Lago de Atitlan

hola,

despues de terminar con nuestra tercera semana de escuela, fuimos al Lago de Atitlan con un grupo de estudiantes. (Sorry for showing off... Is it still showing off if there are several spelling mistakes?) As I said, Shana and I finished our third week of classes, and headed for the Lago de Atitlan (altitude, 4500 ft) with our friends from school. We all spent the night in San Marcos, and tiny town with a few nice hotels and famous for its holistic center. The most noteworthy thing that happened in San Marcos, other than my (Greg) multi-colored vomit (the ride here was interesting) was the traditional Mayan religious ceremony we were invited to. The ceremony was in honor of our host at the hotel, Terry, a native of Gloucester, MA, and 16 year resident of San Marcos, whose birthday was on that day. The ceremony was ... eh ... unique. We´re certainly glad we got to witness it, especially as outsiders aren´t often welcome. Other highlights in San Marcos included the sauna, the sight of Terry´s home (the coolest tree house I have ever seen), and the realization that our teachers, Luis, Jairo, and Carlos, routinely enjoy a game of Kings (though they call it El Cerclo de la Muerte). A certain answer of theirs to ¨never have I ever¨ would also qualify as a highlight, but as I don´t want Olga (the school director) on their backs, I shall not reveal it. To those who were there ... you know which one I´m talking about.

The next day, we said goodbye to all the Sakribal School people (tear) who were going back to Xela. Shana and I had decided not to return, but instead to begin our roaming phase. We caught a ferry to San Pedro, another town on the lake. This is a larger, and much more touristy town. It was filled with Gringo bars and backpackers hostels. It was also dirt cheap. Our hotel room there, with a beautiful view on the lake, a hammock out front, and a private bathroom, was $8 dollars a night ... and was definitely no where near the cheapest in town. We spent 3 nights in San Pedro, enjoying kayaking and swimming on the lake, hiking up the Volcan San Pedro (altitude 9000 ft) (this was a 6 hour hike that ABSOLUTELY KICKED OUR ASS), getting 75 minute massages for $10 (Shana, not me), and enjoying cheap food and 4o cent rum and cokes. That´s right James, 40 cent cocktails. Get your ass down here. I really liked this town, and met some great people.

After San Pedro, we´re saying goodbye to the Lago de Atitlan, and taking a 3 hour bus to Antigua, the former colonial capital of Central America.

Until next time,

Greg