Flores

Yes, Mike J, I would love a lava proff canoe. I thing it can be done. I threw a stick an the lava and it didn t burn, it just chilled. By the way the other picture was from Lago de Atitlan. The top of San Pedro Volan. Still the most beautiful place I ve ever been to. I m now in Flores and saw the Tikal ruins today. It was pretty cool but way to expensive. The best part is: the construted the temples so that when you clap in certain spots it literaly makes a bird noise in the echo. Clever. Also they are alined to the stars and all that fancy stuff. Since I m up here I m going to go through Belize to get to Honduras, there is a waterfall there I d like to see. 43 meter drop they say. Today is ridiculously hot in the rainforest. When we got back from Tikal I had the best swim I think I ever had. The water was also warm so we had to seek out cold spots. I m not complaning. Can t do pics on this computer, oh well.
Later.

Pacaya

That´s right. Can you see how close I am to lava! If not look a bit harder. If you assume that it´s hot there your right. But the amazing thing is, one step close is a difference of maybe 100 degees. It hurts. I jabbed at it with a stick tring to get some out to lite a smoke on, but holding a 4ft stick at full arms lenth is painful. We aren´t that far up. at the top it´s constantly erupting. Boom and all. The weather wasn´t the greatest so that view was hindered but I think I got some good shots of it. Also, apparently about 4 years ago it had a sizeable eruption that came vary close to people a too close for comfort to the town. By the way the lava was crazy thick and it´s close to Antigua. I´m at El Retrio and Lanquin now. The spelling is close so I think you can find it on a map or something. They have a website. I´m getting pressure off because those pics took forever to download. Next time I´m find a good internet cafe I´ll pay and others can´t say I´m on to long.
Later.

Now Leaving San Pedro

It s been good times here in San Pedro. I took a week of spanish classes here. I really ejoyed them. It was 4 hours a day, one on one. I learned a lot but I will be studying my notes for awhile before I considered doing another week somewhere else. On tuesdy there was a soccer game, students against teachers. Surprisingly, we kicked ass. The soccer field was cool. It was in a compound with walls on 3 sides of the field and fence on the other. The walls helped me alot. Really easy to play the wall, and they just kinda bounce off of you. It was alot of fun. I also climbed San Pedro volcano. That was an intence hike. 2 and a half hours. The incline increased just under half way. It got to the point when I wondered if was ever going to end. It was all worth it when I reached the top. Sitting on rocks on the top, in between two layers of clouds, the view slowly unvailed itself. It was amazing. Yesterday, we climbed the nose of the Indian face. It kind of looks like an Indian face looking up, with huge eye sockets. It turned out to be more of an adventure then antisapated. First the collectivo driver brought us to the wrong place then demanded his money. The we caugh another one, which was much more fun. This collectivo was simple a small pick-up truck with a handrail at chest height and built up sides. This guy droped us off somewhere weird but close enough and we started to make our way up. This was not a tourist trail. It was suppost to take a half hour, we doubled that. The trail we found was hardly a trail, and at some points definatly wasn t. It was way more fun then the suggested route. Then we collectivoed back to town in time to see half of the 3rd period and Crosby s winning goal. I m quite happy we won. I also kayaked across the lake to the jumping rocks. It took awhile because I was also making sure Issac, from the Danforth, didn t get hit by a boat. He swam across probably the narrowist point and it took him an hour and fifty minutes. I got sunburn on my feet and I still don t like it. I also went to Chichi. I m not even going to try and spell the whole thing,
it s on the north side on the lake not actually on the lake. It s suppost to be the biggest market in central america. I wasn t that impressed but it was good. I bought some stuff. The ride was awesome. It case you are not aware. Lago de Atitlan was made by a huge volcano that errupted and emploded on itself, reaching 1000 feet deep in someplaces. Around the is all mountains and I think two volcanos. So, everywhere you look is beautiful, especaily when you on the lake, though I didn t bring the camera because tipping on my kayak was a really threat. I didn t tip.
It s time for a breakfast burrito and book my shuttle to Antigua. Sorry about the delay. Time flys when your haveing fun.

