About Me
- NOMADIC LIFESTYLE, EARTH, United States
- After getting my first passport in 2006 and traveling to climb Kilimanjaro in Tanzania my life changed. I began the process of getting rid of all my possessions and traveling the world. Traveling to over 125 countries and all 7 continents, hostels have been my home. This "new life" has taught me what is important and it was NOT accumulating money or possessions. Traveling is the best education. I hope my blog will encourage others to travel. My World Tattoo was a way for me to express my PASSION FOR TRAVEL.
GUATEMALA, Lake Atitlan hike, Santa Cruz to San Marcos
June 21, 2010
Lake Atitlan is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, if not the most beautiful. Lake Como in Italy has always been my favorite lake until now. While Lake Como has beautiful mountains, beautiful mansions, and beautiful villages, Lake Atitlan has volcanoes surrounding it. Apples and Oranges, I will consider it a tie. To see Lake Como see my Europe blog.
I just finished a 3 hr hike on a path that runs high on the mountains and follows the lake. An English girl and boy from the hostel went along with me. We picked up an unwanted guide along the way. The English girl spoke Spanish and told him we were not interested in a guide but that did not deter him. Luckily for us he came in real handy. The trail had been damaged by Storm Agatha and had washed out portions of the trail. There was one spot when the path was only large enough for one foot to fit on it and it was about a 30 foot fall if your foot slipped. Thinking back on it this was not a very smart move on our part to follow the trail when there was a serious chance of getting hurt. We made it to San Marcos about 3 hrs after our initial departure, quickly got lost looking for the boat to take us back, and finally made it back to the hostel after a 20 minute boat ride. I took over 260 pictures and will post them in about 4 days. The hostel will not allow us to download pictures on their computers.
Lake Atitlan is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, if not the most beautiful. Lake Como in Italy has always been my favorite lake until now. While Lake Como has beautiful mountains, beautiful mansions, and beautiful villages, Lake Atitlan has volcanoes surrounding it. Apples and Oranges, I will consider it a tie. To see Lake Como see my Europe blog.
Lake Como, it seems to me, touches on the limit of permissibly picturesque, but Atitlan is Como with additional embellishments of several immense volcanoes. It really is too much of a good thing. Aldous Huxley
I just finished a 3 hr hike on a path that runs high on the mountains and follows the lake. An English girl and boy from the hostel went along with me. We picked up an unwanted guide along the way. The English girl spoke Spanish and told him we were not interested in a guide but that did not deter him. Luckily for us he came in real handy. The trail had been damaged by Storm Agatha and had washed out portions of the trail. There was one spot when the path was only large enough for one foot to fit on it and it was about a 30 foot fall if your foot slipped. Thinking back on it this was not a very smart move on our part to follow the trail when there was a serious chance of getting hurt. We made it to San Marcos about 3 hrs after our initial departure, quickly got lost looking for the boat to take us back, and finally made it back to the hostel after a 20 minute boat ride. I took over 260 pictures and will post them in about 4 days. The hostel will not allow us to download pictures on their computers.
GUATEMALA, Antigua
June 18, 2010
Antigua's setting is gorgeous, nestled between 3 volcanoes (Volcan Agua, Volcan Acatenango, and Volcan Fuego). The streets are cobblestones and the buildings that line the streets are multicolored. The town of 45,000 has a beautiful Parque Central (Central Park) which is the gathering place for both locals and visitors. The plaza's famous fountain was built in 1738. Across the street from the park is the Catedral de Santiago which was founded in 1542, damaged by earthquakes many times and only partially rebuilt between 1780 and 1820.
" I sought to see the amazing as normal, and the daily as unique, and in that swirling paradox, I found the joy of travel." Mary Poxon
If anyone has any travel questions about this trip or anywhere else please send them to me. After my grandchildren and traveling, talking about traveling is my favorite thing.
Antigua's setting is gorgeous, nestled between 3 volcanoes (Volcan Agua, Volcan Acatenango, and Volcan Fuego). The streets are cobblestones and the buildings that line the streets are multicolored. The town of 45,000 has a beautiful Parque Central (Central Park) which is the gathering place for both locals and visitors. The plaza's famous fountain was built in 1738. Across the street from the park is the Catedral de Santiago which was founded in 1542, damaged by earthquakes many times and only partially rebuilt between 1780 and 1820.
" I sought to see the amazing as normal, and the daily as unique, and in that swirling paradox, I found the joy of travel." Mary Poxon
If anyone has any travel questions about this trip or anywhere else please send them to me. After my grandchildren and traveling, talking about traveling is my favorite thing.
COSTA RICA, Manuel Antonio National Park (monkeys, monkeys, monkeys)
Wednesday June 16, 2010
We left early for the park to hopefully see the monkeys in action. We were not disappointed. We saw lots of monkeys, many within 1-2 feet. We also saw sloths, iguanas and a long non-poisonous snake slithering down our path. Unfortunately no one other than me brought a bathing suit, mostly due to the sunburn that we all encountered yesterday. The private beaches at the park were beautiful, uncrowded and very clean. The park provides several bathroom facilities, showers and drinking water throughout the park for only $10 per person with children under 12 free. If you come here pack a lunch, ice chest and plenty of sunscreen and make a complete day of it. The only injury of the day was when a monkey dislodged a 1.5 ft. long rotten tree branch and it fell on Madison's head. She is okay but let everyone know she was in discomfort. lol
We left early for the park to hopefully see the monkeys in action. We were not disappointed. We saw lots of monkeys, many within 1-2 feet. We also saw sloths, iguanas and a long non-poisonous snake slithering down our path. Unfortunately no one other than me brought a bathing suit, mostly due to the sunburn that we all encountered yesterday. The private beaches at the park were beautiful, uncrowded and very clean. The park provides several bathroom facilities, showers and drinking water throughout the park for only $10 per person with children under 12 free. If you come here pack a lunch, ice chest and plenty of sunscreen and make a complete day of it. The only injury of the day was when a monkey dislodged a 1.5 ft. long rotten tree branch and it fell on Madison's head. She is okay but let everyone know she was in discomfort. lol
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