TravelStream™ news feed for member cbourgin on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/cbourgin en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Wed, 31 May 2006 10:42:57 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1149085980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1149085980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1149085980/tpod.html Wed, 31 May 2006 10:42:57 -0400 A milka in central america

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Dublin, Ireland

Well this is my last entry... end of my 6 month trip!
The flight Mexico to Madrid was very animated. A group of 100 kids of 15 years old from a Catholic private school was travelling to Rome. So they were all very excited and i didn't have much sleep... i arrived at Madrid at 2:30pm yesterday and tried to change my flight for the same day but the last flight of the day was full. So i went to the city center, walking around and remembering my visit 5 years ago. It was very hot and sunny, yes we're definitly in summer! then i went over to Carlo's appartement, a friend of one of my friend from Guatemala. We went for a drink and for dinner then he let me his flat and went to sleep to his girlfriend's. So i had my private hotel :o) so nice! A short night but i had a good sleep. and this morning, back to the airport to go to Dublin. where i'm now for 5 days, visiting friends and enjoying my last few days of holidays before starting looking for a job :o(
Will add my last pictures in the next few days...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1148921880/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1148921880/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1148921880/tpod.html Mon, 29 May 2006 13:34:02 -0400 A milka in central america

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Mexico city, Mexico

On thursday, we went to Lago Atitlan with Mynor to a small town named San Lucas. Not touristique and with a nice view on the lake.well you really want to go there... after a chicken bus and two pickups we finally arrived with the rain. we had a nice lunch with a beautiful view on the lake. When the rain stopped, we went for a walk on the pier. Then we took an other pickup to Santiago Atitlan. a small road with a beautiful view! From Santiago we took a boat to Panajachel with a heavy rain, how exciting ;o) but we survived the crossing. An other chicken bus, and an other one... to finally arrive back to Xela! In one piece and after a nice travelling day.
At night, we went for diner with my friends and the guys from my house.

On friday morning, we left Xela at 7:30am direction Reu where i was taking my bus. Bye bye Xela and see you soon i hope! The bus arrived at 10:30 and after saying goodbye to Mynor, off i was on my way to Mexico city. a 24h trip, very tiring and without much sleep but that wasn't too bad. The mexican first class bus are confortable.
I arrived at Mexico city on Saturday morning and went to stay with my friend Ingrid. Yesterday i went to the city center and there was a big manifestation against the violence and for the liberty of the politics prisoners.
I'm flying to Spain tonight, bye bye central america!!! had 6 fabulous months and will always remember it! and will see you back in a few months ;o)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1161724680/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1161724680/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1161724680/tpod.html Mon, 29 May 2006 13:17:35 -0400 A milka in central america

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Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

This is my last update from Guatemala, I'm leaving friday morning direction Mexico city :o( my last weeks were very quiet, i stopped working with the kids and taking classes last week. so the last few days, i did some shopping, read, relaxed... today i went to say bye to everybody and especially to the kids. So sad but I'll be back soon!
Tomorrow, Mynor's boss gave him a day off so he can spend it with me. So we're going to Lago Atitlan for the day. Just hope the weather will be better because it has been raining a lot lately. and tomorrow we're going out with the guys from my house and friends. bye bye Xela and see you in 3 months hopefully :o)
Friday, Hansy and Mynor are bringing me to Reu, a town one hour from Xela. And off i go for about 24h of bus to Mexico city! and on Monday night, I'm flying to Spain for a night then dublin for a few days then... Paris! so have still a bit of time before going back to reality... slowly but surely!
Next update from Mexico city in a few days!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1147720020/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1147720020/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1147720020/tpod.html Mon, 15 May 2006 15:56:21 -0400 A milka in central america

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Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

On friday night, we went with Mynor to an Indian restaurant... delicious! then to a wine bar drinking white wine, eating cheese while listening to a group playing latin music. Very nice!
On saturday, i went to Totonicapan with two guys from my house. It's a little town 1h from Xela and Saturday is market day. It's a big one where you can find everything.
At night, i went back to the spanish school where i worked because a friend told me that Sary (the owner)was back. and she owned me money. So i finally see her after 3 months and we talked a bit. She broked up with her american boyfriend with whom she was travelling on a bike from the US and she told me that all the money from the business is gone. Well it doesn't suprise me with her brother taking care of the business! I'm feeling sorry for her even if i shouldn't after the way everybody treated me.

Yesterday, we went to Mynor's village about 1h30 from Xela. They have nice hot springs so we had a very very hot bath! well at least Mynor because i couldn't enter the water... just my foot was enough... then we went to visit his cousin who owns an hotel in the village. Her husband, like most of the men in the village is living and working the US. It is the case of lots of families in Guatemala, the man go to the US to earn more money and send it to the family. Mynor's dad is coming back to the Guatemala in 2 weeks after beeing away for 3 years. he has too 2 brothers and one sister living in California.

