Stop no. 2 in Guatemala

9 Oct 2005

A tropical storm, a hurricane and an earth tremor!!! And all in the same week......I don't seem to be doing too bad do I?  Well, the news is that I am still here in Antigua......I could not travel since many highways and bridges have been washed away by the rains. And whilst at school on Friday, I experienced my first earth tremor........scary at first but they are quite common here, so it got funny. I might stay here for another week but am still in 2 minds as I could skip part of my trip and start off in Northern Guatemala and go straight to Belize........but that would mean not seeing a lot of beauty in Guatemala. The other problem is that my room wont be available after Wednesday and so if I stay, will have to get a room somewhere else.........I might even decide to continue my Spanish classes for the week and leave next weekend when things might be better........or NOT........since another hurricane is developing over Guatemala. Oh well.......I have a few days to think over it........ANY SUGGESTIONS GUYS?????? Other news is that I have just had an amazing weekend as we went to a town called Tecpan to stay at my housemates uncles farmhouse. His parents drove us there and we spent our time eating alot, chilling by the fireplace and hiking in the forest and farm. Though it was raining heavily, it was a lot of fun. We just got back a little while ago. I have alot of good photos that I will upload the next time I am on the net. Regular updates to follow.

“Study Spanish - updated 9th Oct”

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5 Oct 2005

MAN I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS MUCH RAIN IN MY LIFE!!!!! SERIOUSLY!!! Well as you can tell (or may know), we're going through a grade 1 hurricane in Central America. It's been raining for 3 days continuously. This is especially annoying since my Nike Air Force NONE trainers got a hole in them whilst I was trekking up Pacaya. So now I have to walk with wet socks and feet!!! Nasty!! Well, I decided to blow my budget for the next few days and buy new shoes......I can't go on like this. So tomorrow I am off to the market to 'invest'. Been wearing my sandals all of this afternoon and that feels much better. Well otherwise things are going well. These are my last few days in Antigua. I get chucked out of my house at 11am on Sat morning. Off to Panajachel to see Lago Atitlan.......that is, if the storm dies down........I was told today that nothing in that area is functioning due to floods and lack of electricity - but hopefully things will be sorted by Saturday. One of my housemates is coming along for the weekend......his uncle owns a house up there so we're trying to blag our way to the keys (it's an empty house). I will work out my other plans from there. School is going well and I will be sad to leave on Friday, although I will be taking mucha Español with me!! I

went to a salsa class yesterday......yes I finally got the bottle to go to one, considering that they are free and that I haven't taken advantage of them since I got here. And.......it was good......I wasn't the only one making a complete arse of myself and my rhythm wasn't too bad compared to some of the other guys there!!! Contrary to what I was thinking when I got there (''What the hell I am doing here?? If I walk backwards slowly, I may be able to disappear without them knowing"), I actually quite enjoyed the class......besides, it gave me some much needed exercise. Can't think of much else to say. Adios amigos. Hasta pronto!!

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 30 Sep 2005

Stayed in Jungle party hostel from Wed 14th to Sat 17th, when I moved as a homestay student with a local family. The

hostel was good but they tried to con me out of 40Quetzales when I was leaving. I was having none of it, and so didn't pay and left on bad terms. Started school (Ixchel Spanish School) on Monday 20th and it's been amazing....learning quite a bit of Spanish. I finish on the 7th Oct. I won't be fluent obviously, but I will have enough to help me in my travels. I have also been thinking of doing another one week somewhere down the line, before I return to the UK. The family house has been great fun.....I have had a very good group of housemates and we all hang out together. Very varied group of people, and I am learning about a lot of cultures. I have met a wide spectrum of people.......people I would have never dreamt of meeting in the UK or anywhere else of that matter. One of my housemates has been travelling for the last 7 yrs continuously......and still has another 2 years left.....can you imagine??? What a legend!!!! Antigua has been great fun....its full of tourists and many bars, cafe's etc. The only thing is that I am feeling a bit settled here already but I know I have to move in a week, to continue north into Panajachel!!! I have done various activities whilst here, the best being the trek up Volcan Pacaya, which is an active volcano....we were literally 10 metres from the mad spewing lava!!! I have also trekked up to some other points in town. THE BEARD is coming along well. You should be able to see it in the pics when I load them. Lets see how long I can grow it........probably until it really annoys me or until the authorities mistake me for a terrorist!!!