Hello again and another update on my antics in Guatemala over the last couple of weeks.
Volcan Tajumulco
My biggest achievement since I’ve been away would have to be last weekend, which I spent climbing to the highest point in Central America, Volcan Tajumulco, at 4,220m. The climb was especially difficult as were not only battling with the altitude and lack of oxygen but mostly the weight of the equipment and water we had to carry with us. I went with a trekking company ‘Quetzaltrekkers’ who were so well organised with everything from amazingly sexy 80’s ski-wear to keep us warm (check out my great purple jacket that surprisingly my friend was quite jealous of) to all the necessary camping equipment and food, that enabled us to be setting up camp, as well as eating amazing pasta and soup at our base camp at 4,000 m, as well as a fantastic spread of salads and guacamole for lunch! Fue muy delicioso!
We each had to carry at least 6 litres of water, plus a sleeping bag, roll-mat and some form of communal camping equipment. Luckily i only scored some food and the floor of one tent to carry. One poor guy lucked out and had to haul the huge cooking pot up the volcano (see the photo below)!
But it was definitely the coldest night of my existence and during the night where I spent the night freezing cold but also trying to avoid a fellow traveller lying next to me in the tent who was aggressively spooning me all night in an attempt to keep herself warm, needless to say I didn’t get an ounce of sleep and so waking up at 4.30 am to ascend to the highest point was not going to be easy! We were scrambling up rocks in the pitch black darkness, but the sunrise was definitely worth it and the biscuit the guide passed out at the top was the most appreciated sugary snack of my life! All in all, it was an incredible weekend. I made the climb with some friends from my language school, Pete and Lauren, who kept me laughing up the mountain, although I think over 2 days of endless banter in an attempt to divert attention away from the obstacle looming ahead, that we exhausted all topics of conversation, although I definitely would not have got up the mountain without them!
Volcan Chicabal
I was not planning to climb two volcanoes in the space of a week but it ended up that way when the school was running a trip to the Volcan Chicabal this weekend. There is an amazing lake nestled in the crater of this volcano which is a more modest 2,712 m above sea level. Although this was a much steeper path than Tajumulco, we were not battling the weight of our backpacks or the altitude so it seemed a breeze in comparison and there was no camping involved! From the mirador (lookout), there were amazing views over the lake and other volcanoes. There was a lot of dust and Alicia and I felt embarrassed that we were skidding down the track in our state-of-the-art hiking boots while there were 10 year old kids passing us with barely any shoe coverings on and carrying massive amounts of wood on their backs and wielding machetes, with no problems at all!
Hanging out in Xela
I have been having so much fun in Xela and really starting to feel like I’m getting settled here, just when it’s almost time to go! I’ve also been going to salsa class for the last 2 weeks every night which is great fun and little by little I’m improving! Four weeks has absolutely flown by and only one week to go! I have met some amazingly fun people at school who I am very sad to be saying goodbye to this week, as most of my ‘crew’ have come to an end of their time at the school and the last few nights have been despedidas (farewells) for those heading home or off travelling.
There are a few people that I have to mention from my stay in Xela… Tamara (numero 2): surprisingly there are two Tamara’s in our school, which has caused endless confusion with allocating teachers etc. but it was finally agreed that I would be Tamara #1 and she would be Tamara #2! We have spent numerous afternoons in Cafe la Luna pretending to study and in the evenings going to salsa class and, more recently, also spending the nights in salsa clubs! Tamara has the amazing knack of always being asked to dance by guys that don’t have an ounce of rhythm in their body, providing endless amusement (I am also hereby correcting my first blog where I said that all Guatemalans know how to dance!). Tamara is also the best reggaeton dancer I’ve ever met! Alicia, Lauren and Maggie – amazing girls I’ve met who have encouraged me during the tough days of classes and been very fun travel companions on school trips!
A few things I’ve noted… I thought I’d share a few of the interesting things I’ve noted during my time in Guatemala:
Dogs, Fireworks and Evangelical churches – Together, these 3 sources of extreme noise either keep me awake or provide my alarm in the morning. There are dogs constantly barking, people setting off fireworks (apparently it’s a tradition to set off fireworks out the front of your house at 6am in the morning when it’s someone’s birthday), and the evangelical church, located across the road from my house gets the drums, guitars and singing pumping at 7am on a Sunday morning, which is the only downside of my home-stay experience!
Hand signals – All Guatemalans talk with their hands and there are a number of important signals that my family has taught me over the last month! I will be able to give you a lesson on these when I’m home but in summary there are signals for ‘very intelligent’ comments, ‘stupid’ comments, ‘Son of a b$tch’, ‘stingy’, ‘money’, ‘right back at you’, the list goes on!
Hola and adios greetings – Guatemalans are incredibly polite people, so whenever you arrive anywhere it’s very important to go around to every person you know (or don’t know sometimes!) and greet them hello with a kiss on the cheek, and then, again when you say goodbye! It’s therefore necessary to commence leaving 10 minutes before you need to go to ensure you get the round of kissing and adios done before you have to head off!
Anyway, I’ve got one more week of school left, then I’m heading to the north of Guatemala for a week of travelling, so will post another blog then! So, that’s enough from me!
Hasta luego, adios chicos and keep me posted on the news!
Tamara xx
Tamara's Travel Blog 