TravelStream™ news feed for member tadbrad on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/tadbrad en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:15:20 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1202067720/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1202067720/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1202067720/tpod.html Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:15:20 -0400 Trekking across Guatemala

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Lanquin, Guatemala

Well, my days as a Quetzaltrekker guide have come to an end. My final day in Xela was last Saturday. I spent the day filling my already overflowing pack with new items. That night, I enjoyed one final meal at my favorite restaurant in Xela - Alfredo's. Yes, I know, my favorite restaurant in Guatemala is an Italian one? Indeed. First, the national cuisine of Guatemala is not especially memorable - rice, beans and corn tortillas get old very fast. And second, Italian food is almost always good, no matter where you are. So, we spent the evening gorging on pasta, pizza and decent wine (hard to find in Guatemala). The final supper was also preparation for the next day's event - a one day trek from Xela to Lake Atitlan. Now, I've led this trip many times over the past 3 months. But typically the trip takes 2.5 days. As my final act as a QTer, I rallied a group of guides for this challenge. There were five of us - Asier (one of my best QT friends and Basque Country booster), Justin (legend Tajumulco guide and great guy from San Francisco, also a UW Husky), Daniel (from Colorado, we call him "Robo-D" because he's such a strong hiker, he just can't be human) and Wilson (the 16 year old Guatemalteco, guide-in-training). I'm not sure how well I have explained Wilson's history and role with QT. He is a graduate of EDELAC and was one of its star students. He started working for QT last year. He helps us with the preparations for treks and does odd jobs around the office. He also joins as a "guide-in-training" on several treks. In exchange, we pay him a small monthly stipend. QT also helped to find him an English tutor. He hopes to be a guide someday and being able to speak English is a critical skill and will certainly set him apart of many of the other local guides in Xela. Ideally, he will one day work for QT as a full guide. This, of course, would require a change in the organizational structure, given that all guides are currently unpaid volunteers. But thats an issue for another time. Back to the trek, it was great to have Wilson on the trip. I was a little surprised when he told me he wanted to go and a little concerned whether he would be able to keep up with us. But we hiked together many times and he was always very strong and enthusiastic. So, I said, "Why not?" Plus, he is having some difficulty dealing with the revolving door of QT guides. It must be tough; he looks up to many of us and just as we start to get to know each other, its time for the volunteer to leave. And this happens over and over again. So I was happy to be able to spend some quality trail time with him before leaving. The trek was great fun. We charged up the initial hill through the beautiful cloud forest reaching the "Alaska" plateau in little over a half hour. We were moving. And sweating. From this point, we jogged off and on all the way across the dry grasslands and then back into the cloud forest on the other side of the plateau, descending to the little mountain village of Santa Catarina. We arrived at 11:15am, just over 2.5 hours after starting. Normally, the trek arrives around 4:30 in the afternoon. Meeting us with cakes in hand, was Lucy, the American volunteer from Spokane who runs a baking collective with the local women. We took a half hour break to gorge on chocolate zucchini cake and then continued on. Our goal was now to catch the scheduled trek, which had left Santa Catarina that morning. We figured they were about 3 hours ahead of us. Keeping up our frantic pace, we enjoyed nearly perfect weather, lots of sun but not overly hot. Around 1:30, we spotted the trekkers ahead of us, slowly snaking their way up the hill on the other side of the valley, just after the lunch spot. With a rally cry like a group of Indians, we flew down the hill, into the valley and up the other side. Cresting the ridge, we spotted the group several hundred yards ahead of us. We amassed together and then bowled down the hill, nearly out of control, emitting more warrior cries as we went. It was great fun dodging the wide-eyed trekkers and guides. We stopped, briefly, accepting some snacks and congratulations for our pace. Then onward, through the river valley to Don Pedro's, where we made one final stop to play with the kids and enjoy some liquados (Asier had not been to DP's since the Christmas trek and both he and the kids were very glad to see each other). We descended to the lake on the trail below La Nariz (the nose) and arrived lakeside around 5:30 - 8.5 hours from the start of the trail to the lake. After a brief (and cold) swim, we caught a launch to San Pedro and then made our way to Punta de Oro, the beautiful hostel owned by Georgi from Australia and the same place we stayed over Christmas. That evening, though exhausted, the five of us enjoyed a nice dinner, speaking mostly in Spanish for the benefit of Wilson. I was so proud of him. He proved himself an extremely tough hiker on this trip, keeping a very strong pace the entire way.

