AngelaWendel

I arrived in Guatemala to a beautiful morning and quick drive from the capital of Guatemala City to Antigua. After a stop at the hotel to drop off the 75 lbs of baggage (no kidding) I headed out to explore the city with my new travel partners, Joyce, Stefan, Nathaly, Kim and Dan. Almost immediately we were entertained with a parade honoring the Patron Saint Francis of Assisi, with full band and majorettes and big headed costumed characters. The first song we heard the band playing was Lady Gaga's Bad Romance - a surreal moment in the colonial city of Antigua. From the central park and plaza we strolled along the cobbled stone roads to an indoor artisans shop just before the sky opened up and the first of many torrential rain storms started. The city ... read more

As I work through my long to-do list, what is it I'm trying to accomplish while away from family, friends, comfort and consistency? It all started with the need to build a house in Guatemala and has morphed into something bigger and more exciting than I could have imagined. Can I be spontaneous? (Yes, just give me a minute to plan everything first.) Can I live out of a back pack for months on end with three pair of pants and one tube of toothpaste? Can I work in the heat of the tropics and cold of Patagonia, in a tent with a 55 degree sleeping bag? Even if I find no answers, I've been given a wonderful opportunity and I'm taking it with both hands! The first order of business was to lighten my load ... read more