2/1/09
Fridays field trip was fun. We caught the chicken bus for the 30 minute ride to Cuatro Caminos to see a glass blowing factory. These chicken buses are used school buses from the states that are hauled down through Mexico, then refitted with larger engines and better six speed gear box, fitted with roof racks (yes we have seen chickens up there) and painted usually with bright colors and chrome. We have learned that out side of Xela there have been some problems with gang extorting money from the owners of the buses, Some drivers and their assistance have been killed recently, but passengers have not been bothered.
When we got to the factory we where told that they were not working we where not to happy as I had heard that the last group got the same thing and the workers where on vacation. The teachers told us that the workers where taking a early lunch then they told us that something was broken down. Any way they took us to a church a crossed the valley a nice walk and climb about a mile away. After the church we decided to walk back to see if the glass factory was running again and luckily it was. It was interesting to see the men blowing glass into bottles, cups and chalices. There were about 20 men working, no one had any eye protection no gloves or any other heat protection. We did buy some of their products after the tour.
On Saturday we met the other students at the school at 6:30am for our trip to the archeological site and beach. It was nice to get off the mountain and down to the warm tropical area west of here. We started to drop down hill right out of Xela and where in the low lands in about one hour. The volcano Satiaguito erupted as we where driving down (like a giant Old Faithful it erupts about every 45 minutes). When we were eating breakfast it went off again except not as strong as the first time we saw it. The Abaj Takalik ecological site was neat it is a lot older than Tikal about 800 BC while Tikal started about the time of Christ. They think its one of the original Mayan sites in the area, it’s a big site but only a little has been excavated. The temples are not that high or large. A German botanist accidentally found it as he was studding plants he saw a stone sticking straight up and looked at it closer and found that it was carved.
We went to El Tulate Playa It was a nice drive there through the mostly flat farm land. At the beach we had to take a boat over to the beach on the island. There are a two hotels there and a few restaurants and houses along the beach. There were only about 20 - 30 people on the beach and in the covered areas. We were told that on Sunday they get a lot more people, which was evident by the number of seats in the covered area. It was nice to see the ocean again and walk along the water in the sun. We did not bring our swimming suits as we thought we were going to a different beach that was not as nice. We stopped in Retalhulea on the way back for dinner. The dinner was not to good but the town square was pretty. We also passed a water park in Xocomil. The park is very large and attracts people from all over CA and South America. Its sort of out in the middle of nowhere I think about 3 hours or more from Guatemala City and a hour from Xela that has no major airport..
2/4/09
Volcano hike “Santa Maria”
Well Shannon, Alicia and Jared and the other students Elizabeth and Gordon climbed Santa Maria a close by “non active” volcano. They started out about 4:30 AM on the trail. The trail at first was very easy, but of course worsened towards the top. It was a pretty hike, Lots of plants and tree’s all though the littering even up there was bad. It was cloudy at first but here in Xela it is all ways cloudy in the mornings. It was neat to work your way up and stop at clear places to look at the big city Xela and think how nice it is to get away! Once we got to the top huffing and puffing boy was it worth it! It seemed like you could see the whole world. Volcano Satiaguito sits right next to Santa Maria. Satiaguito is the most active volcano in Guatemala and we got to sit down and eat our sandwiches while we watched it smoke. Satiaguito was formed when Santa Maria closed it’s crater and then created Santa agito on her side. From the top of Santa Maria you can see seven volcano’s. Not all active of course. That I would have to say was a hard but worth while day. Shannon
John rested and walked Mercado democracia looking at all the stalls
2/6/09
We have finished our 4th week of Spanish school. I have many verbs and scrambled verbs running around my head (when I can find them) but not much to connect them to. We have meet some other students who have taken a lot of Spanish in high school or collage and still do not understand the locals when thy talk regular speed, so I don’t fell to bad about not understanding them yet, even when they talk slow. We have made a change in plans and will go to Lake Atitlan on the 16th for 5 nights, instead of staying here for 6 weeks. We need a break to rest and study what we have before the last 6 weeks