Hotel el Arca de Noe Santa Cruz La Laguna

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... only tossing<br>down about $2.50 each time. We did get the brillz idea to change money<br>at the bank, however. Nobody anywhere in Central or South America ever<br>has change. When we've traveled down here before, it was a major<br>problem, and only recently did we get the idea to get cambio at the<br>bank as soon as you take money out of the ATM. Amazing. And even more<br>amazing that we've never thought of it before. <br><br>We made our way to the bus "station" (more ...

... Unfortunately, as Mieke and Hayden not were planning to return to Antigua, they had to pick up some pants that Hayden had left with a tailor. Unfortunately, the tailor was not there in the morning, and Hayden even tried one last time a few minutes before the scheduled bus departure. But no! They had to stay behind for at least another day.<br><br>The journey from Antigua took us through the traffic nerve of Chimaltenango, which is on the Pan-american highway ...

... a group of friends again, granted, they werent my friends, but they were a suitable substitute. I danced salsa and meringe all night and found someone that is going to give me lessons, so that will be something to do for the next two weeks. <br><br>I went to a market near here yesterday and found green coffee beans! Yes!!! I took them home and roasted them on the stovetop and now I just have to find someplace that can grind them up ...

... br>Then, to make us feel even worse, as we dragged ourselves back off the summit to go down the mountian, there was a man running, RUNNING! up the mountain! We asked if he had run the whole time and he said yes, and we asked how long it took and he said and hour and a half! I guess there is something to be said for being isolated in the mountians your whole life. <br><br>I was so exhausted when I got down, but a good sort of exhausted. I cant wait to do it agian,

... of bread with jam and individual pots of oatmeal, swimming in boiling water. <br><br>Groundhog Day<br><br>All too soon we were slinging our packs back onto our backs and heading up another ridiculously steep mountain trail that wound up the mountain past the remaining houses of the village that sat precariously on the side of the mountain. After about 30 minutes which seemed like forever we hit a dirt road and continued uphill for another hour or so. I had by this time off ...

... as no one decides to come on my bed. There is a wide array of people i come in contact with every day as well. There is a sizable gringo population at the Lake. They include alcoholic Vietnam vet Bob, who likes to give me **** when he tells me to cut him off and I do. Then there is Elaine and Lee, the Yoga instructor who also swings. Then there is Heinrick the German, and many more. Oh there is also the weekly Saturday night Cross dressing ...

... variety of English, and some dogs...oh and some dude writing a book...anyway that was the bar scene for a couple of nights.....with the afternoon rain all the cool stuff was done in the morning.....The first full day I hiked to San Marcos from Santa Cruz...a 3 and a half hour hike..that got ruff at times...of course I was constantly passed by shoeless Mayan women with baskets on there head or 12 year old girls with 30 pounds of ...

I'm a little worse for wear the past few days. Something I ate isn't agreeing with me. There are bathroom issues. And my stomach feels raw. Yesterday I either had a fever or mild heat exhaustion. I burnt my stomach and arm pits. And I was pretty achy yesterday-- but that was probably due to an unfortunate cliff jump landing rather than an ailment. My entire right side is one big bruise, and my neck and shoulders feel like they are made ...

... me a bed in an open-air dorm, and everything else gets put on my tab. There´s beer, food, yoga, massage, communal dinners-- and tomorrow night, a scavenger hunt! <br><br>This trip is really turning out to be the best so far. I´m finally comfortable in Latin America-- 4th time's the charm! Kelsey and I agreed that taking your maiden solo trip on a chicken bus breaks the seal. Then if you don't ride, you're the chicken.