Giving Rum to the God, Salsa Dancing and Toasting Marshmellows on a Volcano!!

Well, in summary, I’m having so much fun thus far, more than I ever imagined!! My very first day was so brilliant that I didn’t think it would get much better, and each day keeps throwing more great things at me!! 

A few highlights thus far: 

Riding the Chicken Bus
The gringo (name given to western travellers by the locals) name for the bus that is an old jeep crammed with seats that really only fit for 2 bums, but of course 3 people are squeezed into each seat as the bus fills up. There are no bus stops and, unlike the buses in London where the bus driver is likely to take off even if he sees you absolutely sprinting towards the bus stop, as the buses in Guatemala are all privately run, the driver will stop and wait for anyone and everyone (and their animals and sacks of rice) who may be within a 1 km radius and want to get on the bus and only wants to stroll at a leisurely pace!! Needless to say, what is a 30 min direct drive took almost 2 hours!! 

Salsa Dancing
I’ve fallen in love with the salsa, and not only inspired by the latest episode of ‘strictly come dancing’ (no i wasn’t at home on a Saturday night, i watched the repeat on Sundays!!), I’ve made it my mission to become salsa proficient during my time here. Already I’ve been to two salsa clubs and what continues to amaze me is that the Guatemaltezcas are a population that is born knowing how to dance, anyone and everyone can salsa, it is truly incredible. Random guys will come and ask the girls to dance, there’s live bands and it is also not a bad workout!!

Climbing Volcan Pacaya
Well, after years of toasting marshmallows on the bonfire at Guy Fawkes Night, I can now add a volcano crater to my list!! We climbed this amazing volcano in the afternoon and whilst hanging out on the 3 week-old hardened (but still incredibly hot) black lava toasting marshmallows (that one the Scottish guys had brought with him in a moment of brilliance!), the volcano was spewing out lava at a rapid pace, the sun was setting and there was a full moon to boot, it was a truly incredible experience. Vettie, your tip on the head torch has already paid itself off in the descent from the volcano in the pitch black darkness!! 

Lake Atitlan and the God of Rum
The lake is spectacular, surrounded by volcanoes and mountain and is definitely the most beautiful place I’ve been to in Guatemala so far. After a relaxing boat ride across the lake, wandering around Santiago Atitlan with some fellow travellers, we were offered to be taken to the house of ‘Maximon’. Although Guatemalans are largely Catholic, in the highlands each community has a local deity that not only like rum and cigars, but is worshipped by the people, it is supposed to balance out the catholic religion!! Literally this is a wooden statue, dressed in local clothes but with an Italian hat and tie, with a cigar in his mouth! Locals give the god rum, cigars and money in return for curing illness and other ailments. However, it seems that the people who owned the house Maximon currently lives in, had indulged in a little of the rum themselves, check out the guy in the photo with me, he absolutely reeked of rum and was determined to stay as close to me as as possible!

Back to School
Well, as you know, my primary goal for this trip was to get a grip on spanish. So i have diligently enrolled in 5 weeks of lessons, which is 5 hours a day of tuition as well as living with a family that doesn’t speak any english!! After only one week of school, my spanish has progressed in leaps and bounds and I have even had conversations about kangaroos in the circus in Mexico … don’t ask!! I’ll put details of my school, family and the activities thus far in my next blog but can sum it all up by saying that i’m having a truly amazing time and have met so many great people! 

Anyway, until next time, hasta la vista and keep me posted on your news, Tamara xx