Guate

(Let me state that before you read this post, there are a lot of "best ever" classifications. The Weiss' have been know to throw that phrase out from time to time, but believe me when i say "best.")

Wow! Guatemala was awesome and I can say that it was the best trip of my life. When each day seemed as if it couldn’t get better, it did:

Day 1 – Punta Gorda, Belize to Puerto Barrios, Guatemala – 1 1/2 hour boat ride across the bay. Small boat + medium sized waves = fun ride. 6 hour bus ride from Puerto Barrios to Guatemala City. 1 1/2 hour chicken bus ride from Guate to Antigua, or as the conductor put it: TIGUA! TIGUA! TIGUA! We arrive in Antigua and head to our hostel: El Hostal. We head out for dinner and find this awesome sushi place that had the best pad thai I have ever had.

Day 2 – Walk around the city and decide to sign up for the Pacaya Volcano night hike. Lunch before hand we had panini's (something we can’t get in Belize) and they were awesome. Shuttle left at 2 pm and returned at 9 pm. Best hike i have ever been on: high altitude, volcano, lava flowing at the top, roasted marshmallows on volcano lava! crazy. It was a “Humbling, Earth Experience” as i like to call them: being tossed around in a rip tide, skiing, small boats in a big ocean etc.

Day 3 – We walk around the city in the morning and took off for Lake Atitlan in a 3 hour shuttle ride. A lake that has been called the most beautiful lake in the world; and i have to say it very well may be in the running. Our hotel was awesome: we had a private cabin with a incredible view. If you got to Atitlan, stay in Santa Cruz at the Iguana Perdida. Delicious commune style organic dinner.

Day 4 – Signed up for a Mayan weaving class and it was really cool, we were invited in to their home and they taught us how to weave this backstrap/belt type thing and it takes a lot of work. Whenever Mayans pass us in Belize we always say how expensive the gifts are, but now I understand: it takes a lot of work. Julie did Yoga in the morning too, which was given to her for free thanks to her Peace Corps status.

Day 5 – Back to Antigua and as we are talking about leaving this guy comes up to Julie and I and he says “where are you heading?” We say Antigua. He says he can give us a ride. no charge! Whoa. Saved us a few Quetzales. We also met some PCV’s from Guatemala who gave is this backdoor place in Antigua for 30 Q for the night. We later ran into this guy (Patrick) in the central park and he took us out to dinner!! Awesome!

Day 6 – 4 am Antigua to Guate shuttle. 6 am bus ride from Guate to Puerto Barrios. 1 1/2 hour boat ride from Puerto Barrios to Punta Gorda. Sike. 3 hour boat ride: small boat + really big waves = pant shitting fear that your life is about to end. Scariest boat ride i have ever been on, but for some reason i kind of enjoyed it. I should have been in the NAVY, or when you feel that your life is about to end, sarcasm takes over.

What a trip!! If you ever have the chance to go to Guatemala, go to Antigua and Lake Atitlan. I truly feel blessed to have had an opportunity to take a trip like that, especially to experience it with someone I really care about! I shaved my beard finally. October – January.

Check my pictures out on facebook.

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss