Yes, we've now properly moved house! We moved over the weekend, an operation that went swimmingly well, thanks to the highly organised band of volunteers. So a big thank you to my parents and Hev's parents, Hev's brother Richard and Mike Tarry, thanks guys!
Our visit to Samayac was a little different in nature to the rest of our trip. The reason for going was this: my parents were both volunteers in Guatemala in the Seventies. At some point, they were both based in Samayac, where they and others set up a health clinic. My dad oversaw the building construction and my mother, a nurse, helped to set up the medical side of things. As a note to myself more than anything, and because I'm writing this entry somewhat after the event, our trip to Samayac was on 20th November, 2003.
Well, here we are, back in blighty. I have to admit I was looking forward to coming home, it's amazing how quickly your perception of everyday things changes when you're away, and equally amazing how quickly you adjust back and feel like you've never been away...
Okay, so change of plan again, we didn't go to Oaxaca either, at least, not for more than an hour. It turns out that Mexico is rather big, actually, and that it take quiet a while to get anywhere by bus. so in order that we don't spend the entire week on buses, we decided to try and get to Puerto Escondido as quickly as possible, without stopping to look around Oaxaca.
Okay, so there was a slight change of plan, we didn't do Samayac next, we went to Monterico on the Pacific coast. As Hev says, it was cool, with Black sand and crashing waves to jump around in (without being absolutely freezing, which they would be in England. It was weird, I'm not used to rough sea being warm.) Hev tanned herself liberally in the sun, and I was careful and managed to get some sun without getting burnt, Hev's so jammy.... It was a nice place though, lots of hammocks about to lounge in.
Now it is my turn to write something. Having a fab time.
Went to the pacific coast which I had high hopes for after our carribean washout!! All my expectations were met, sun, sea and black sand!! (which incidently gets very, very hot at midday) I am very happy I have managed to top up my tan and Joe of course has gone pink!! (sorry Joe)
I am getting on very well with the language, I have developed my own spanglish. By putting on O on the end of every word it sounds very spanish!!!!! well we get by with the little amount we do know.
See you soon
After raving so much about Tikal, there only seemed to be one sensible thing to do - go back again the next day. So we did. We wandered around the remaining bits of the ruins that we hadn't seen, apart from the rather remote Temple 6, which can harbour robbers ('and worse' says the guidebook, ominously... ).
I'm writing from Flores, the nearest town to Tikal national park, a nature reserve and historic site containing Mayan temples and pyramids, the most impressive in Guatemala.
We've been really lucky with the Weather, it rained most of yesterday on the bus trip up here, and absolutely chucked it down this morning during breakfast. I went out to try and buy a waterproof of some kind as I stupidly neglected to pack one, and got absolutely drenched to the skin within minutes.
Luckily, once we set off in the minibus to Tikal it cleared up and stayed fine all day.
Well, here we are. We've been in Guatemala City almost a week now, staying with the Guatemalan branch of my family, and very welcoming they have been, they've even given us our own apartment!
we're in america, George Bush airport, to be exact, which is a great name for an airport. Well it tickled me any way.
next stop Guatemala city!!!!