An old Western movie - Guatemala - Antigua
Trip Start
Jan 12, 2008
1
9
41
Trip End
Jan 15, 2009
Antigua Guatemala,
Guatemala
Friday, February 15, 2008
01 Guatemalan buses
. Security gaurds out front of banks and other spots, considered important or valuable, with shotguns who confiscate pistols from customers on the way in. hahaha. Others (cops etc.) walking around with AK47īs or other automatic weapons that I reackognised but didnīt know the name of. Funnily enough, however, these people make you feel safer, then not. Me and Katie both love the place and would go back any day!2 days ago, we did a hike up volcan Pacaya with a guide and about 70 other tourists. We drove most of the way up the mountain, then it took us about 1 and a half hours to climb the rest of the way up the active beast (not quite to the peak). When we got there, we were simply blown away, it was so amazing and surreal. We were probably 200m (altitude) below the peak and we looked out upon a mass of dry lava from previous eruptions and oozing amongst the rock, there were slow flowing lava streams rolling down the mountain. We actually, against all reason, hiked down into the mass of dry lava rock where we stood about 10 feet from the flowing lava. At some points you could look down through the cracks in the rocks and see the glow of orange lava flow beneath you, and feel a glimpse of its immense heat on your legs - very disconcerting. Only in Guatemala could you do something that dangerous. The guide actually said, "they donīt take tourists to the top anymore because it is too dangerous"
02 Volcanoe Pacaya - the conquest
. I was grateful for that, because if what we just did wasnīt too dangerous, then I imagine thatīd be nuts and surprisingly, we decided not to press the matter.I did have a few experiments in mind, as one would, having never seen lava before.
1) The rock throw test - Aim: To see what would happen if one throws a rock into lava
Hypothesis: It would melt and maybe splash if I was lucky enough
Outcome: The first rock actually bounced off the lava as it must of hit a patch that was a bit hard, 2nd attempt: The rock disappeared into the lava with no splash. Suspected outcome: The rock melted and become one with the earth again.
2) The stick poke test - Aim: To see what would happen if you poked the lava with my hiking stick, purchased for Q5.00 ($0.70) from the local kids at the bottom of the mountain.
03 The old dry Lava behind us
Hypothesis: It would dematerialize it a matter of milliseconds and become one with the lava-in my dreams.Outcome: Upon poking the stick down one of the cracks between the rocks, the stick (about 20cm of it) immediately caught fire, just as it touched the lava and the draft blew flames through the cracks in the rocks for approx 1 and a half metres - very cool and extremely enjoyable. Especially when the local kids ran up to me to get my stick back at the bottom of the mountain, hahahaha.
3) The marshmallow test - Aim: Does a marshmallow toast near lava and if so, does it taste better than a marshmallow toasted by the fire?
Outcome: YES and YES (only because you know that it was toasted by lava).
The whole experience was sooo mad though. It was definitely a highlight for both of us so far. Neither of us ever expected weīd ever see molten lava like that. Amazing and so foreign, especially for Aussieīs who have no volcanoes, let alone earthquakes back home.
It has been such a financial relief, arriving in Guatemala after Brazil, the conversion rate is approx AUS$1.00 to Q7.00 (Quetzels) and a 3 course meal with drinks at a medium priced restaurant can cost you around Q120.00 (AUS$17.00) which has been delightful
04 YEOW! LAVA!
. It is hard to spend AUS$100.00 a day here including accommodation, 3 meals, a little splurge at the markets, getting around, a volcanoe hike etc. even if you try.Next Monday we start our Spanish course in Xela which we are both looking forward to. We canīt wait to be able to have a basic conversation with the locals. That's how you really experience a country, getting to know its people and chatting to them. The school did however suggest that we both do 1 on 1 classes for 5 hours a day which we agreed to, but it sounds very intense - weīll see how it goes. It sounds like a quick way to learn Spanish, which will be great. Depending on how we go, will depend on how many weeks we will stay there.
The markets here are cool. The local arts and crafts are amazing and so colourful. The traditional dress worn by the mayanīs are very colourful and as such, you find a lot of those colours in the markets. You hear it about a lot of places - "The people are so friendly", but it really is the case here. Going from L.A to Brazil, to Guatemala has just gotten better and better. These people are generally so happy and friendly and will just stop you on the street for a chat asking where are you from, what are you doing here.... etc. It is amazing as they are so poor but so content. Everyone, says Ola, or Ola Amigos when you walk past just as the norm.
We left Antigua on Friday morning to catch a shuttle to Panajachel which is on lake atitlan, on the way to Quetzaltanango (where we learn spanish).
