http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/eliselondon/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from eliselondon en-us Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:34:53 BST Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:34:53 BST After leaving Toledo we arrived in Atocha Madrid train station and decided to leave our large backpacks in lockers and grab what we needed for the night and set out for a hotel. This can sometimes be an easy goal and other times not as easy. You wind up stopping at a hotel asking the price seeing if breakfast is included and then ask to view the room to see if itrsquos worth the money al http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Valencian-Community/Valencia/blog-268113.html Initially we thought wersquod go to Toledo on Monday the 24th since itrsquos approximately 45 minutes from Madrid but read in our Spain book that the Alacazar the main draw in Toledo was closed on Mondays. So we decided to go back north to Madrid after Sevilla to drop off our backpacks in the train station lockers and immediately head to Toledo to visit the Alcazar. We arrived in Toledo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Castile-La-Mancha/Toledo/blog-265204.html After being cold in Madrid we were really excited to head south to Sevilla. We went to the Atocha train station and bought high speed train AVE tickets to Sevilla. We met a nice couple from San Francisco that we chatted with on the 2 hour ride. Upon arriving we got a map at the tourist information center and asked how to get to the center of town. We took a bus and walked to a hostal dro http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Andalusia/Seville/blog-263359.html Adam and I took an almost two week backpacking trip to and through Spain and while I didn't want to take the time while there to Blog I LOVE reliving my travel experiences and sharing them so I've decided to write now about our travels since we've been back. We went to 5 cities and I will most likely make 5 entries but don't feel obligated to read any of the following. Though as always I http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/Madrid/blog-263304.html On saturday July 8th Adam and I took the boat from our resort to San Pedro to catch the Caye Caulker water taxi to Belize City. Here we took a cab to the airport and waited for Adam's plane which also happened to have Kristin and Rani on it. It's always hard to say goodbye to Adam and even a bit harder after such a glorious week but we know the goodbyes are now numbered and that makes it eas http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Belize-Barrier-Reef/Caye-Caulker/blog-72837.html Adam and I are nearing the end of this amazing vacation. Neither one of us wants it to end We're staying on Ambergris Caye pronounced key 4.5 miles north of San Pedro. And only a half mile off the coast line is the second largest barrier reef in the world. We can see the waves crashing on the reef from our room and the water is crystal blue and fairly shallow. Our resort has very differ http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Belize-Barrier-Reef/Ambergris-Caye/blog-72364.html Hi all Internet is scarce in N. Guatemala and Belize so these won't be as often as they were when I was stationary and in school. My last night in Antigua consisted of my family there giving me a purse I've seen several people go and they haven't done anything special for anyone but me that I've seen and 2 letters from Andres and Maria. It brought tears to my eyes. It was so touchingI we http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/El-Peten/Tikal/blog-71554.html 62906Last night my school showed a movie La hija de la pumaabout a Mayan girl who because of the army massacring her pueblo and surrounding pueblos doesnt know what happens to her brother when the survivors of her village flee to a Mexican refugee camp. She travels back into Guatemala and risks her life to find her brother. This movie takes place in 1982. 1982 Horrible events happening http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Volcan-Pacaya/blog-70548.html 62706There were rivers in the streets Seriously Literal rivers flowing through the streets. Can I tell you how funthat can be I don't think you can truly understand such a thing without experiencing it. On top of that today after all that storms the entire city was without water for over 4 hours. I guess it happens somewhat frequently after storms. It was interesting to say http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Antigua/Antigua/blog-69910.html Guatemalan TimeWhere do I begin Maybe I should begin by saying that Guatemalan time makes my Aunt Janeen look early And yes Dad you would hate it We always tell my Aunt Janeen atleast 30 minutes before we actually expect her. So to start off our trip to Xela nickname for Quetzaltenango pronounced Shayla the five of us Henry Stina and two sisters Abby and Lindsey ages 16 and 18 http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Quetzaltenango/blog-69479.html 62206I think I have discovered it HOT WATER Im scared to say it aloud as I dont want to jinx what might soley be luck but I think I have found the recipe for success. Ill elaborate in a minute.First I want to revisit yesterday afternoon. After leaving here I bought ice cream for Amilcars birthday party which is today and walked down a street I havent been down before and low http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Antigua/Antigua/blog-68533.html It was called La Azotea Centro Cultural and cost about 4. It had 3 museums in 1 and was very interesting. And it was so clean and nice The bathrooms had paper towels It was like the Ritz The three museums consisted of a coffee cafe museum with a finca farm attached and I got to see the plants the process and the machinery used including the men who separate the beans by hand. It http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Antigua/Antigua/blog-68226.html 61906A few facts about Lago de Atitlan that I didnt have time to mentionThe lake is very calm in the morning almost like glass and then in the afternoons is very rough. According to my guide book the Mayans believe that their god or one of their gods is accepting a drowned soul into the lake hence the roughness every afternoon. Very interesting The lake is an old volcanic crater that http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Lago-de-Atitlan/San-Pedro-La-Laguna/blog-67657.html I am writing from Lago de Atitlan the most beautiful lake I have ever been to surrounded by volcanos and tiny villages. We took a bus from Antigua to Panajachel about 3 hrs and then a boat ride across the lake to San Marco a quiet island whose focus was yoga massages and inner peace. There is no other way to describe it than breathtaking Its how I imagine Hawaii is but with less people http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Lago-de-Atitlan/Panajachel/blog-67446.html I would really like to remember all that Ive done and the order in which I did it but many if not all of you know my memory so here is my best shotWednesday night I was moved to a room upstairs since another traveler left. I then realized that I had been living in some of the family members rooms. While this made me feel very guilty I know that the money Im paying along with the other bo http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Antigua/Antigua/blog-67102.html I've done more exploring around the city and have found that I do feel much more comfortable than I did when I first arrived. Granted I've only been here 3 days but still. I can't imagine how I will feel after 3 weeks. I remember when I first moved to London I studied abroad for a summer in college for those who don't know and I was feeling brave in the first few days and felt like I had wa http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Antigua/Antigua/blog-66600.html I really want to capture all that Im doing seeing experiencing and feeling but hopefully it wont be a bore to those of you who read it. Thats my disclaimer I wont take it personal if you are bored to tearsjust dont tell me Im here during the rainy season and I did know that prior to coming but knowing that and living it are two different things. I wore my flip flops on sunday and http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Antigua/Antigua/blog-66344.html I am here It is still so strange to me that I can cross so many miles and countries in so little time. So far the worst part of my day was the ATL airport shocking I know I forgot how heavy a backpack can be I left ATL at 1025am and arrived in Guatemala City at 1255pm local time only a 3 hour flight Arriving over the mountains that surround Guatemala City was beautiful. Whe http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Antigua/Antigua/blog-65880.html Hello I am writing from Smyrna Ga trying out my first blog.....hopefully I get it right After today I have one more day of work and then I head to Fl to drop Mocha and Bella off with Mom and Dad. I'll meet Adam in Ft. Lauderdale for a friend's wedding spend a few more days in Melbourne and then head back to the ATL to fly to Guatemala City on Sunday June 11 2006...... I can't wait http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Georgia/Atlanta/blog-62994.html