After this trek, I spent a little over a week relaxing and recovering in San Pedro. I finally managed to go paragliding after a week of trying and failing due to strong winds. Oh and I met a girl, who coerced me into staying longer than planned. ;-) Now I´m in this absolutely gorgeous place called Lanquin in the middle of the country. On Wednesday, I met my friend and former QTer Andy and our friend Sara in Antigua and we traveled together. Near Lanquin are the spectacular and idyllic limestone pools of Semuc Champey. Below the pools is an incredible natural wonder where the raging Class V Rio Cahbon thunders into a cave for 300 meters. We spent yesterday swimming and lounging in this natural spa. What a life. Tomorrow I´m heading north, not sure where yet but eventually to the Yucatan as my flight leaves on Thursday the 7th. In some ways, it´ll be hard to leave and head back to the ¨real world.¨ But I am ready for the adventures to come. . .
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1200003360/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1200003360/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1200003360/tpod.html Fri, 11 Jan 2008 15:36:28 -0500 Trekking across Guatemala

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Quetzaltenagno, Guatemala

Hello out there and HAPPY NEW YEAR! As I enter my final month here in Guatemala, I want to share some more experiences and pictures. But first, a quick bit of business . . . if you were/are planning to donate any outdoor gear to Quetzaltrekkers, you still have time! Click here to download more information regarding QT and gear donations. This presentation is a great overview of the organization (should be, I created it!) and covers all the important information regarding gear donations - what we need, where to send it, etc. If you are unsure about what to buy, it details specific brands. Also, send your donation as soon as possible. We are not sure how long the free shipping offer from Positech will last. So the more we can get to them now, for the first (and possibly only) shipment, the better! If you prefer to send a financial donation, our secure PayPal server should be up and running by next week. Check here. Finally, a huge THANK YOU to Denny Klem, my Parents and Bob Wildfang for their much needed donations! On the way to Guatemala very soon will be a new 6 man tent, cooking stove, headlamp and 36 pairs of socks! You have no idea how much these items will help us to better do our jobs and ultimately make more money for EDELAC!

Okay, back to the good stuff. . . The holidays down here were definitely different - warm, celebrated in Spanish (of course) and culturally very interesting. The first event was the "posada processions" starting nine days before Christmas. Intended to celebrate Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem, the manger scene (sans the baby Jesus - he is added Xmas eve) is carried through the streets, from one family's house to another, accompanied by the beat of drums and the screeching of whistles. All the Quetzaltrekkers and the kids from the dormitory participated in this tradition with the family who runs Casa Argentina, the hostel where the QT office is located. We all gathered at a house down the street and were given whistles, drums and lanterns with candles in them. The intricate manger scene is lit by a generator (!) and perched on its own thrown, carried by four people through the streets like a king. After parading through the streets of Xela, making as much noise as possible, we arrived back at Casa Argentina where we sang carols asking for lodging for the Holy Family. After the ritual questions and answers, the doors opened and all, most importantly Mary and Joseph, were provided lodging for the night! The family then fed all the participants a traditional Guatemalan Christmas meal of chicken tamales wrapped in banana leaves. It was a very fun event and was made very special as the family allowed all of us to participate. At the moment, I can't find the photos of this event, but I will keep trying!

A few days after this celebration, we spent an afternoon with the kids from the dormitory for Christmas. One of our volunteers, Asier, planned the day, starting with a scavenger hunt in a local park. We set up a series of activities that the kids had to complete - a wheelbarrow race, identifying the capitals of different countries, bobbing for apples in water followed by bobbing for grapes in flour, juggling a soccer ball with their feet, etc. After each team completed a task, they received a piece of the map that lead to the ultimate treasure - a box of Christmas gifts for the dorm. The kids had a ball! As did all the QTer's. Watching them run around the park with huge smiles on their faces reminded my why I am here in Guatemala. Later that night, we exchanged gifts ala Secret Santa. Each gift was to be hand made and purchased for less then 10Q ($1.50). Again, the kids impressed with their creativity and their thoughtfulness!