San Padro

Well the border crossing was interesting. There isn t a bus that goes directly to the border, so we had to take a cab, not far the rest of the way. Thankfully I met some girls from Quebec on the bus ride from San Cristo, one of which spoke spanish. I just kind of followed. When we got there (the border town starts with a M) finding a bank mashine was not easy. I tried taking money out but after I did all the beeping no money came out. So far nothing has come through the bank so hopefully I won t have any issues. From the border 6 of us took a collectivo (15 passenger van) 5 hours to Antigua de Lago (lake Antigua) central south of Guatamala. Then it was a boat ride in the rain and choppy waters to San Padro (south side of the lake). The stairs leading up to town was at this point a waterfall and the streets streams. Through the rain some guy took us to Yo Mama, the hostal I m at. It hase a pool table. One corner is lower then the others, good to know. I brough a beer with me from San Cristo, and when I poped the top it opened with force of an 11 hour travel and hit me dead center of the forehead. I now have a semi-circle cut on my forehead complete with waves of the bottom of the cap. Needless to say, laughter insuided. I should have seen that coming, but I didn t. The cap actually hit the ceiling after my head. Great. I hope it doesn t scar. Also, I met a guy from my area, also a regular at the Detroit eatery. Tomorrow I start spanish lessons. 90us for 5 days, 4 hours a day, one on one. Also they offer salsa, and other things in the evening included. Oh, my hostal is about 3us a night. I ll work on picure taking, no more letting Lindsey do all the work. P.S. it s a nice 23 degrees today. How s the weather there?

San Cristobal de Las Casas

Since my last post I have spent 2 nights in San Cristòbal de Las Casas and 3 in El Panchen, just outside of Palenque. Then another night, and tonight back in San Cristo, leaving in the morning for San Padre in Guatamala.
Allow me to start at the top.
In San Cristo we stayed at Casa Babylon. By far the best hostal to date. Nice rooms an lots of space. Last sunday we were here we participated the weekly event of going to the cantina. This means that we went to a place where Dustin, Lindsey and myself were the only white people there. 0 The food came so fast, we had to keep pace. many different food that I had no idea what they were. In them were shrimp, chicken, beef and others. Ordering a beer meant two. Total cost...50 pesos. Then there was Palenque. Beautiful and all that but, the only difference in ruins is the setting. We got an awesome place in El Panchen on a second floor with a balcony. 25o a night for all three. The rainforest lived up to it s name with a full day of rain. Otherwise it was great. Now back in San Cristo, I m being rushed to finish so I can join the fiesta of the 8th year of Casa Babylon, complete with food for 60 pesos. So next time you read from me I ll in San Padro Learning Spanish. For those wanting to see pictures go to Lindseys blog. They are gone now so I ll have to figure out how to do the pictures.
Enjoy your weather!

Greetings from Oaxaca

Well, 8 hours on the road through the ran and flooded roads, we arrived in Oaxaca around 7 two days ago. We had one day in Mexico City of weaving through cars and going into a mall where security carries fully automatic weapons. So much police and military. I´m now used to seeing AK-47 while walking on the steet, even here in Oaxaca. Oaxaca is amazing. Iǘe spent most of my time in the Zocalo (the park at the city center, every city has one) eating awesome food with live music. Last night we check out the night life (5 of us for anyone worried about night travel) and found a live band. Amazing, best female bass player I´ve seen. They played some english songs but they were much better when they sang in spanish. And...we ordered a case of beer (20) and a packet of cigs for 420 pesos and they opened our bottles for us. Our friend from France got hit on by a guy. It was funny. We are in Mezkalito Hosal which is winning as the nicest of two. It´s more like a hotel. I´m sitting beside the sunny terrace. Life is tough here, some how I´ll make it through. Were not spending much time here this time. South quick the travel back north slowly. Tonight we have an 11 hour ride toSan Cristobal de las Casas. Jungle time!
For more frequent updates check out Lindsey blog at lindseyinmexico2010.blogspot.com
P.S. Thanks for your comments. The style will remain freestyle and I have yet to check what I´ve written, and will continue that trend.

Mexico City

Hola. I´ve safely arrived in Mexico City. The differences between Mexico City and Toronto are not subtle. For instance, the cab ride to the hostal. It turns out that driving is more like a race here. Lanes are simply suggestions. The driver turned right from the left of the road completely cutting of traffic. People weave through the cars. Many of the streets are blocked of but traffic still goes through so you have to watch your back. Were right downtown across the street from the national musem. The hostel is called Hostal Moneda. On the street hundreds of people just lay their good on the sidewalk a scream, some with megaphones, for you to buy. 7 eleven is every two blocks or so. I could use all my cameras memory space on the old buildings. I am writing this from the roof top bar at the hostal where last night they gave too many shots of tequela. We already met some other people, two girls each traveling solo. This is going to be an amazing trip. Today we go to the pyramid of which I will not attempt to spell.
Hasta Luego! (See you soon\later)