A few days on the lake

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Hi everyone,

Your correspondent has taken over blog duties from Mrs Harris who is currently tired and unavailable for comment.

Volcanos and Lakes

We've just returned to Antigua to resume our Spanish education and volunteering after three days in the Lago de Atitlan region of Guate. Briefly, this area is famous for three immense volcanos and one of the world's most beautiful freshwater lakes that plunges down to 300m in depth and is connected via an underground river to the Pacific Ocean.

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I would highly recommend this place to anyone who plans to come to Guate. The lake, the volcanoes and the surrounding rainforests are packed full of wildlife. It is a truly memorable place.

We spent three days canoeing, swimming (me - S too scared of fishes and deep water) and walking up the mountains. The lake is incredibly clean, claro and the banks are sparsely inhabited. Our walk took us up a peak known locally as Nariz de Maya - the Mayan´s Nose - that provides excellent vistas over the lago and surrounding forests.

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We spent one night in San Marcos - pretty much a hippy commune - and two in the more touristy (but cheaper) San Pedro. Food and drink was great. S would like me to tell you all that she saw several hummingbirds in action which she was particularly proud of. Other sightings include vultures, exotic frogs and lizards, beetles and a massive panther that I had to wrestle to death. (Ok one part of that sentence  isn't true.)

What else? We celebrated Guate independence day on the 15th, visited a couple of shrines etc. Generally having a good time really. S is working in a clinic providing nearly-free medical services to anyone who wants them. I am....actively seeking work, but have a couple of irons in the fire.

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Plans now are to stay in Antigua for 1 month (we've rented an apartment) and then move on to Honduras.

There are some pics here, but jut to let you know we've uploaded many more on our photobucket account under the folder called 'travel'.

Will write again soon!

Tom.