Enjoying Lago de Atitlan, Guatemala

Kyle jumping in for a refreshing swim....

Me jumping in after him!

This place is fabulous!!!

My recommendation for food of the week.... the yummy chicken quesadillas!

Overall, a very relaxing New Year´s Eve!

The famous market at Chichicastenango, Guatemala

The next day, we headed out very early again for our first market experience at the enormous market at Chichicastenango (or Chichi) as it´s known. When we got there, we just couldn´t believe how big it was!! It just went on and on in every direction.

Our view from the balcony of the restaurant that we had brekkie at before taking our chances down in the market.

Typical market scene with lots of things all going on at once.

Two women dresses in typical guatemalan dress for women and their local colors.

Grains for sale.

A girl that absolutely would not leave us alone so we finally paid her 1 quetzale (about 15 cents) to take her picture. It was worth it. She was adorable but a keen (read annoying) saleswoman!

The market spilling up onto the steps of the main church in town.

The main part of the food market... by far the busiest area of all. At one point were getting pushed and shoved around by people trying to get in and out the main doors, but everyone was seriously 1-2 feet shorter. I didn´t want to be mean, but all I could think of was ending in a riot or mass stampede of oompa-loompas. Guatemalans are so short!

My favorite items in the market, the colorful masks and the colorful cloths.

A typical cemetary.. very colorful.

Kyle showing the little girls the picture that he took of them.

Checking out the hammocks. After relaxing in one for quite some time at our hotel, I really would´ve loved to buy one!

And a typical scene on the street... about 15 people in the back of a pickup truck (as not many people have cars.)


And for those that don´t have cars, the just walk...

Volcan San Pedro en Lago Atitlan, Guatemala

After a day of rest and lounging around, we got very early to hike the volcano across the lake, Volcan San Pedro. The boat came for us at about 6:50 so we got to enjoy the sunrise on the lake.

This is the boat that we got onto (with about 15 people too many). Í´m glad that we´re good swimmers as there were questionable moments when I thought we may sink before getting to San Pedro (a 30-40 minute boat trip).

Us boarding our first Guatemalan tuk-tuk to take us up to the Parque where you begin the 3 hour climb to the summit. (3500 meters) This was propably the scariest and most action packed part of our day....

At the entrance to the trail...

Kyle posing with our guide Domingo. He didn´t speak much english, but that probably helped our spanish effort quite a bit as we were forced to understand and play some charades to understand and communicate. Full immersion.

The sides of the volcano were covered with corn, avocado trees and coffee bean trees (as seen above is one of the many, many coffee trees that we saw on our climb up). The green beans are not ripe, but the red ones (seen below) are ready for picking.

Us on the hike up, still with smiles on our faces. While we knew that it was a 3 hour hike from 1000meters to 3500 meters somehow that didn´t click with me that it meants 3 hours worth of stairs. Our legs were absolutely aching by the top...

Us and the views of the lake from one of the lookouts on the way up.

One of the locals collecting wood from near the top and bringing it down. He has this huge bundle strapped up and is carrying it with his forehead. The guatemalans work really hard.

Some beautiful views from the top... We were definitely happy to get there and enjoy a little rest before the long 2 hours of stairs all the way down. Our legs ached for 2 days after. (I´m not sure what means for our 14 day trek through Patagonia in February.... We´d better start buffing up!)

A lovely sunset back at La Casa del Mundo.

La Casa del Mundo at Lago Atitlan, Guatemala

Upon arriving into guatemala, we arrived into Guatemala City for a quick overnight, and then headed out to Lago de Atitlan (2 buses and about 3 hours by bus) but completely worth it. It is fabulous!

Our hotel, La Casa del Mundo, is only accessible by boat and has no internet or phone access available, so it´s heavenly. Nothing like forced relaxation!! Any way, in the first few days, we have been more relaxed immediately than I ever expected us to be (considering how crazy the day before we left was...)

Anyways, how can we not be relaxed when this is where we are staying??




Casa del Mundo is the hotel that you can see built into the side of the mountain on the right.




The view from our room and our private balcony....





A gorgeous house that our balcony looked out over.


A few shots of us enjoying the hotel and it´s wonderfully relaxing and beautiful surroundings.

Gallo, our favorite Guatemalan beer....

And my nomination for food of the week.... Kyle´s tasty tostadas and a very healthy fruit & yogurt ensalada con granola. Muy bueno!

Scenes from the Second Wedding

As many arrived into Ithaca the night before the wedding, we went out for dinner and some drinks and the local mexican place.

And out for a few more at Kilpatricks....

Preparing for wedding # 2...

Bob & Kath enjoying a well deserved cocktail after the long drive from New Hampshire.

And after a few too many beverages perhaps....

the singing begins.

Wedding #2

The yummy cake that Mom made.

Me & my little bro.

Us with Kyle´s parents who made it all the way to snowy Ithaca from Sydney (and even drove in snow).

Beard Bash 2007

My favorite girl with her "favorite husband"!

Kyle having a great time with his rugby boys, James & Steve (NOT a couple...)

Singing¨"Friends in Low Places". A very upstate NY ending...

The day after...

And as usual, always a few good friends that are willing to kick on til all hours!! Cheers to James for braving the cold for some NY pizzas!! ;)

The day after was spent taking a little walking tour of Ithaca and finding the shop that would serve Les the biggest ice cream sundae (as we were nearly recruited into a cult...) Freaky!