This week is my last week working with the kids and studying spanish. Next week, i want to travel a bit and do what i didn't have time to do until then.
The raining season has started and we have rain every evening/night and sometime during the day. Well i'm getting ready to go back to Dublin ;o)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1147294440/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1147294440/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1147294440/tpod.html Wed, 10 May 2006 17:20:42 -0400 A milka in central america

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Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

Last weekend was quiet. On Saturday night, there was a music festival organized by the Alliance Francaise and it was nice. Many groups and different type of music: latin, marimba, percussion, rock, folk,...
On Sunday I went with Mynor to a market at Momostenango, a village at 1h30 from Xela. They have a beautiful market and i started bying presents and souvenirs. Momo is well known for its blankets. We went to see some red rocks naturally formed by the wind and water. Suddenly i thought i was in the south of France, in Provence. Except that it's sand in France and it's warmer :o)

This week, I have not stopped one seconde. I'm volunteering in the center for kids from 9am to 3pm, then I'm studying spanish at the school from 5pm to 7pm. and I'm absolutly dead! You think taking care of 5 kids it's easy but it's killing me, didn't think it would be so tiring ;o) So I'm mum for 6 hours a day... well i love kids but yeah I'm not ready to have kids right now! I'm adding some pictures of my kids ;o)

This weekend, I'm planing to travel to Todo Santos, the village i was supposed to go to with Cecilia but i got sick. I have only 2 weekend left before heading back to Mexico and Europe so have to travel a bit more! God time is flying toooo fasssttt!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1146837720/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1146837720/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1146837720/tpod.html Fri, 05 May 2006 10:31:48 -0400 A milka in central america

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Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

I'm back on track this week, nice after a week beeing home because of my kidney. So I'm studying in the morning from 9 to 12am. Working on my grammar because you forget very quickly... and in the afternoon from 1 to 5pm I'm volunteering at the Centro Bellota working with kids.

Opened on the 1st March 2006, it's really new and for the moment they have 5 kids between 2 1/2 to 4 years old. If you want to know more about the center,check their website: http://www.mayachildcare.org/Our_Project/
They need everything: games, books, dvd, clothes... so if you know someone who has kids games they don't need anymore or clothes, I'll organise a collection when I'm back to Europe and send it over. Or you can do a donation directly on their website. I'm thinking to buy a few things over here like books and dvd before i leave, just to help them a bit.

My afternoon whith the kids are usually quiet, trying to make them sleep for an hour of so. Not so easy with the oldest! Then we have an hour to play before the mums arrive.
Next week, I'm going to work from 9am to 3pm so will spend more time with them. You're getting attached to the kids very quickly... they are soooo cuutteee!

Tomorrow there is a music fectival organised by the Alliance Francaise and I'm going to help to be sure everything is working fine. And on Sunday will certainly go to a local market to start buying my souvenirs.

Mynor has started working with an other friend who owns a travel agency. He's really excited about it and he's enjoying his new job. It's a great opportunity for him as he's studying tourism at university.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1146613020/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1146613020/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1146613020/tpod.html Tue, 02 May 2006 20:07:10 -0400 A milka in central america

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Nebaj, Guatemala

This weekend, Monday was off so we decided with Mynor to go away for two days. So on Sunday we woke up at 6am (was actually 5am as we changed time during the night!)and made our way to the bus terminal direction Nebaj, a village in the north of Guatemala. We took the long way, first to Huehuetenango then to an other town (sorry the names are a bit complicated to remember ;o))and finally to Nebaj! 9 hours trip, 3 chiken buses, but the landscapes were amazing travelling across the moutains. We arrived there by 5pm and the first thing we did was find an hotel and took a nap. My back was killing me, that's why i usually avoid taking chiken buses for a long trip but there we didn't have a choice.
Nebaj is a small town of 11000 inhabitants in a valley surrounded by mountains and far from everything. They suffered a lot during the war, many people were killed by the army and some villages around were absolutly destroyed. Now it's a very quiet town with a beautiful central park and church.
We left town yesterday at 10am, taking a minivan to Santa Cruz del Quiche or Quiche then a chiken bus to Chichi which is very annimated on Thursday and Sunday, market days. Its market is very famous across the country and especially for the tourists. The other days, it's a quiet city. We went for a walk to the top of a hill where they do some ceremonies. It was quiet busy, people come from far everyday. It was nice to walk a bit after so much time spent in a bus! and you have a good view on the city from the top.
After a late lunch, we decided to make our way back to Xela. An other bus... and an other one... so a total of 7 buses in 2 days! who did worst??? The last part was quite entertaining because they put 80s american music so we were singing with 2 american girls we met on the bus.

