Where are we?

-Wherever we have travelled in this great land, we have found that people everywhere are about 90% water.-
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After a few days of rest in Quetzaltenango Bren and Kate decided it would be a good idea to walk to their next destination as opposed to jumping on one of the famous chicken busses or tourist shuttles. A short three day, 20+ mile trek through the mountains would eventually lead them to San Pedro on Lake Atitlan. 

Their journey began bright and early on Tuesday morning where they were picked up at their hostel by their tour guide. It turns out they were the only two travelers who wanted to make the trek so the group consisted of Bren, Kate and their guide Jaicer *sp? They drove for about a half an hour and arrived in a small town where they organized their bags with sleeping bags and sleeping pads and of course food and water.  The daring hikers began walking at about 7:00am. They hiked up out of the town for about a half an hour and then the real trek began. They crossed a small river and began up a trail that was steep and rocky. It took about an hour to reach the top of this difficult terrain, and as they reached the top Bren and Kate found themselves walking among fields of corn and other crops that were grown and harvested by the people living in the small village. The hikers stopped to rest along the road, taking in fluids and food so they would have energy to continue. From there Bren and Kate continued to gain altitude as they climbed higher into the mountains. They reached a point high in the mountains, about 3100 m (10,170 ft) ,  where they had an incredible view of the mountains surrounding Antigua, including Acatenango which they had recently climbed, as well as the beautiful Lake Atitlan and its surrounding volcanoes. They continued through the mountainous terrain until they arrived in a small mayan village nestled high in the mountains. Here the travelers took off their packs, ate lunch and rested. Their guide informed them that this is where the group normally sleeps on the first night, but it was only 12:00 so if they wished to continue to the next village, another 2.5 hours away that they could. The strong and brave backpackers decided they would rather continue on than stay.

 Bren and Kate guided by Ceasar sp? walked down a ridge for a long time.  They continued to walk down the mountain they had just climbed up. Down, down, down into a burning ring of fire. Actually a flowing river.  They sat among the rocks and rested.  Then it was time for Kates favorite activity of the day, crawling up hill.  After a half an hour Kate and Bren reached another village translated to ´the land of the avocado´ from Quiche. Xavier sp?, their guide, opened up the door in a village owned house.  The house was a cement box with a door.  It was not funished at all execpt for a painting of The Last Supper.  While sitting in their little prison Kate and Bren discussed the fact that they had no idea where they were or how to leave without the help of Yahir sp?.  But they were fed and told when they would depart in the morning.  Trying to be social to people in the village Kate and Bren kept their door open and greeted everyone that walked by and peered in curiously.  Like moths to the light, three little boys were brave enough to cross the threshold when they were invited in.  Kate and Bren tried to think of a card game which Kate could teach the boys in Spanish.  They came up with spoons, or waterbottles, since Bren and Kate do not typically carry four spoons.  The kids were terrible but they were having fun.  Bren and Kate started cheating in English because the boys were probably cheating in Quiche, their native language.  As Kate and Bren were laying down to sleep on the floor the boys would run by, knock on the door, giggle, and run away.  Their version of ding-dong-ditch.


The next morning Bren and Kate steadily walked uphill for a few hours, climbing over yet another mountain.  Then after climbing close to an elevation of 3000 m they decended downhill again.  They exited the mountains and made it to Santa Clara at 11 am.  This was supposed to be the location of their second night of sleep.  However, Kate and Bren decided that since they were only two hours from San Pedro they would not stop for the day.  They ate lunch in Santa Clara then set off again with Pablo sp?, their guide.  Down, down, down to a burning ring of fire.  Or Lago de Atitlan.  Lago means lake for all you gringos.  The three day trip was finished in two days.

Exhausted. Kate and Bren said goodbye to Andrew sp?, their guide. They found a hotel and Bren signed up to climb Volcan San Pedro the next day even though they could hardly walk up stiars.  Kate opted out because of her intelligence and the blisters on her feet.


Bren woke up early, climbed stairs for two hours, reached the summit of San Pedro at about 3000 m, saw the incredible view for less than 29 seconds before the clouds closed in again.  Then reverse stairmaster, down, down, down into a burning ring of fire, or back to the hotel to find Kate swining in a hammock reading her book.  Both humans were happy with their choices so far that day.


chillin and relaxin,
Kate and Bren