Lago Atitlan, Chichistenango and Back!
Trip Start
Sep 01, 2005
1
5
163
Trip End
Dec 04, 2006
Antigua,
Guatemala
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
So a group of us from the school and household took off to Lake Atitlan for the weekend and stayed at a place called La Iguana Perdida, in Santa Cruz. Lago Atitlan is a beautiful lake high up into the mountains and was formed by the thrid biggest explosion ever recorded on earth, parts of the volcano was found as far asway as Alaska. The lake is surrounded by many towns and communities dotted all around the lake. The lush green habitat is just amazing and two large volcano´s loom over the lake giving it a surreal feel about it.
The hotel we stayed at was metres from the lake side and had many rooms ranging from private to dorm style rooms, all without electricity and hot water. But we are tough stuff! TRAVEL TIP: Never wear open toe shoes/thongs at night when the streets are unpaved and dimly lit! Time passed slowly and we were swimming in the lake for what seemed like ages but was more like an hour and we started drinking from 3pm onwards.
On that Saturday night our group joined in on the Cross dressing party the place had organised. From this point on my name is Ferrari. Dinner was an all out feast with a BBQ Chicken buffet and 5 mountaineous salads. As the night past we gorged through the food and beers quickly, dancing the night away in our choosen garments. It was all civil and nice until one of us came up with the idea to go for a swim, in the nuddy.
A real girls man!
Needless too say that it was a brilliant idea and most of us joined in (sorry no pictures). The water was a warm 23 degrees and we had a cresent moon looming above our heads.The next day we headed out of Lago Atitlan for Chichistenango nursing our hangovers on the 1hr trip there. It was market day and everyone and I mean everyone was out doing the hard sell. People, mainly kids and grannies were constantly harrassing everyone even when they were eating. I had 30 people alone come up to me! Anyhow we did abit of shopping and got out of there!
Coming back to Antigua I had tried to make the most of the time here in Antigua and enrolled for Salsa, Volunteer Work and a trip to Volcan Pacaya.
The next day after classes I went up to San Juan, which was actually one of the villages that I had visited early on the bicycle to help with Habitat for Humanity build a house. I was working with two other locals Balthazar and son 17 boy and we conversed with the minimal spanish I had as they both didn´t speak english. The dictionary came in handy (thanks bub!). After 5 hours of labour it was time to head back for dinner.
As I got back and was just about to take a shower, I saw Potsy and gave him a good pat and all of a sudden he jumped up and taken a bite out of the left side of my face. What felt like 6 seconds was more likely to be 2 but we were eye to eye. It came as a total suprise and lucklily he had missed my eye by a few centremetres. Carolina and Michael took me to the best hospital in town, where you can get plastic surgery for less than $20, and got it looked at. Luckily she called ahead as the doctor was just about to leave the premises. After the examination he recommened 3 stitches but was unable to to put them in yet just in case it is infected, so I´ll have to wait till friday. As he was writing out the prescription the lights went out and it was pitch black. At that point we all bursted out in laughter as it was just too funny! But on the biting not, whats going on! Wombats, mosquitos, monkeys and now dogs!
I´m not angry or upset that my face was bitten by a dog, but more annoyed that I have made all these plans and had to cancel or postpone them as the doctor said it may get infected. I guess it was meant to be. I do however feel sorry for Carolina as it was her dog, she was so upset and distraught over it. Apparently when dogs get desexed they are aggressive for the first 4 months, Potsy was two months after the operation. Also early that day both EJ and Erin both got bitten. If only I had known!
Needless to say I went out after dinner for a free salsa lesson at La Sin Ventura, one of many that I will take up. I´ve mastered 5 moves and will be crowned Salsa king before the weeks end! The liver will have to take a rest for the next 5 days as I´m on antibiotics. So now all I can do is salsa, school, shop and eat.....I can do that!
