Destination: Guatemala

T2C--The Bridge to Somewhere

Sat, 4 Apr 2009 | By tom_moench | Views [385] | Comments [1]

The village of El Palmar was along this river. After an eruption and rain a second laher of hot, muddy ash flowed down the river and destroyed the town for a second time. The residents decided to move inland. Now all that is left is El Viejo Palmar ... Read more >

All Packed & Ready to Go

Sat, 4 Apr 2009 | By tom_moench | Views [595] | Comments [1]

I learned a lot about transportation in Guatemala on this hike. We met at Quetzaltrekkers to make sure we had all the common equipment packed, 6 liters of water--4 personal and 2 for commons. (I carried 9 partly for the weight in my pack for training ... Read more >

Hiking to see Santiaquito up closer

Sat, 4 Apr 2009 | By tom_moench | Views [519] | Comments [3]

I took this hike with QuetzalTrekkers, a great local organization of young volunteers who lead treks to raise money for Escuela de La Calle (http://www.quetzaltrekkers.com/guatprojects.html). After a minibus, a chicken bus, and a picop (pickup) we arrived ... Read more >

Gallery: Various for last week in Xela

Sat, 4 Apr 2009 | By muimui2009 | Photo Gallery

Last week in Xela

Sat, 4 Apr 2009 | By muimui2009 | Views [628]

After coming back from San Pedro and Lake Atitlan, my final week (week #3) at Pop Wuj Spanish School in Xela went by incredibly quickly. On Wednesday we went back to finish the stove. This time we have 3 guys and 3 girls volunteering. I can understand ... Read more >

Gallery: Antigua & Volcan Picaya

Sat, 4 Apr 2009 | By muimui2009 | Photo Gallery

Xela and Volunteering with the Mayan Stove Project

Sat, 4 Apr 2009 | By rachel_and_daniel | Views [3095]

After surviving our chicken bus challenges (I now see why most tourists travel by private microbus in Guatemala – its still pretty manic, but its this side of hair-raising) we arrived in Quetzaltenango, or Xela (pronounced ´Shela´) in Quiché Mayan.... Read more >

Tags: fuertas georginas, mayan stove project, quetzaltenango, xela

Chicken Bus Challenge

Fri, 3 Apr 2009 | By rachel_and_daniel | Views [5058] | Comments [1]

Missing the direct bus from Chichicastenango to Quetzaltenango (Xela), in the west of the country, we instead got a chicken bus to the junction with the InterAmericana at Los Encuentros. We were ushered onto a chicken bus by the youthful, ... Read more >

Tags: mad guatemalan bus drivers, near death experiences

Lago Atitlan - check out the vibes, man.

Fri, 3 Apr 2009 | By rachel_and_daniel | Views [1968]

After surviving Pacaya, we booked a tourist microvan to Panajachel on the shores of Lago Atitlan.  A thankfully uneventful journey, although I did marvel at the way that the Guatamalans appeared to be in the process of blasting away a good proportion ... Read more >

Tags: chichicastenango, lago atitlan, panajachel, san marcos, san pedro

Gallery: Guatemala - Xela and Stove Project

Fri, 3 Apr 2009 | By rachel_and_daniel | Photo Gallery

San Pedro & Lake Atitlan

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 | By muimui2009 | Views [1171] | Comments [2]

Last weekend I had a nice get-a-way with some schoolmates to San Pedro, a lakeside town at Lake Atitlan.  It was great!!  Check out the pictures.  We had a total of 8 (2 guys & 6 girls) and Rick headed there on Friday night and got us rooms at a ... Read more >

Gallery: Guatemala

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 | By simon_castles | Photo Gallery

Antigua, Pacaya, and the herd of ponderous donkeys

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 | By rachel_and_daniel | Views [2473]

Another tourist micro bus, another long journey south to Antigua.   This time the bad road bit was at the start, so we were able to enjoy the fantastic views whilst not minding the banging around.   Our driver was of the ´there´s no speed except ... Read more >

Tags: antigua, bad trades, colonial architechture, volcan pacaya

Tikal and the Guatemalan Suicide Dogs

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 | By rachel_and_daniel | Views [2490]

We left Chetumal and got a long-distance bus going straight to Flores, Guatemala.   This involved heading down through northern Belize again to Belize City, and then across to San Ignacio and over the border.   We drove through the Peten basin ... Read more >

Tags: flores, languin, semuc champey, suicide dogs, tikal

Gallery: San Pedro y Lago Atitlan

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 | By muimui2009 | Photo Gallery