This morning, i started my spanish class back at Utatlan school where i studied in January. And this afternoon i started my volunteer work at the center for kids. I'm taking care of 5 kids between 2 and 4 years old between 1 and 5 pm. It's... tiring! Especially when they are supposed to sleep but can't stay quiet, jumping everywhere ;o)but they are great kids and they adopted me straight away. just bit hard to understand them sometime so i just say..si, si..and nod... I enjoyed my first day and might work there full time next week.
Tonight I'm going to see a documentary on Guatemala named "Todo Santos" (it's a village in the north).
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1146255420/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1146255420/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1146255420/tpod.html Fri, 28 Apr 2006 16:26:14 -0400 A milka in central america

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Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

Well after a hard week, things are getting slowly better...oufff!
First my parents sent me money via Western Union yesterday and I got it the same day, so I'm feeling rich again (at least for a few days...). I was able to pay my rent so they won't kick me out! For my credit card, a friend is sending it over by DHL (hopefully i'll get it before i leave!).
I went to the doctor this morning and i haven't an infection but some germs. So she gave me an antiseptic to get rid of it. No alcool during 20 days... oupsss! so yesterday i took some advance by finishing with Jen the bottle of baileys my friend brought.

Tonight is the last night of jen in Xela. She's leaving tomorrow morning for Guatemala city and flying back home on Sunday. Sniff! I'm going to be the only one left of our group of friends. Luckily i have some company :o)

On sunday we're going away with Mynor for 2 days. I'm looking foward to go away of Xela after a week beeing too sick to do anything.
And from Tuesday, I'm going to study more Spanish in the morning and work in the center for kids in the afternoon. So will be busy for my last few weeks!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1146075240/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1146075240/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1146075240/tpod.html Wed, 26 Apr 2006 14:29:58 -0400 A milka in central america

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Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

You know the story "My name is Claire and I'm very unlucky"? well that's the name of my future book...
So why am I unlucky? well let's think...
1) I have no more job
2) I'm sick. I went back to the doctor on Tuesday and I have still a kidney infection. the antibiotics they gave me didn't work... so i did more test and will have the result on Friday morning.
3) i have no more credit card! I came here with 2 thinking i will be safe, well i was wrong! My french one got stolen a few weeks ago and yesterday i learnt that my Irish one has expired! yahouuu! They changed all the credit cards in Ireland because now they have the electronic puce and sent me a new one in Dublin in December. But of course i didn't know so my card exprired at the end of march. So i have now a credit card in France, an other one in Dublin and I'm in Guatemala... without having access to my money. So my parents are going to send me money via western union and i asked my flatmates to send me my credit card with DHL (that will take about 2 weeks if am lucky...).
So here I am, sick and without money... and I'm loving it ;o) but for the good side (there is always a good thing even in the worst situation), i have somewhere to stay and i have a lovely boyfriend who is helping me to get through this shit.
I was supposed to start volunteering today but I'm too tired so will start on Monday and will start some Spanish classes too. So have a few more day to get better while waiting for my money to arrive. and after parrtttyyyy ;o)
Cecilia left this morning and is on her way back to Europe. She had a good time to Todo Santos, it's just such a pity i couldn't go with her. Jen had food poisoning and came back sick. She's going back home to Canada on Sunday and will let me alooonnneee!
Oh well i have 4 weeks 1/2 left so will survive on this crazzy world :o)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1145907420/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1145907420/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cbourgin/central_america/1145907420/tpod.html Mon, 24 Apr 2006 16:19:57 -0400 A milka in central america

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Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

Yesterday, Mynor came over to the house for lunch then we went to some hot springs named Agua Armagas. They are 30 mn from Xela, in the valley. I had been there once with the school last January but it was the first time for Mynor and off course Cecilia. They have a swimmimg pool and some very hot private bath. On the way in, we saw a procession for baby Jesus with beautiful carpets.We stayed at the hot springs for 2 hours, relaxing and enjoying the hot water. We took a pick up from Zunil to get there and he was supposed to pick up us around 4:30pm. But he didn't show up and it started raining. We walked for about 10mn before finding an other pick up to bring us back to Zunil and once in the Chicken bus to get to Xela it started raining very hard. and it didn't stop for all night, pouring rain! They are saying that the raining season is starting earlier than usual, i hope not!
At night, we had a dinner with my new housemates. In the house, we're 9 people from the USA, Canada, France, Spain and Germany. We're sharing a big kitchen, a patio and the showers. It's well organized and they're all very nice. Once a week a diner is organized and people take turn to cook. It's nice to be able to invite over whoever you want without having to answer questions. Well i think i'm going to enjoy my new life!

This morning i was supposed to go with Cecilia and Jen to Todo Santos, a village in the north of Guatemala. But I'm feeling sick again and i don't think i will have been able to support 5 hours in a chicken bus! God am so fed up of this kidney, won't give me a rest! I will have to go back to the doctor i think.
I tried this weekend and this morning to take money from my credit card but I coudln't. I don't what is going on, have to call my bank first thing tomorrow morning because i have not much money left. Enought for a few days until hopefully things go back to normal...
On wednesday, I'm going to start my volunteering and I'm thinking to take Spanish classes in the morning. I really need more classes because my Spanish is not really improving.
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