Pacaya

Today we woke up at 5:15 am to be ready for a 6 am shuttle to the volcano Pacaya. As on typical Guatemalan time, the shuttle arrived around 6:15 and it was 6:30 am before we had everyone (the shuttle goes around the city to hotels picking up people). Before leaving Antigua the shuttle driver then stopped at a coffee shop. "Coffee? Sandwich?"   By the time we left Antigua it was 7:00 am.

Our hour long ride to the volcano was the typical Guatemalan ride, leaving us rattled, frazzled and laughing.  However, we were pleased that today's shuttle had seat belts. 

Our group was comprised of the others in our shuttle since you seem to not be able to hike the Pacaya Volcano without a guide - a girl from Maryland with her aunt, cousin, and cousin's fiancé (from Honduras), three 20-somethings from Ireland, and a Mexican man (seemingly in his 40's) and his father. Diverse group.

We never would have found this National Park had we been on our own!!  The road was dirt and single lane, winding through the countryside.  At the trailhead, we paid a fee and were assigned our mandatory guide.  (Are you taking notes Ranger Speers...new funding source?)  The trailhead area seemed to be the residence of the guides, trail hands, and those caring for the horses.  They were joined by their children, dogs, and chickens.   As you exited the shuttle, you were swarmed by boys asking you to buy a walking stick, telling you, "You need.  Necessary."

We were soon on our way.  Men with horses followed us up the trail, in case anyone wanted to ride.  Within five minutes the mother from Honduras was on a horse.  Ten minutes later the 20-something year old daughter did likewise.  The hike was uneventful and we were at the lava flow within an hour or two.  The girls roasted marshmallows over hot lava rocks and we walked to the base of the lava flow.  The hike down went quickly and we made our way back to Antigua.

Picaya Volcano (with our adopted dog we named Daisy - she seemed like a Daisy)

Roasting marshmallows over hot lava rocks.

Our crew rested a bit, showered, and then headed back out to the streets of Antigua to spend our remaining quetzals.  We had a wonderful dinner at Frida's, named after the famous Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.  Jeff and Brooke got t-shirts in the mercado, where Jeff haggled over the price. T-shirts were being sold in a big store next to Frida's for 85 quetzals a piece.  Jeff thought we could do better at the main market so we headed there.  The minute we walked up to the t-shirt stand and asked how much a t-shirt cost, the man said, "Cincuenta y cinco (55)."  He then immediately followed with, "Cincuenta for you."  Then, "How much you pay?" Jeff got both t-shirts for 90 quetzals.  He's convinced he could have done much better if we had time to walk away.

We ended our night (for the second night in a row) with crepes from Luna de Miel (Honeymoon in Spanish.)  Delicious!  

Crepes!

We're settled into our hotel for the night.  Packing to go home.  Our shuttle leaves the hotel tomorrow at 8:30 am and our flight leaves Guatemala City around noon.  We won't get back to Queensbury though until about 3:30 am on Tuesday.  We're looking forward to seeing family and friends, and to sleeping in our own beds!