Guatemala: Semuc Champey

After a day of traveling, an hour of it standing on the back of a truck with metal bars for protection and pain (ramming against them at every bump), crammed in with a bunch of other tourists going in the dark over rocky, dirt roads bordering cliffs, we finally made it to Semuc Champey.  This is a natural monument with a limestone bridge stretching a few soccer fields with the Cahabón River running beneath it.

The next day, we walked from our hotel and hired a fifteen-year-old guide to lead us through the park.  We started with el Mirador (Lookout), a thirty-minute climb through the forest.  Our hostel owner had told us flip flops were fine.  Boy, was he wrong!  With the recent and continuing rains, the ground was muddy and quite slippery, so we walked barefoot instead, squishing our toes in the mud and bruising our feet over the sharp rocks.  It was quite adventuresome.

You've got to admit, my painted toes look pretty classy in the mud.

Some parts of the trail were a relief, and we could actually go at a normal pace.  The wooden stairs were my favorite. 

       At the top, we could see the torquoise pools below and the forest stretching out for miles.

Right before we came to the bottom of the mountain, the clouds let loose and did their best to drench us.  We ran to the only ramada there was and waited out the downpour with the other visitors and guides. Donning our ponchos (we knew another soaking was inevitable), we explored the rest of the park.

Several of the views were magical, and it made me thankful again to have so many opportunities to travel and see such beautiful sights.

Guatemala: Tikal

The first night we flew into Flores, a small town about an hour and a half from Tikal National Park.  The next day, we explored the core area (16 sq. km.) of the ancient Mayan ruins.  The Maya settled into this area around 900 B.C. and left around the 8th century A.D.  Just in this small space, there are about 3,000 buildings, mostly still uncovered.  Although many of the pyramids and temples have been restored, the architecture is absolutely amazing and demands respect for the ancient people.  

We explored the central area by walking through dense forests, occasionally seeing howler monkeys, birds, and other small mammals.  The rain fell in buckets a couple of times, but we found shelter and took a break to eat our packed lunch.  

This is the view from Pyramid IV, the tallest of them all at 212 feet. Due to some tourists falling to their deaths by climbing the narrow, steep stairs, there are either signs posted telling one not to climb or an alternative route (metal stairs and ramps) up the pyramids.  

The path though the forest.

This is Temple V, a pyramid that was built in just one generation and was my favorite ruin.  There were no other tourists there when we arrived, the place is tucked away and peaceful, and the structure just seemed so stately.

We were able to explore the ruins below for a while, climbing and checking every nook and cranny.  I felt like a kid again hopping from one stone to the next. 

This is the backyard view of one of the structures.  I love the mist!

Guatemala

Last week we had another break so Cartagena could celebrate its independence. Elizabeth and I decided to celebrate in our own way...by traveling around Guatemala. 

With limited time, we only visited three of the main tourist sites with a couple ten-hour travel days inbetween.  The countryside is beautiful, the people friendly, and the food delicious.  It took me back to my Mexican roots.  Okay, I don't actually have any Latina blood in me, but I've always had a fond place in my heart for the Mexicanos.

The best part of the food was the corn tortillas served with the authentic meals and the refried beans.  I became a coffee drinker while there.  One, it comes with the breakfasts, and two, it was downright comforting since it was mostly rainy and chilly.  Granted, it kept my heart elevated until way past bedtime, but it was so worth it.

Burrito with horchata, one of my favorite drinks.  

A typical breakfast (although usually served with warmed tortillas): eggs, beans, cheese, and plaintains.

Cabildo: Second Year

Do you remember the Cabildo dances from last year?  Well, I signed up for them again this year because for some reason, making a fool of myself in front of the whole school appeals to me.  

This time, we only had four practices, and they were spaced way apart over two and a half months.  I was not prepared, and it shows in the videos.  I will say, though, that I thoroughly enjoyed the practices and dressing up the part of a professional Colombian dancer.  

This first dance is the Fandango to the song "Los Tres Clarinetes".  The Fandango was developed in the 18th century and is supposed to be a dance for couples.  Alas, there are more girls than boys in the school, but we made do.  I am on the left, second line, in a blue dress and yellow hair bow.

The second dance is Champeta to the popular song "La Especula".  Champeta is a mix of African and Latin dance moves and requires a bit more movement.  I was so relieved that I was cut out from the camera's view for parts of the dance because I made tons of mistakes.  If it wasn't for Jenn in the middle front (the one who knows what she's doing), half of us would've been lost.  You'll be able to tell exactly where I am: long, blond hair with no rhythm. 

Although I was smiling in most of the pictures, this is how I was really feeling.