The next Christmas event occurred on our holiday trek to Lake Atitlan. As usual, we stayed with Don Pedro and family in Santa Clara La Laguna. Don Pedro and his son usually play a few songs with us after our dinner - DP on the accordion (!) and his son on guitar - but this night was even more special as well sang Christmas carols in three languages! Quiche (a Mayan dialect that many indigenous people speak in the highlands, including Don Pedro's family), Spanish and English. We also got a great Christmas gift - a visit by one of the kids from the dormitory and school - Henry! He is orphaned and was staying with a friend of the school in Santa Clara. The singing, the group dinner, the visit from Henry, it all added up to a wonderful night! The feeling of togetherness and joy made it finally feel like Christmas for me.

The final Christmas celebration was much less tame and much less holy. The trek arrived at the lake on Dec. 24th and we had a huge benefit party for Quetzaltrekkers and the school at a bar in San Pedro La Laguna. San Pedro is the party capital of Guatemala. No pictures of this event exist. . .or at least I'm not sharing them. Needless to say, it was a crazy night and unlike any Christmas eve I've ever had! We spent Christmas eve at a beautiful hostel on the lake, surrounded by three volcanoes and watching a fourth erupt in the distance! Most of the day was spent relaxing, recovering, swimming in the lake and playing beach volleyball. Again, a unique Christmas!

Finally, on December 27th, my cousins Lauren and Jen and two friends Jayme and Jenny met me in Antigua. It was great to have family and friends around. And also nice to have a break from the rest of the QTers. I love them, but we spend so much time together, time apart was good. The girls and I spent the next week tramping around Guatemala on a blitz tour. We learned to cook Guatemalan style in Antigua, burned our feet climbing to within feet of flowing lava on the VERY active volcano Pacaya, spent a tranquilo New Years in San Marcos La Laguna - across the lake from San Pedro and a world away - and then hiked half way back to Xela on the lake trail, allowing me to now claim that "I know the lake trek forwards AND backwards!" Check out some pictures here

So, only two weeks to go in Xela and then a few weeks of travel before returning in early February. I can't believe its been nearly 3 months! More to come as I finish my time here. . . oh, and send those donations!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1198606620/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1198606620/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1198606620/tpod.html Tue, 25 Dec 2007 13:25:42 -0500 Trekking across Guatemala

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala

Feliz Navidad and Merry Christmas from Guatemala! I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays, wherever you are! It is quite odd to celebrate Christmas in warm weather and in Spanish! And of course, its not the same without my family around. But, nonetheless, what a great experience - last week we had a day of fun and gift exchange with the kids from Escuela de la Calle. All the gifts had to be hand made, which made it even better. It was a great time and very special to see them give and receive gifts. This past weekend, I led a special Christmas trek to Lake Atitlan. On the night of the 23rd, we sang Christmas carols in Spanish and Quiche (Mayan dialect, one of 23 in Guatemala) with the family we stay with on the trip. It was great fun as well. I´ll post pictures and give more description later this week or next. I am meeting my cousins and friends on Thursday for a week of travel. It will be nice to have a break and to spend time with family.

Please have a safe and peaceful Christmas and New Year!

Tad
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1198020720/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1198020720/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1198020720/tpod.html Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:59:20 -0500 Trekking across Guatemala

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

You asked for them and you get em. Just photos. Enjoy!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1195168320/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1195168320/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1195168320/tpod.html Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:30:25 -0500 Trekking across Guatemala

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

A quick update from "The Land of the Eternal Spring" . . .

The last several weeks have been quite exciting and interesting not only for me but for all of Guatemala. On Oct. 31st, I traveled with several other Quetzaltrekkers to the mountain village of Todos Santos for their massive Day of the Dead celebration. What an experience. Imagine the Saturday night frat party at Appalachian State after their upset win at Michigan. Consider the level of drunken reverie that night. Now, multiply by ten. And throw in ages 10-80 for good measure. And a horse race where the goal is to stay on your horse as long as possible, while drinking . . . as much as possible (while riding if able). Now, you have the Todos Santos Dia del Muerte fiesta. It was pretty shocking from a 1st World, gringo perspective. Old men passed out on the side of the road. Groups of young teenagers staggering to and fro in the street. A massive head-on collision between two horsemen, resulting in the death of two horses and two injured riders. Apparently, its bad luck if someones doesn't die! What a place. Not a great representation of Guatemala but part of life here nonetheless.

On November 5th, Guatemalans elected a new President, Social Democrat Alvaro Colom. While he has been accused of resorting to pre-election violence and has ties to the drug trade, he seems to be preferable to his opponent, Otto Perez Molina, a former general with civil war blood on his hands and posters with a raised fist and the phrase "Mano Dura" - loosely translated "Strong/Hard Hand." But as my friend and fellow Trekker Charlie pointed out, Colom won largely because he gave out chicken at his election rallies. All Molina provided was cold rice and beans. Check the Colom box please.

