternoon on Volcán Pacaya

by Sam on November 12, 2010

Antigua, Guatemala “Quieres stick? Es necesario! Es necesario!” These were the first words I heard upon arrival of Volcán Pacaya. Stepping out of the van I was swarmed by a herd of local village children shoving sticks in my face. “No, yo no quiero. No quiero.” I responded and promptly shoved my way past them [...]

{ 2 comments }

Back in Business in Antigua

by Sam on November 11, 2010

Antigua, Guatemala I left Lake Atitlan two days ago for Antigua. After being robbed I was anxious to find a new camera and put the past behind me. The lake is beautiful but isn’t exactly a hot-bed of electronic items. If your interested in purchasing some Mayan craft goods however, your in luck. Anxious to [...]

{ 2 comments }

Robbed on Lake Atitlan

by Sam on November 6, 2010

Jaibalito, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala – Setup: Yesterday I moved from San Pedro to Jaibalito with the sole purpose of getting a better view of the lake and to do some hiking in the hills surrounding the lake. While eating dinner I met another American named Angelo who had recently moved to Jaibilito for at least [...]

{ 5 comments }

Becoming Numb to Absolute Beauty?

by Sam on November 4, 2010

San Pedro La Laguna, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala Lake Atitlan is considered one of the most beautiful places on Earth, however, I don’t feel impressed as most people. Maybe it’s because Guatemala and Mexico have already shown me so many beautiful sights that I’m just adding this one to the list. There are lush green mountains [...]

{ 0 comments }

Day of the Dead in Todos Santos

by Sam on November 1, 2010

Todos Santos, Guatemala Monday was one of those days that I would re-live all over again if I could. I arrived in Todos Santos at 8:30 am after a three and a half hour ride in a van from Xela. There were 12 of us in total that made the trip with the goal of [...]

{ 0 comments }

Last Week in Xela, Part 2

November 1, 2010

Quetzaltenango, Guatemala The last day of class was rough. I was tired of studying irregular verbs so I stopped trying on Wednesday. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but when I needed to use the irregular verbs that I failed to learn at 8:00 am on Friday morning I was regretting that [...]

Read the full article →

Last Week in Xela, Part 1

October 28, 2010

Quetzaltenango, Guatemala Volcanic Steam Sauna (10/26)Outside of Xela there are a couple of areas that promote natural hot baths or volcanic steam saunas. Two weeks ago I went to the hot baths with a few other students and was under-whelmed to say the least. The hot baths were essentially narrow, dark and dingy concrete building [...]

Read the full article →

Where to Go From Here???

October 25, 2010

Quetzaltenango, Guatemala For the past 3.5 weeks I’ve had pronominales, irregular verbs, the preterito and the personal ‘a’ sloshing around in my brain. I know more Spanish then I did a month ago but I’m glad to say that my time in Xela is coming to an end next Tuesday. Not that Xela was a [...]

Read the full article →

The Guatemalan Beer Monopoly & My Pursuit for an Ale

October 20, 2010

Quetzaltenango, Guatemala When I arrived in Xela and got my hands on a map one of the first things I noticed was a “Cerveceria Nacional.” A national brewery? Only two blocks from where I’m staying? Furthermore, the thing is huge and takes up three city blocks. I wasn’t necessarily interested in visiting the brewery since [...]

Read the full article →

On the Roof of Central America

October 13, 2010

Tajumulco, Guatemala I needed to get out of Xela and explore another part of Guatemala but when my alarm went off at 3:50 am on Saturday morning I was wondering why I thought trekking up the highest peak in Central America was a good idea. The peak is a dormant volcano named Tajumulco (Ta-Who-Mull-Co) which [...]

Read the full article →

Xela From Above: Photos from a Day of Wandering Around

October 8, 2010

Quetzaltenango, Guatemala It’s easy to get a view of Xela from above.  The terrace of the house I’m currently in gives me a great view of the city each day.  I’ll spend afternoons up here studying Spanish and drinking coffee.  From Quetzaltenango 2010-10View from the roof-top of where I’m currently staying The city also sits [...]

Read the full article →

10 Reasons Why This House Does not Belong Here

October 5, 2010

Quetzaltenango, Guatemala Some things just don’t go together. For Example: Pickles and Ice CreamDogs and SweatersElectrical appliances and water Or, this house… From Quetzaltenango 2010-10 …and Guatemala. I see this house everyday walking to and from Spanish school and everyday I have a hard time believing that this house is actually here. I would expect [...]

Read the full article →

Down on the Farm

October 3, 2010

Somewhere Outside of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala I’m not quite sure what to call the place I’m currently staying. The name on the front says “Hostal La Estacion,” however, it’s not really a hostel. If I had to put a name on it I would call it a boarding house. One of the regular boarders here is [...]

Read the full article →

Happenings and Random Thoughts

September 29, 2010

Dear God, Did you know that I no longer live in Ohio? No need to keep the temperature so low, the gray skies above, and the rain falling. I’m just asking you to shine a little sun on the area. It doesn’t have to be for too long. Maybe just a couple of days so [...]

Read the full article →

Borders, Buses and Rocks. Oh My!

September 28, 2010

The day started at 6:30 am. Tropical depression Matthew still hadn’t moved out of San Cristobal so I was greeted with another gray, misty, rainy morning. Hearing stories of other travelers walking 6 kilometers because the road was blocked from rock slides and reports of roads flooding had me second guessing if I really wanted [...]

Read the full article →