The Waiting Game

We had this past Monday off for All Saints' Day.  Yes, it fell on Sunday this year, but that doesn't stop the Colombian government from giving everyone another day to relax.  You have got to love the Catholic holy days!

One of my biggest issues in Cartagena is my lack of a dryer; everything stretches and nothing retains the shape it once had.  (Yes, I do realize my problems are miniscule.)  Anyway, I have mostly been wearing dresses and skirts because all my shorts literally fall off of me from too much wear.  This is obviously a problem.  With windy season approaching, I made it my mission on Monday to go shopping to get some jeans and maybe a pair of shorts.

The place with the most options is Caribe Plaza, the mall located in the inner area of Cartagena.  I took a taxi but ended up getting a driver who had just moved to Cartagena three days prior and had no idea where Caribe Plaza was.  Oh boy.  I told him my guess and figured he would just ask someone eventually.  Well, he never got that chance.  After about fifteen minutes, the car started stalling.....over and over again.  Now, the streets of Cartagena are not wide, and they are definitely not organized.  We were in the left lane with motos, buses, cars, and pedestrians all trying to get by.  The driver was able to pull the cab to the curb (thank goodness the other vehicles were paying attention) and wouldn't accept the five mil I was trying to give him since he hadn't dropped me off at my destination.  Saves me money, but I felt badly for the guy.

 I was in one of the busiest areas of Cartagena. There were shops, street vendors and people everywhere with barely enough room to walk on the sidewalk.  And, to top it all off, I didn't see another gringo anywhere.  Just my kind of place.  Having no idea where to go, a couple ladies told me it was back where cabbie and I had come from, about a fifteen minute walk.  Perfect.  Just enough time to work off my lunch before trying on clothes.

Although I went into several shops, most of the jeans were the stretchy, skinny jeans....not quite what I had in mind.  I have no idea how to say "boot cut" in Spanish, but the salespeople did their best to understand my miming and limited vocabulary.  At the last store, ELA, I had some luck.  Clothes are big-time overpriced here, but I figured the ability to wear bottoms without flashing people was worth it and handed over my debit card.  Of course, this was after waiting in line to try on clothes and then waiting in another line to purchase my finds.  As I exited the store, I realized that I am becoming slightly Latina: I had just bought five bottoms that were way too tight.  In fact, if I gain even an ounce, I'm afraid the buttons may fly off, but at least it will be awhile before they stretch out to where I cannot even wear them anymore.

Needing some groceries, I stopped by the Jumbo in the mall and spent more time waiting in line than actually walking around the store.  Finally having everything I needed for the moment, I went to get a taxi and had to wait another ten minutes for it to be my turn.  It's amazing, but the waiting rarely bothers me and just seems like a normal part of life now.  There is no speeding things up and definitely no going into a store for a just a few minutes to pick up a couple items.  It's the pace of life here, and I mostly enjoy the opportunities it gives me to live the life of the locals.

School Activities

With the holiday time here, the next couple months are going to be quite busy.  This week, there were a couple activities at school that made me realize just how much I enjoy the kids.

I cosponsor NJHS (National Junior Honor Society) with Elizabeth.  We had checked out Fundacion Funvivir about a month ago and decided to take our students to visit.  The foundation helps families who have kids with cancer.  Many of the patients come from small towns hours away and stay in the house during their treatment.  Other times, the foundation provides food, clothing, baby supplies, etc. for the families.  

When we arrived this past Tuesday, there were eight kids there, many the same ones I had seen before.  Combine that with our 25 NJHS students, and it was a full house.  All the kids were really good during the games we had planned and are looking forward to visiting again.  

I have never been a huge fan of dressing up for Halloween, but the kids enjoy it when their teachers wear something, so I donned my witch's hat and all black clothes, except for my red heels, and bore through the comments on how I didn't even need to dress up.  Sigh.

Each class was cut ten minutes so the students could have an hour at the end of the day to party.  The student council had prepared all the activities: musical chairs, hot sauce sampling, a deathly game of bounce basketball, bowling, a movie room, etc.  It has been years since I have played musical chairs, but it was a blast. There are not so many rules here, so no one bats an eye if a teacher begins pushing kids out of her way to get a seat.  

They even had a photo booth. At this point in time, I wasn't wearing my hat, but they gave me a paper one instead that kept falling on poor MariJ's head.  

Me with MariJ, Pily, and Angie, the learning center teacher.

As I contemplate leaving Cartagena at the end of this year, these are the times that really make me question on whether or not it's the right choice.  Sure, the students gab incessantly and often drive me crazy, but they are good, kind kids with amazing senses of humor and so much life to them.  Whenever I do decide to leave, it will not be easy.