Had a really big day yesterday with a 5:00 am start. Chris and I did a volcano hike to watch eruptions. Initially we had planned to hike to the the top of Santa Maria (about 5.5 hours each way almost straight up) but were warned off it because there had been a few robberies in the previous few days. So, we walked about 1.5 hours (each way) to a different vantage point but it was still ridiculously steep for most of the way. However, once there it was spectacular. We were only a few kilometres from the crater and during the hour we were there we saw five eruptions. You can actually hear the eruptions before you see them, sort of like a 747 taking off.
Later in the day we organised our next lot of Guatemalan travel plans including;
Shuttle to Panajachel
Shuttle to Antigua
Return flights to Tikal to see the ruins
Overnight accommodation in Tikal
Shuttle back to Antigua
And last night I had a haircut. Nothing particularly exciting in that except that when it was finished, instead of brushing off the bits of hair from around my neck and shoulders, they actually used a vacuum cleaner to suck them all up. Chris and I were hard pressed not to laugh.
Today is 'Good Thursday', the first of day of serious Semana Santa celebrations and processions and most of the city is closed except for some cafes and restaurants. We are really looking forward to the processions and streets carpeted in colours (called alfombras).
Volcanic ash falling on us while we were hiking to the mirador (lookout).
The crater.
One of the eruptions.
Another eruption with gringos.
If this video works on the blog, it is some footage of an eruption.
Goats and sheep on the volcano trail.
These kids were with the herders and they came up to us wanting their photo taken.
And finally, these guys walk way up into the hills to chop firewood with a machete and then carry it for kilometres back home. Hell of a tough life.
Location:Near Xela
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