In the evening we headed to Rolando’s friend’s beachfront house. The house was basic, but we had our own room with an air conditioner. We made dinner together and went for a late night swim in the fish shaped pool to cool off. We spent the next few days hanging around in hammocks and swiming to combat the humidity. The ocean was very violent. The waves were huge. We went for swims with extreme caution. Every 5 seconds we had to dive to the bottom to avoid being tossed around like a rag doll. Occasionally, a wave would follow another wave closely and catch us off guard and toss us around a washing machine. Fortunately the ground was rock free so the worst that would happen was a little disorientation and black volcanic sand in all ... read more

Welcome to the most beautiful lake in the world; Lago de Atitlan. Crystal blue water surrounded by volcanoes. We took a boat to a remote little village of about 600 people called San Marco. On the main foot path we met a lady named Lily, from New York, who directed us to her boyfriends place called Acculax. This place was amazing…just off the shores of the lake with incredible stain glass in every room. We settled in and met up with Lily who organizes a community after school program with local children. We spent a few hours playing and making necklaces. It was a great experience to interact with such innocence. Later that afternoon we walked around the village and found our way to the Moon Fish restaurant, were we had Tempe and Tofu for dinner ... read more

This was probably the most humbling experience either of us will ever have. We saw the opportunity “advertised” in the Lonely Planet and I (K) was unsure. These types of visits are often ill managed with families being saturated with visitors and numbed by the experience. The literature at the centre, EcoQueztal in Coban, was carefully written and clearly well planned. The organisation had been running for 12 years. 50 families were involved throughout the area and it was used to supplement to their regular income. All products sold and profits made were ploughed back into sustaining the development of the region. We decided to go. The following day, Carlos picked us up. With my sketchy spanish we managed to bumble along and make small talk. We took a chicken bus to a village where we ... read more

Our journey to the Mayan ruins of Palenque started with a rush to the bus station. We had to take 4 different subway lines and no time for mistakes. We arrived with minutes to spare and a chance to find some liquid yogurt and some churios (Mexican donuts). Our new Volvo coach entertained us with DVDs and air conditioned us into semi conscious comas. We stopped for some road side gruel, beans, some kind of poultry and fried platano (big tasteless brother to the banana). We were then approached by an attractive lady introducing herself and welcoming us to her country? Our first response was to figure out what she was selling then create a reason as to why we don’t want it. As time passed we realized that her roadside chitchat was just some friendly ... read more

FINALLY - we left cozy Canada and headed south to Mexico. The two weeks of travel down the west coast of the States will have to be saved for another trip. Sorry to those along the west coast with whom we deferred our visit for 3months and then another …..year…? Or do I hear you sigh with relief..? So, on to Mexico. First stop the Baja - that long finger of land jutting off the Pacific Coast (that’s on the left when you look at a map - well, you know, don’t laugh, it might be useful!). Warmly met at the airport by - the heat! - and Alex (a friend of Liam’s Grandma) we bundled into the car and headed, drowsily, back to La Ventana (meaning “the Window”). La Ventana is a small little fishing ... read more