Our final days in Guatemala, until we return again shortly

As our time in La Florida came to a close, we had five more days until our 90 day visa came to an end. So to start if off we hit our old stomping grounds of Xela and Antigua. Back to Casa Argentina where from our Goldie Locks experience of terrible beds we got our most comfortable one to date. I guess as the old saying goes “the sixth time is the charm. We also had a great time catching up with our fellow travel compatriots there, plus another salsa lesson (that’s the dance not a how-to course on making the condiment), and a chance to see our old teachers and school while enjoying the city one last time. In Antigua this time there was not the hustle and bustle of Semana Santa so the scene seemed very subdued to us, which was a very nice thing. We got to see Casa Sito crew, Rory and Maria again, feasting on some Irish stew made by someone who can claim the recipe. And by wonderful coincidence Jenn and JJ were there making a lovely Peace Corps Jamaica reunion! Always good to catch up with good people.

The other highlight of being back in Antigua is that it is the jumping off point for most people going to climb Pacaya, a young and very active volcano in the region. As last time we were there it was actually deemed “too active” to summit, we postponed our visit. This time it was just active enough for us to melt the soles of our shoes and chase us away from a spot where we casually noticed a new molten lava shoot was forming 40 feet above us. We actually got close enough to the flowing lava (that is liquid rock you know) that we could have roasted marshmallows. Remarkably we made it down with no problems, stopping occasionally to check out the incredible view and reposition our new custom soles as the glue was beginning to reharden.

Next came an 8 hour ride of uncomfortable “sleep” getting to Flores in Peten, a new area of Guatemala for us as we emerged from the mountainous highlands to the heat of the tropics at last. For anyone knowing a little something about Guatemala, you might know Flores is the usual jumping off point for Tikal-bound tourists. Tikal, the great Mayan ruins tucked in lush rainforest with wildlife abounding and amazing architecture millennia old. Well, we didn’t go there. Gotta save something for a return visit and we lounged around Lake Peten exploring new markets, worked on the never ending web sites, and took some time to just relax.

Thank you Guatemala for an incredible three months, we will miss you.