Casa Marie Antigua Guatemala

... wandering around Antigua and taking some photos I caught up with him. I then tried to drag him along with me to a cool cafe that myself and the German guy had arranged to meet the aunt and niece from our volcanoe hike earlier that day, but he was too busy. So that evening I had a nice time drinking with the young German girl and her American aunt and my east German friend from the hostel. It all ended quietly though and I was in bed early for my trip to El Salvador the following morning.

... family of ten.

We spend our days exploring the city – I have picked up a stinking cold so can only manage a few hours before a sit down and a cup of hot chocolate is required. We visit La Recoleccion, one ruined church (from the earthquake) where we pay $3 each to clamber across the ruins and climb up rubble (British health and safety would never allow this). We eat and drink in the central square. We visit the Museo Casa del Tejido (a ...

... able to provide a meal. It was a time to be remembered.

And so it happened that my Peace Corps service came to a close. It was a great time while it lasted. I learned at least as much as I did in four years of college if not more. And for those of you who didn't already know it, my hunch was confirmed... the real happiness to be found in Life is in service to others.


Thank you for being a part of this experience. I'll be in touch.

... Virgin Mary. It took about thirty pall-bearers (for want of a better term) to carry the monstrosity, and the whole scene was quite the sight. Seemed a bit odd to put so much effort into the designs only to mash them underfoot, but maybe if the Church put this much effort in back home then there'd be a bit more interest in affairs of the Spirit. Then again, the rain probably wouldn't allow for such extravaganzas at home ...

... We had dinner at Jarachik waiting for the rain to subside and then went out with Frank, Matt, Brad, Steve and some others and played darts at the Buddha bar (a bit of a Gringo hang out) and met the fabulous, Anna and Paul, also from London, who had done the Xela to San Pedro walk the week earlier. We immediately bonded, sharing stories and comparing our two walks. The night was long and drunken and we left the bar, which closed at 1 am (as does everything it ...

... clinic that was also an orphanage. Many of the children either had disabilities that the families couldn't cope with, or they were apprehended by social services due to abuse or neglect. My current placement at the Project is to provide health care in the outpatient medical clinic. The people of Antigua never fail to impress me with their optimism, their courtesy and their kindness. They have so little and give so much.

... per lack of clean clothes and being basically whipped. An early flight back to Teguci and thence an overnight in San Jose...yes, an evening at the roulette table at the infamous Del Rey and John, one of the owners, is back from a ten month yacht trip. Out and early Sunday to Granada, Nicaragua to fill in the blanks for another article...three days later, back to Antigua...no clean clothes but a few bottles of Flor de Cana to alleviate that situation.

... on the side of Pacaya. There were lava flows visible, like a thick red river flowing out and down the mountain toward Guat city. I took photo on the way up, but at the top, my trusty Samsung camera failed again. I think I got sand in the lens mechanism, as it would stick on opening and closing. So, I don't have shots of the top, you will have to trust me. If I can get Voyo to ship me some pics he will have the lava flow pics. Now, I just have the ...

... It was ladies night, so guys had to buy a beer downstairs before getting to the cheap beers upstairs. Needless to say, the beer was 4x times the price of anywhere else ($4+) and there were no cheap beers upstairs. But there were lots of stoopid American frat party kids (too young to drink back home, no doubt) being loud, trust fund kiddies in pashminas and dreads, tarted up local girls and....ahhh, ****, why do i bother.

With that price and company, that was the worse ...

Last night the neighborhood lost power for about an hour (from 6:30 - 7:30). I ended up doing my homework in the dark with only the light of my flashlight (many, many thanks Marian for the loaner). I was just trying to decide what to do about charging my camera and if I was going to have to forego a bath, when the lights came back on. When the lights came back on Addis´(my ¨mama¨) son came over to cook dinner. It was a delicious pasta dinner, but I ...