Lastly, I am now a "lead" guide on the Lago de Atitlan trek and the "promotions coordinator" for QT. So, for all of you who said I'd never make something of myself. . . And, good or bad, my promotions job has been made especially challenging. Due to some shady dealing with a competing trekking company, Lonely Planet has decided not to include QT in their 2008 Central American guide. It is currently my job to try and figure out how to combat this potentially lethal blow to the organization. I know most of you are pretty smart, so any ideas, send 'em my way. Any contacts you have - travel writers/editors, outdoor gear companies, organizations looking for philanthropic opportunities and/or tax write-offs, educational funding groups, etc. I have about two months to create a plan and execute it before I leave.

Okay, sorry for all the words this time. I realize most of you are Americans and prefer pictures. Next time . . . I promise. . . probably.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1197568980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1197568980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1197568980/tpod.html Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:30:50 -0500 Trekking across Guatemala

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

Oh, what a wicked web we weave here in Xela. After two months, I have come to truly love this town and my friends here. What is it about Xela? It could be the winding, oft-confusing, ankle-breaking streets. Or the stunning volcanoes and proud ridgelines ringing the city. Or maybe the quaint, gringo-catering coffee shops or the gringo-less late night salsa dance clubs. It could be the scattered, chaotic markets or the smog-belching, careening city buses. The city has a pulse and an energy that is contagious. Of course, what really makes life here is the people: my fellow guides at Quezaltrekkers, the kids from Escuela de la Calle (EDELAC), trekking clients and the group of long-term volunteers who live at Casa Argentina (where our office is located). The pictures in this entry will give you a sense what my life is like here - as you'll see, we spend a lot of time having fun, laughing a lot and generally enjoying ourselves. We also do a lot of work, each and every day. Jobs are broken down into "coordinator" positions including: promotions, shopping (for trek food/necessities), sanitation, EDELAC, gear, financial, website/email, etc. Each guide is assigned one of these responsibilities, trained by a current or previous coordinator and then expected to perform the duties of the job each day. Most people have multiple positions depending on the number of guides. Currently I am the promotions and newsletter coordinator. Promotions is a pretty wide net, clearly. But on a normal week, I find myself designing, updating and copying posters for our treks, writing articles for local tourist publications, creating a powerpoint presentations and walking the streets looking for gringos to pester about our trips. In addition, we all spend a lot of time at the office, talking to prospective clients about out treks, signing people up for trips, chopping vegetables for trek food, washing dishes (with 12 people eating, there are always a TON of dishes), prepping for treks (organizing/testing gear) and trying, usually in vain, to keep everything clean and neat. The treks themselves are usually like a vacation. In my case, I get three days off a week while leading the trip to Lake Atitlan. We have a least one weekly meeting, usually on Monday, where we discuss the upcoming treks as well as an topics of concern or note. Like any organization, especially one that is all-volunteers with no designated leader, we have our moments of conflict and/or tension. There are also times where the cultural differences lead to issues. Currently, we have guides from the US, England, Germany, France, Spain and the Basque Country (DO NOT call him Spanish!). We also have all kinds of personality types - the hippy vegans, the stoners, the intense work-a-holics, the frat boys, and the easy-going climber/surfers. But, despite or more likely because of this diversity, we all get along very well. After we close the office, more often than not, we all assemble at a local watering hole for "just a couple of beers" (this usually turns into a much-longer-than-planned night of revelry). One especially memorable local haunt is La Roca Negra (The Black Rock), where is the bartender, Otto, truly knows his bar inside and out. Why does Otto know his bar any better than your average bartender? Why? Because Otto is blind. Yes, a blind bartender. Oh, and the toilet is located in one corner, with only a small shutter to shield you from prying eyes. But then, Otto is blind, so what does he care? Xela is quite a place. I hope these pictures give you a glimpse into my crazy Guatemalan life. Enjoy!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1196799120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1196799120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1196799120/tpod.html Thu, 13 Dec 2007 15:05:09 -0500 Trekking across Guatemala

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

UPDATE: Old, used gear that is taking up space in your garage or basement is great as well! It doesnt have to be brand new. Anything helps! Thank you all.

