Aymi’s Adventures

At the lava field of Volcan Pacaya 

Another amazing country.  Antigua, the first stop was as amazing as I had expected it to be.  It was similar to Copan but on a larger scale with a great mix of locals and tourists.  The day we arrived was Independance day and as I was travelling with 3 Americans it would have been rude not to celebrate with them!!  The next day was spent chillin & feeling rough!

Views of Antigua.

Volcan Pacaya was something else.  Nowhere else in the world would allow you to actually walk on the red hot glowing lava field below the huge active crater of Pacaya.  It was certainly an experience to cherish forever.

Lava at volcan Pacaya

After saying goodbye to Stephen, Travis & Casey I headed up to Tikal with an Irish Girl, Mary. The Mayan ruins were huge, way more impressive than Copan Ruins & Flores where we stayed was also beautiful. A real small laid back island where everyone was super friendly. Visited a Mayan museum on Santa Barbara island which was actually a tiny island owned by one family with nothing but the museum there. They were really friendly though and ended up staying drinking beer and practicing my Spanish with them, taking away my present of 3 limes which actually came in handy for our tuna sandwich picniks over the next few days.

Tikal Ruins

On the tiny Island of Santa Barbara 

Stayed in Coban & visited Semuc Champay which is a beautiful river with various waterfalls and swimming holes – freezing cold but amazing all the same. It would have been a really nice place to stay at and chill out for a while if I had more time.

Semuc Champay

Missed the 2am bus down to Xeyla (good intentions never work out for me!) so ended up leaving at 11am & not getting there til late where we met a mad American ex marine, retired NYC cop who told us that the world was ending because we dont identify the enemy and kill them all – weird or what!

Views of Xeyla.

Cave walking – yes I am covered in bat poo! Views of Chichi market.

Lake Atitlan was one of my favourite parts of Guatemala – although I loved it all. Panajachel was very touristy so only spent one night there where the highlight was sharing my dinner with a 10 year old girl who was selling jewelary on the street after school. She was an amazing, intelligent girl who could go so far in life if only she got the chance – so sad. Then it was off to Santa Cruz, a little further west along the lake than Panajachel & stayed at La Iguana Perdida – the best hostel in the world. Fell in love with the laid back chilled out atmosphere of the place and could quite happily live here in the future. Spent most of my time here chilling out, diving in Lake Atitlan, drinking and wearign fancy dress. Walked – well scrambled actually – to San Marcos (known for its massages and relaxation retreats) and had an hour of relaxing Reiki before taking the water taxi back to Santa Cruz.

Lake Atitlan, sunset at the lake, my dinner partner, cross dressing!

Home to Antigua for a night before heading to Guatemala city for my flight out of Central America and up to the United States of America. So sad to be leaving Central America, especially Guatemala, this place really feels like home to me now, its going to be so weird being in a western country again, and I really dont know if i’m going to like it.