Blogs from San Pedro La Laguna, Western Highlands, Guatemala, Central America Caribbean - page 3

a Spanish student :p Ola amigos! Almost two weeks have passed since I updated my blog the previous time so I guess a little entry is due. Now I must warn the lot of you that those who are seeking trills and adventure, this post might come up short of your desires but nevertheless I will be writing an entry to give you some idea of 'what's hapnin'. So currently I am planning to stay here in San Pedro FOREVER :O na not really :) I like it here but I must admit that the urge to move on becomes greater with every day... so many places to visit, so many things to see. But anyway I will be continuing classes until Friday the 20th and decide then if I need a week more or not ... read more

I'll just come clean instantly and state my true intentions of visiting San Pedro La Laguna at lake Atitlan... I am going to attend Spanish-school for 4 to 6 weeks, depending on how long it takes for me to get the hang of it. I will be primarily looking to speak fluid basic Spanish to aid me in further travels and to allow me to communicate freely with the populace. That does mean that the blog wont be very interesting during that time but that's a small price to pay I guess. In San Pedro I will be following one-on-one lessons(which means I have a teacher all to myself) at a school situated at the shores of the lake. I will be in class for 4hours a day/5days a week and live in with a local ... read more

Lake Atiltan is situated high in the Guatemalan highlands; a Mecca for Spanish students and backpackers alike, ringed by small tranquil villages interspersed amongst volcanoes towering over 3000m, the area has been inhabited since pre-hispanic times and for most locals Mayan is still the first language. Like so many areas in Guatemala the Lake is situated over a Volcanic hotspot and the amazing scenery results largely from past (and present) volcanic activity. About 150,000 years ago a magmatic batholith formed - this is a vast subterranean pocket filled with magma - then 84,000 years ago "Los Chocoyos Batholith" blew its top and left a huge empty cavity which then collapsed under its own weight taking with it the surrounding volcanoes. The remaining hole or Caldera was over 18km across and resulted in the formation of the ... read more

This morning we made delicious breakfast sandwiches & headed out to find the McDonald's in town. We'd been told that it was the most beautiful McDonald's you'll ever see by this British couple in Lanquin. We found it quickly, after I asked for directions to it. It's true. The most fancy McD's we'd ever seen. First of all, it was huge, probably 3 or 4 times the size of your typical Ron's. There was the usual counter & seating arrangement. Plus a McCafe set up like a Starbucks off to one side. A McInternet with a handful of computers for the patrons to use. A huge play area & seating area for kids. Also a gorgeous courtyard with a couple of fountains & more seating (with cast iron tables & chairs). The view from the courtyard ... read more

(Day 820 on the road)Ask any traveller about their favourite spots in Guatemala, and chances are high that Antigua and Lake Atitlan will come up very high if not first (together with Tikal). And they are right. The charming, colonial city of Antigua and the dramatic, volcanic Lake Atitlan are certainly the two most beautiful spots we have seen in Central America so far over the past two months. Plus their location in the Highlands offered a welcome relief from the scorching heat of the rest of Guatemala (even too much at times, as we were often freezing at night, despite sleeping with three blankets). From Guatemala City ("Guate"), Antigua is easily reached in an hour on a local chicken bus, but the city couldn't be more different from the busy capital. With its narrow cobbled ... read more