Done with Xela, on to Lago Atitlan

So I'm at La Iguana Perdida (the lost iguana) in Santa Cruz la Laguna, and it's completely beautiful. there's a dress up bbq tonight (they have aroom full of clothes to borrow, i'm torn between silly and dressy) where I hope to meet some people to hike around and swim with tomorrow and the following week. I mostly just wandered today nearby because all the far hikes you need a group to go with. There are waterfalls and of course, the big beautiful lake, to hike around. I'm not sure if I'll stay here the whole week, or go stay a few nights in San Marcos (the hippy town) or San Pedro (the party town, but also the jumping off point for hiking San Pedro Volcano and the Indian Nose).

I tried to find somewhere to swim, but instead found a volunteer looking for flowers to plant near the wood-fired sauna (hittin gthat tomorrow..) to deter mosquitos. It was nice to talk to someone so soon andthey have a bunch of board games, so I'm hoping to get my game on after dinner if people aren't raging too hard after the bbq party.

My last week in Xela was wonderful. The hike up to Santa Maria under a full moon was spiritual. I don't have words to describe it, but I do have about a million pictures and a couple videos to try to give an idea of what it was like to start hiking under an almost full moon around midnight or one, have clouds for about the last hour and almost get rained out, almost want to give up but then being able to see the top and finding the energy to chug on, get to the top *just* as the sky was beginning to turn from black to grey, cuddle in a sleeping bag as the world lit up around me, sleep for an hour, wake up to a dozen or so cows and a bright, beautiful sky and then getting to enjoy a couple hours on what felt like the top of the world.

Unfortunately, I can't show any of this because there's no uploading pics on these computers. It also costs money. Bummer.


So I think I'm going to take this opportunity and finally unplug for a week. I can't show pics, use Skype or email myself my photos (which I really really need to do.. this silly iphone is full!), so I may as well have a week of introspection and disconnection. I think this is the perfect place for it.

I may have to break down mid week and unload my pictures somewhere else, and if I do, I'll post some here. But I'm hoping I have enough space to last until at least Thursday or Friday sans internet. Cross your fingers with me.

<3