---

Hello out there! Yes, I am still alive and well here in Xela. This is a very quick plea to all of you during this season of giving. Consider giving to Quetzaltrekkers. We are in the midst of soliciting gear donations from outdoor companies and individuals. While out Christmas shopping, stop by your local REI or EMS and purchase a few items for our organization. One tent, sleeping bag or sleeping mat will go along way. Read below for more information and thank you!

---
Quetzaltrekkers, a non-profit, all-volunteer managed trekking organization based in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, requests your support through camping/adventure gear donations. Quetzaltrekkers is the primary funding source for Asociacion Escuela de la Calle (EDELAC), accounting for 75% of their annual operating budget. EDELAC is a non-profit organization providing education and rehabilitative programs to abused, neglected, and impoverished children in the Quetzaltenango area. Quetzaltrekkers also provides funding to Primeros Pasos, a non-profit medical clinic administering free or low cost healthcare to Quetzaltenango communities. Through your generous donation, you will help to continue the success of Guatemala's largest and only non-profit trekking company, thereby supporting at-risk youth and rural families.

Quetzaltrekkers offers multi-day adventure treks in the highlands of western Guatemala to an international clientele of outdoor enthusiasts. The most popular treks include a two day ascent of Central America's highest peak (Volcan Tajumulco, 4220 meters or 13,849 ft), a 45 km (27 mile) trek through the diverse ecosystems of the Lake Atitlan region and a 70 km (45 mile) trek through the remote villages and unique cultures of the Cuchumatanes mountain range. High-quality equipment is required to insure the safety and comfort of clients during these challenging treks. As a non-profit organization, Quetzaltrekkers relies entirely upon donations in order to properly outfit its clients.

Currently, the following items are needed:

Tents and tent repair supplies
Camping stoves
Sleeping bags
Water purification systems
Backpacks
Sleeping mats
Headlamps
Outdoor apparel and footwear

Your donation will allow Quetzaltrekkers to continue its support of EDELAC and Primeros Pasos for years to come. Since its creation in 1995, Quetzaltrekkers has donated over 2,770,000 Quetzales ($356,000 USD) to the EDELAC project. With this funding EDELAC has established and maintained a school and dormitory for disadvantaged children in Quetzaltenango. The Escuela de la Calle primary school provides affordable education, social and health services for 200 children. The dormitory, Hogar Abierto (Open House), is an abuse and drug-free living environment for children ages six to eighteen. The children, often brought out of unstable or dangerous living environments, are provided shelter and care by qualified social workers. For more information on the EDELAC project please visit their website - www.escueledelacalle.org.

All gear donations are greatly appreciated.

Please send all donations to:
Quetzaltrekkers Guatemala
C/O Positech, Inc
4134 36th St. S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
(616) 949-4024

Positech, Inc is a small manufacturing company that has generously agreed to pay all costs associated with shipping donated gear to Quetzaltrekkers. The President and CEO of Positech is the father of a Quetzaltrekker guide.

IMPORTANT: Please email a comprehensive inventory of donated gear to: info@quetzaltrekkers.com. (or if you prefer, you can email me at tadbrad@gmail.com) We are required to send this information to the Goverment Director of Donations in Guatemala for taxation purposes.

---

Thank you! My next entry will have pictures I promise!

Hope all is well wherever you are. Take care during this holiday season,

Tad





]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1194050400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1194050400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1194050400/tpod.html Fri, 02 Nov 2007 21:32:43 -0400 Trekking across Guatemala

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Quetzaltanengo, Guatemala

Given the number of regular complaints I get regarding the lack of pictures on my blog, I figured for this entry, I´d coalesce to the collective wishes of the masses. . . or, rather, the few, dedicated readers of this blog. The pictures in the attached album are of our most recent trek from Xela to Lake Atitlan. It is a stunning 2.5 day, 45km hike through cloud forests, highland grasslands and small Guatemalan villages ending at the ´most beautiful lake in the world,´Atitlan. Enjoy the pix. More ranting, mumbo jumbo from me about life in Guate to come later.

If you haven't done it yet, check out www.quetzaltrekkers.com to read more about what I am doing down here in good ol Xela!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1192654860/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1192654860/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1192654860/tpod.html Wed, 17 Oct 2007 17:12:10 -0400 Trekking across Guatemala

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Quezaltenango, Guatemala

So I´ve made it safe and sound to Xela. I just met several of the other
guides, all very nice guys. Two guys from the States, one from England
and one from Spain. I´ve got a room for the next two weeks at the hostel Casa
Argentina (where the Quetzaltrekkers office is located), during my ¨probationary¨ period. This is when everyone gets
to know you and you everyone and hopefully we all like what we see.
From my initial impressions, I´m gonna get along with these people very
well.


