Santa Maria's summit!

The sweet sweet sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet taste of accomplishment!

 

(key to summiting Santa Maria is turning left at these bushes, who would've know!)

After failed attmept number one of summiting Volcano Santa Maria.  Julie and I went back again, this time with two other comrades.  Left Xela at 1:45am.  Started hiking: 2:00 am.  Summited:  5:40am.  Shooting starts.  Volcano eruptions. 

 (Volcano Santiaguito erupting)

Mayan rituals.  Finally finding our way=best feeling EVER! 

Not to mention knowing that we didn't have to climb up anymore, that my friends was a great relief.   The legs were burrrrrning.

 

(biggest shadow known to me)

 

(Volcano Fuego erupting, it's near Antigua)

There were 25 or so Guatemalan's that had camped up on the summit under tarps, 2 feet off the ground.  I think this must have held the heat because otherwise I'm sure they would have froze.  While we were up there they formed a circle around what I'd call a priest, started singing, chanting and praying.  Quite the experience.

Before all of this started, one woman had sat next to me.  Shared my sandwich and my drink, I've yet to encounter a Central American that'll turn you down offering anything.

Volcano Tajumulco

What a weekend!

Volcano Tajumulco.  Aka, the highest point in Central America.  Close to the Mexico border.  Close enough we could see it.  High enough to make anyone’s lungs burn if they hadn’t been in altitude for awhile.

Got into Quetzaltenango Friday, signed up to do the two-day hike with Quetzaltrekkers immediately.  Quetzaltrekkers is a non-profit volunteer organization that leads hikes all over Nicaragua and Guatemala, all money made goes to education programs for the local kids.  Not a bad thing ehh!

Excited, didn’t know what was to come yet!  Ha.  Xela (Quetzaltenango) sits around 2333 mtrs above sea level.  After a few buses and breakfast we started our hike around 3000mtrs.  The summit sits at 4220mtrs (13,845 ft).
After a few meters of walking, I already needed a break. 3.5 miles up, 4.1 down.   I looked up to see this staring down at me.

Wondering, ‘WHAT AM I DOING?’  Talk about intimidation.  Not to mention a challenge with 50lbs on your back.  Supplies for myself and the group (which entails heavy duty sleeping back, tent, down jacket, snowboard pants, gloves, hat, scarf, extra layers, 4.5 liters of water, tub o peanut butter, jam and headlamp.)  We’d be camping.  Base camp sits around 4000mtrs.

During one of our breaks, which we all loved dearly, we see the locals walking down from presumably the summit.  With nothing but babies on their backs, not joking, babies.  No sleeping bags, no coats, just babies.  Ohh Guatemala!

We set up base camp, some of us pass out from exhaustion/slight altitude sickness for a bit.  Then we hike Cerro Conception for sunset.  What a sight. 

After a dinner of noodles, people I ate noodles, I had no other choice. Those that don’t know me well, I’m scared of noodles.  Long story.  We snuggled into our tent, no worries 7 of us in one!  Wake up call for 4 a.m.  It was early.  We were a bit lethargic to say the least.

And the hour hike up about burst my lungs, my heart was pumping triple time.  But the color of the horizon, the excitement of the highest point in C.A., the views, who am I kidding here everything was motivating me to keep my legs moving up.

Yes, I did slam a Red Bull at the top.  It gives you wiiings!  Why wouldn't one need that for the highest point in C.A.?

This is something I'll never soon forget.  We saw the sunset, moon rise then moon set and sunrise!  Volcanoes erupting in the background.  Volcanoes near Antigua and Atitlan.  A shadow that is too gigantic to explain, a shadow that says something.  Feeling the altitude.  Feeling the burn.  Sharing the excitement.  And seeing forever.

Talk about a trip.  Please do yourself a favor and look into Quetzaltrekkers.  Great people doing great things!

Bowl of intestines for dinner

I thought I ordered a steamy bowl of chicken drenched in a brown sauce with rice on the side.  That's what I pointed to anyways.  La Cancha the place.  A small tienda with a million too many things for sale in it.  You walk behind the counter and you're in a eclectic house/restaurant.  Where I sat down at one of the two tables, nicely patterned table cloth from the '70's.  With 8 men.  They had the bowls that I craved.  I must have looked like a flamingo because they looked at me like I just came from another contient. 

I liked what they had in front of them.  So I pointed and said I'd like one of those.  Next thing I know there's a bowl with red sauce, rice and you got it, intestines in front of me.  Cut in inch pieces.  Some with chuncks inside, some without.  Deep breath.  Stay calm.  Another deep breath, you can do this Hailee.  I already avoid noodles.  Imagine intestines.  One bite in and my confidence crumbled like dry bread.

