Last of Antigua

Alright guys...sorry...I didn´t have the guts to get up and air guitar. I know...I let you all down and I´m sorry. I won´t miss another opportunity like that...promise!

This week here has been great. I made some friends and learned some spanish from a great teacher (you can see their photos at the end). My spanish classes were one on one and I really got a lot out of it. She asked me what I wanted to learn and did the best to teach me it all. I definitely have increase my vocabulary a lot and know how to speak spanish slightly more fluently. The more classes I took the more I found out how much irregularity is in the language and that I have a huge task ahead of me to become fluent in spanish!

Also at the end are pictures of the nicest Mc Donald´s you will ever set your eyes on. Don´t worry...I only went into it to take the photos...I didn´t eat the food.

Alright...now for the coolest thing I did here. I hiked up Volcan Pacaya. I was picked up in a tourist van at 2 pm. It rained on the way there, tough luck...but that´s how it goes in rainy season...but when we got there the rain had cleared. (haven´t seen any since) A little after 3pm we arrived at the base of the Volcano. We were bombarded with 10 little kids trying to sell us the use of a stick while hiking. Most people did not get one, me included. Our group leader started us out and it was straight up! We walked for 10 minutes and took a break...it was well needed. Did that a few times and then eventually it wasn´t so steep so the breaks were fewer and far between. I cannot tell you how amazing this was. There was a view of Volcan Agua with Guate under neath, awesome formations and beauty and death all around us at the same time! I climbed all over Volcanic rocks...very sharp and not stable at all. I even stood just a couple feet from flowing Lava!!!! That probably wasn´t the safest thing I´ve ever done. There were tons of streams of lava flowing and rocks were moving all around us. I stepped over onto a rock and while looking down I saw the cracks of the rocks glowing red. It was really hot because I am pretty sure we were standing over rocks that were not very old. You could smell buring plastic from peoples shoes who stood in one place too long. I´m telling you...it was crazy. I was above the clouds and saw a beautiful sunset. We realized it was getting pretty dark so we had to start back. Half the walk back was in complete darkness except for the headlamp someone had brought. Such a great adventure. Wish someone was there to share it with me. I did make friends on the hike..or at least found people to talk to, but it´s not the same! Enjoy the videos of the Lava!!!

So here I am...just on more night in Antigua. Tomorrow morning I have my last spanish class and then I am off to San Pedro. It is on Lago de Atitlan (Lake Atitlan). Made a friend Mike who I am going to meet there (hopefully).

This is me signing off!!! Miss you all! Hope you enjoy the photos and videos!

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Part of trip: Guatemala and Belize

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