The flights were basically uneventful except for two
hiccups. The first, we had to ¨go around¨ on our first attempt at
landing in Guate City. There was really thick fog and just as we were
about to touch down, the pilots hit full throttle and up we went
again. That is the second time that has happened to me on flights to
Central America! When I flew to Belize last year, we also had to give
er a second go. The second hiccup occurred after I got my bag and
realized that I had very stupidly put my headlamp and pocket knife in
the outside pocket of my bag. As you can imagine, they were no longer
in that outside pocket. Could have happened at LAX or Guate, don´t
know. I´m not that concerned about the pocket knife but I really am
going to miss having that headlamp. The guys at QT say they have some
extras but we´ll see. That was really just dumb. Then, my final
¨doh!¨ moment was when I tried to pay for my bus ticket to Xela with a
$10 and the attendant really studied it and then rejected it cause it
was slightly threadbare and torn on one side. I forgot that they dont
like taking anything but super crisp American dollars down there. I assume because of a serious counterfeiting problem. And of course, all
my $10´s are a little worn and my $20´s are only okay. He finally took
my $20 but I could have serious trouble getting rid of my $10´s. Man, talk about the falling value of the dollar! They dont even want it in Guatemala! I was really mad at myself because I knew that was an issue and I simply spaced. You´d
think this was the my first time traveling to the 3rd world! Between those
issues and the fact that it finally hit home that I´ll be gone for 3
months in a very foreign land, missing Xmas, etc and I was left feeling
a bit unsettled. But arriving in Xela and meeting some of my fellow
guides has eased that a bit. Tonight we are going to play soccer with
the kids from Escuela de la Calle (EDLAC), so that should be fun. It
looks like I will probably go on one of the treks this weekend, either
the Mt. Tajumulco one (which I did before) or the three day Lake Atitlan
one (which I´d really like to do). The guides are currently debating
whether I need to go as a paying client or not, since I did the
Tajumulco trek previously. The one bummer is that there is little
chance that I´ll get to do all the treks and possibly only one or two
for the whole three months. And the schedule is pretty rigorous. But
all the guides really like being here and they were really glad to see
me, which is nice. There are about four or five newbies that just
started this week, bringing the total number of guides to 12. So lots
of new people to meet and hang out with. Now I´m off to get better acquainted with Xela and find a functioning ATM which always a struggle in Guate. The last time I was here in January, there was a serious money crisis in the country and most ATM´s were out of cash. Cross your collective fingers . . .
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1192558020/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1192558020/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tadbrad/guatemala/1192558020/tpod.html Mon, 15 Oct 2007 22:56:14 -0400 Trekking across Guatemala

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Seattle, Washington, United States

Well, here I go again. Yes, I'm off on another travel adventure. But this time, I'll be staying in one place for a while. I will be volunteering for Quetzaltrekkers, a non-profit trekking company based in Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala. All profits from the treks go to support Escuela de la Calle (EDALAC), a school for street kids and Primero Pasos, a rural health clinic. I will be leading hiking trips, ranging from one to six days. I also hope to volunteer at the school and possibly spend a month in a homestay. Quetzaltenango, or Xela (pronounced: Shay-La) as it is more commonly know, is the 2nd largest city in Guatemala (300K) and is located in the western highlands about four hours from Guatemala City. The city sits at about 7,000ft and is located in the heart of the volcanic range that cuts through the country. It is the departure point for most hiking and climbing trips. Given its elevation, Xela enjoys a slightly more temperate climate than elsewhere in tropical Guatemala. Which is very nice. I spent a few days in Xela in January. I happened upon Quetzaltrekkers when, on a whim, I joined two Aussie friends on a trek up Mt. Tajumulco. As I learned more about the organization and their mission, I was hopeful that at some point I'd have the opportunity to return as a volunteer. So here I am. I'll try and keep a semi-regular blog. I'll also notify you via email when I write a new entry. If you do not want to receive these email updates, let me know. See you in cyberspace!

For more information on Quetzaltrekkers: www.quetzaltrekkers.com
For more info on EDELAC: www.escueladelacalle.org
For more info on the medical clinic: www.primerospasos.org

]]>