So here I sit.  On a table with 8 men.  Staring at an entire wall of Jesus posters.  In a house/restaurant.  I drank my entire bottle of water.  Ate the three HUGE rolls of bread they served with the 'tines' and slowly stirred away.  Added what they'd call their chili/picante sauce, three times and the taste didn't improve. 

Nothing like an akward moment to top off everything I've already experienced here in Antigua.  Just wanting a local/cheap meal.  Got some intestines instead of chicken.  Watched the men enjoy their lovely bowl of goodness while they watched me dabber around the unknown objects in mine.

Phew, stuffed!  Bring on another town please!

A new way to bargain.....

And just when I thought I'd seen it all, I went to the market again.

Sending a postcard to a 4th grade class up in Minneapolis.  Needed the postcard.  Had 2Q, a bag of mandarines, peanuts and my keys on me. 

Postcard price 5Q.  We made a deal for 2Q and 1 mandarine. Yes, thats correct.  I bought a postcard using dos Quetals and a mandarine.  Why o why can't we buy things with fruit in the states?

Glenda even approved, saying 'buen negocio' and hugging me!

 

A big shout out to the women of Guatemala and their ability to carry anything on their heads while walking through the hectic maze of the market, something we'd see live on 'American Gladiators.'

This woman is carrying a baby on her back and HUGE sack on her head, while shopping.  Surprised she wasn't whistling.

Bed bugs again last night, tonight where to begin!

I've been restless all day as I ran into bed bugs last night at Ummagumma in Antigua.   So, once again I moved hostels, sent 45 pieces of my clothing to be washed and off I went.

Just when you think that things can't get any more disturbing, they do.

I went to a soccer (futbol) game today with my salsa teacher and the owners of my hotel. First game in Central America......holla!   Afterwards we stopped for beers and chiccharrones.  By the time night rolled around, I had picked up my laundry and made my way back to the hotel.  Was using my computer and salsa instructor returns very intoxicated, his plan to stay in the hotel as well.

I had been in my room, went down stairs to talk to man guarding hotel about drunk salsa instructor and how I really don't want to share my dorm with him, he ensures me all is ok and I won't have to.  I go up stairs only to find Andres (mr. salsa) naked in my room.  I immediately walk back down stairs and talk to guard man.  "Can you remove naked man from my room please?" (In spanish)  Again he ensured me all was ok.  He knew him.  The owners know him, I felt that this was a joke and wasnt really happening.

Stupidly, I trust guard man to remove him from my room.  I leave to go eat with my new Madagascar friend.  And return to something from a movie.  My room destroyed.  Half my washed clothes thrown about my room, my veggies tossed everywhere, other half of my clothes missing.  We go to other room where mr salsa is staying and my clothes/veggies are thrown about there too.  It turns weird.  Ha, ok more weird.  I start counting my clothes.  I took 45 pieces to the lavadaria and I only have 34 now.  Hmmm

My new friend looks at Mr Salsa and notices he's got pink lacy undies on.  YES that is RIGHT.  He had on 2, not 1, but 2 pairs of my underwear.  And my jeans. And a shirt under his shirt.  Don't worry, my wool socks too.  (wool socks really?)

I flip out.  He's drunk.  He's pretending not to know anything.  This dude, once my friend, my dancing teacher has on my underwear and all my clothes.   He's trying to leave.  I push him down.  Guard man, aka not good guard man, seperates me from him for good reason and makes him change clothes.  I demand money for the night.  To rewash ALL of my clothes and for my veggies. Mr salsa doesn't have 15Q, aka less than $2.  Guard man kicks him out after I get my clothes back.  And say's he's sorry.  I look at him like 'really guard man, you're sorry, do you really know how WEIRD this is, remember what we just saw, is this normal, you say sorry like it's nothing.'

I laugh.  Can I really experience anything more?  Really?  Seriously I just saw a man with my pink lacy thong on.  Sorry for the description, but it's needed.

Needless to say, no more salsa for me here in Antigua.  I need out of Antigua, but patiently waiting for my new ATM card to come.  Cross fingers it comes fast.  Not sure if I can handle this any longer.

What to do in Guatemala today?

You know you're a backpacker when:

You're walking down the side walk.  Big backpack on the back and little one on the front.  You're shades broke so everyone can see you crying.  Crying because you just said goodbye to your bestie after traveling two weeks with one crazy chica.  You're carrying a sack of stuff you bargained for at the market, in the morning, in one hand.  A half cut watermelon in the other.  The view on the sidewalk straight ahead is of a volcano.  And upon entering the cheapest hostel you just found, other backpackers just give you a nod.  As if saying, 'totally know what you're going through right now, pase adelante!'

