(no subject)
drastic climate changes between the Flores/Tikal/Peten region and guatemala city. it comes with altitude. no more sweaty jungle. nighttime is perfect sweater weather.
the bus dropped us off at their office in guatemala city at 5 in the morning. we waited inside the office, guarded by a man with a shotgun for our transport to antigua to arrive.
antigua is spanish colonial in architecture. cobble stone streets, grid layout, colonial ruins, large catholic churches, etc. mountain scenery.
yesterday morning i climbed volcan pacaya with jon and john. it's an active volcano. i think it last erupted in 2000. looking into the crater at the top all the walls are yellow and steam constantly pours out. strange sulfur smells. 7500 feet above sea level. the last leg of the climb was rough and slow-going. it is hard to make a good foot hold when you step into the volcanic ash. going back down a different and steeper way, we just jump and slide down on our feet. the ash is light and fluffy, so it was like snowboarding without the board. or the snow...but one can sort of zig-zag across the narrow trail of ash on his shoes with frequent hops to keep from sinking too low.
john and i are staying in the honeymoon suite at posada ruiz. it was a steal at 37 quetzals a night. this is under 4 USD. cold showers in the morning will wake you up quick.
the bus dropped us off at their office in guatemala city at 5 in the morning. we waited inside the office, guarded by a man with a shotgun for our transport to antigua to arrive.
antigua is spanish colonial in architecture. cobble stone streets, grid layout, colonial ruins, large catholic churches, etc. mountain scenery.
yesterday morning i climbed volcan pacaya with jon and john. it's an active volcano. i think it last erupted in 2000. looking into the crater at the top all the walls are yellow and steam constantly pours out. strange sulfur smells. 7500 feet above sea level. the last leg of the climb was rough and slow-going. it is hard to make a good foot hold when you step into the volcanic ash. going back down a different and steeper way, we just jump and slide down on our feet. the ash is light and fluffy, so it was like snowboarding without the board. or the snow...but one can sort of zig-zag across the narrow trail of ash on his shoes with frequent hops to keep from sinking too low.
john and i are staying in the honeymoon suite at posada ruiz. it was a steal at 37 quetzals a night. this is under 4 USD. cold showers in the morning will wake you up quick.