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Published: November 19th 2008
I love it...
what else can I say (and yes my heard did skip a few while I was star-jumping!)Hola Todos,
The last month has been one accelerated adventure after another... Arriving in Guatemala was amazing! We had planned to find a Spanish school as soon as we got into the country and spend some serious time studying… but, of course, we managed to get a bit distracted enroute. You see, there were a few mountains on the horizon that simply had to be conquered. After a bit of research, we learned that not only was there a mountain we could climb to watch a volcano erupt in front of our eyes, but also, looming in front of us was the highest Mountain in Central America… so we immediately signed up for both and made our way to the thermal pools to celebrate.
The next day, at the crack of down we were scrambling up Santa Maria in the damp, chilly, dark, waiting for the sun to rise. Almost immediately, I started struggling. I was still on empty (literally) from a nasty little bug that seemed to make its way into my stomach in Mexico, and that with the altitude made me feel like I was trying to hike in space! I plodded one foot in front of
rostin in local hotsprings...
a bit touristy with the umbrellas... but definately worth it and a windy road off into the western highlands... the other as the guide and John ambled along chatting and perpetually stopping and waiting for me to catch up, puking, and hyperventilating… not a pretty sight!
But, with the determination of the ring (yep - that’s where I was pulling my mental game from) I slowly but surely made my way up, finding some interesting critters on the way and being stunned by the clouds we were well above. And, as one can well imagine, the eruption and final view were well worth the peril. Once at the top we hovered for warmth and awaited the hourly eruption. Satisfactorily awed, we made out way down - surprisingly and frustratingly easy compared to the trek up…
Of course, the preparation was essential, as the following day we rose at the crack of dawn, yet again, and made our way to the trail for Tacamolco, the highest peak in Central America. Luckily, with the “climb high, sleep low” tactical from the previous days trek, I managed to have a slight advantage, but it wore thin again as we reached the base camp at about 3000 feet. I was vomiting the last stretch to the point I broke off from
Me...
and a large volcano erupting behind me!!!! the group and had one of the Guatemalans run his bag to the top and come back for mine. I did manage to get to the top, blacking out only once or twice, but was spent and rested all evening, with the exception of a small climb to see the sunset (again, going for climb high and sleep low), though I almost didn’t make that one… It was a steep incline and a push to the top and I was dizzy and stumbling enough that an Israeli guy abandoned the natural climbing pace and climbed behind me, stabilizing me every time I started to tilt. We did make it to the top and sat there for a good long while, acclimatizing and taking in the view…. And then, despite the horror of my new Israeli buddy, I went on a photo spurt and even managed to attempt a handstand… though after the black and starts that immediately clouded my vision, I opted for a little less exertion, a wise choice considering I was so dizzy coming down, the Israeli had to hold my hand and catch my misguided lunges. But, I guess that’s what good friends are for!
The
next morning we managed to hike up for the sunrise (yep, a painful 3:00am depart….) but well worth, and then toured the crater and made our way back to the town, where we sadly departed for our next destination… School!
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