Going to ramble a bit.  This is a blog more for me today.  Been in Central America now for over 6 months.  Living.  Working.  Learning.  Traveling.  And for the majority of those 6 months I was with people I just met.  Other than the 5 days with my sisters, I hadn't had face to face contact with a friend that knew me for more than a month.  And then Anna came.  WOW!  What a different take on traveling.  So many times we laughed until we cried.  So many times we'd stop, recap what we just saw or heard and say 'that really DID just happen' or 'only in Central America.'  So much fun to share those moments.

Here's a quick example, Anna you should really elaborate on this.

When we were in Semuc Champey (village) we needed internet to call Anna's mom, it was her birthday.  Why we thought it would be a quick cheap trip to Lanquin, I don't know.  9 kms away, it was $10 in transportation, remember grain trucks with tarps on the tops in which we were 2 feet too tall to stand in, we get to the 'internet cafe' and it sounds like bombs are exploding.  The kids playing killing games with a sound system.  Outside while Anna was on the computer, I see a kid playing soccer with no pants on.  Then another kid peeing off the side of a church.  Twenty minutes later, waiting for the ride back we watch a soccer game in the street.  We were approached by a drunk man with machete.  He offered us a ride in his car back to Semuc.  As he harassed us, the tienda owners next door laughed and watched.  Only to our amazement, it got more interesting as we saw a dog molest a pig on one side of the game, a  kid run through the middle with his shorts on his head and a turkey chilling on the other side.  All completely normal to the people around us.  A two hour unforgettable internet trip. 

Now, not decompressing but revamping myself.  It's different traveling with another person.  The things you think about are different.  The worries.  The necessities.  The ideas.  The conversations.  Will be staying in Guatemala for some time longer.  Not sure what to do yet, but when it comes to me, I'll be on the next bus outta Antigua.

Anna and I have ideas rolling now.  We're looking to get paid to travel.  We decided this worlds' playground is just too much fun to skip, we want to explore it all!  Thinking we can get sponsored or something.  We spent countless hours on the bus throwing out ideas.  If you have any, please share. 

SALSA!!!!!

Why not learn to Salsa dance!?

This is what Anna and I did this morning and yesterday.

Watching yourself attempt to salsa dance in front of a mirror next to your best friend doing the same thing, humbling?  Add that and being a foot taller than your instructor, things get REAL interesting

Not sure if it's a good sign when your friend stops dancing and starts laughing uncontrollable while starring at you.  I think she was trying to steal my moves!

Bienvenido a Guatemala!

(This is Anna)

Hola!  My first day in Guatemala was QUITE a success!  Hailee picked me up from the airport in Guatemala City and the adventures began right away.  Flying in to Guatemala I was taken back by the mountains everywhere, what a gorgeous view!  I was a little apprehensive when I arrived on the landing strip in my plane because there was no site of any additional planes, except for old beat up plans with propellers!  We took a taxi for $8 each to a town called Antigua which is surrounded by the mountains.  We did a hostel search when we got there and found a completely originally named hostel to stay in: Casa Amarillo.  Yep, it's a yellow hostel but very cute and the people are friendly.  Hailee said she is treating me to luxury since our hostel is $5.50/night instead of the normal price of $3!  When searching for a hostel for the night, it is important to check on the following items:

tour of the bedrooms
all you can drink clean water
breakfast inclusion
free wi-fi
if they have showers

Pretty basic needs right?  Things as an American you don't even think twice about having on a daily basis which I find interesting.

We hit up the market to get some fresh food....or ANY thing you could possibly need.  The markets here are like your one stop shop in the states such as a Target or Wal-Mart.  Anything you could possibly need they sell there.  Beware though, once you go into it, it's not easy to find your way back out of it!  For entertainment purposes we tested out the machetes and had a sword fight.

The streets are all made of uneven stone and people ride around on bikes which I would assume makes for a bumpy ride.  Just walking in the streets today I see a motorcycle WHIZ by with 4 people on it....two of them being a women feeding her baby a bottle!  Talk about multi-tasking, these people have it down. 

Had breakfast this morning that included eggs, black beans, fresh fruit, bread, potatoes, and cofee, SO GOOD!  Best thing is that it came included with our hostel stay for free.  This afternoon we are going to hike up Volcana Pacaya and roast marshmallows from the lava to make smores so stayed tuned for some exciting pictures!