Some last adventures

Three boys I met collecting things for a fire on the road to Sna Pedro
This is Rosa Angela who we met in San Pedro. She became a wonderful little companion

Ok there are a few stories I want to get out in this one. A day that will be remembered forever and Semana Santa in Antigua. Well I guess that technically makes two stories but each has many different parts.

Ok lets get the time line out here. So after Lago Yojoa we went to another series of small towns and sill events and ended in Copán where the ruins which raised some pretty interesting questions for Mary and I as to our religious and spiritual beliefs. After Copán at the end of March we headed into Guatemala and had some fun within swarms of bats in Lanquin. After Lanquin we made it to Semuc Champey where we had one of the most memorable days of the trip.

The day is divided into 3 and two half parts. That may not make sense now but I think it will. One of the half parts came first. We got picked up in Lanquin and rode in the back of a truck to Semuc with a breathtaking view as we lowered down in between the mountains. We arrived at Hospedaje de Las Marias and set up a tour through las cuevas (caves) de las Marias which is one of the three parts.

We unloaded our stuff and Mary and I got ready for the tour. We were told to just wear our bathing suits and our clothes and bring nothing else. We are then told that it is just the two of us on the tour. Our guide takes us to the mouth of Las Cuevas da las Marias when we step straight into a foot of water. We are each given a candle and our guide has a water proof head lamp to lead us through the darkness. Now what fascinates me is how much accessibility there is to things in other countries. When I think about how this cave would be set up to be explored is that there would be lights implimented and a walkway so that you didnt have to touch the water. However in Guatemala we found ourselves swimming through the caves holding the candle above our heads so as not to burn it out.

Mary and I could not control ourselves laughing and having to pinch each other to make sure that it was really happening. We were brought back deep into the cave where we could mainly walk and then suddenly be plunged into water again surrounded by stalactites and stalagmites of all formations. At some parts we had to scales walls using a rope and others we would wedge ourselves between columns only to find we had to jump down into another pool of water. My favorite part was swimming through a tunnel that was submerged under the water. (Now this part was optional but I couldnt pass it up) Our guide Sebastian took us farther back than the larger groups get to go because it was jusdt the two of us. We spent some time in the complete darkness seeing what it is like to close your eyes and not see a single difference in how it looks.

We finally made our way out of the cave with our hearts pumping and our heads filled with excitement of the adventure that we had just encountered. Outside of the cave we are each given an inner tube and tie our clothes that had been waiting for us on our heads. Along side the caves floats a river that we jump into and it gently carries us down to our hostal after a nice 30 minute float.

Part number two. After a small lunch Mary and I, now equiped with camera and other tools, head on the walk to Semuc Champey. Semuc Champey is a beautiful natural colection of crystal clear pools. Each one flowing into the next with aqua water and new little treats to explore. At first Mary and I hike up to the Mirador to get a view of the whole from above which looks like pure perfection even though we are sweating every ounce of water that we had consumed througout the day.

We finally make our way down to the water and it is the most refreshing feeling ever. There are little fish that on occasion come over to nibble at your toes but for the most part you are free to dive, swim, wade and sit in complete relaxation in the cool crisp clean water. It felt like a full day and yet it wasnt over yet. We gathered our things and headed on the walk back and stopped at a families home to eat some watermellon and have a few beers. Part number three. The family was incredibly welcoming and all the neighborhood kids came by to stare and the foreigners that came to visit. We found ourselves listening to music laughing and dancing and before I new it we got wrapped up in a small game of soccer on the neighboring field. It was definitley a fabulously happy ending to an incredible day.

The View of Chemuc Champey

Up Close and Personal

Semana Santa in Antigua is another story. Every body had told us that if you wanna see the most elaborate and exciting events for Semana Santa go to Antigua so weeks ahead of time we booked our hotel and just worked on getting ourselves amped up. We showed up exhausted thursday and were told that thursday ngith you stay up all night so we took a nap. There are a few elements to Semana Santa in Antigua that make it so breathtaking. The carpets and the processions. The carpets and made my families and other groups to for the processions to walk over. People stay up all night preparing them for the first procession that starts at 4am friday morning.

The carpets are made out of shaved marble, pines from trees, a specific white flower and sawdust. Others can also have fruit and flowers and we even saw one that had a turtle in a pool in the center which we were informed would be moved once the procession got to it. Many are beautifully detailed and it was fascinating to watch the care that went into each section. The processions that came through on Friday are all about the curcifixion of christ and are carried only by men. The processions on Saturday are of The Virgin Mary and her sorrow and are carried only by women. The processions on the final Sunday are of the resurection and carried by anyone who wants too with a much more jovial energy.
Here is me doing my part to get involved I am stamping down sawdust to make it flat for the carpet.

The beginnings of another carpet


The colors are all the marble shavings

Everyone makes different designs. This is the center of the Mayan Calendar

Here is the first procession of the last week coming out at 4am.


Here is the procession as it crosses a finished carpet

This is the finish of the one that i had helped with as I make it back to my room at 6am

The streets in Antigua were constantly filled with international and national travelers who came to see all the excitement. It was definitely an experience I will not forget and how much emotion and devotion people put into their commitment to their god. I felt humbled and appreciative to take part in it all. I even helped a bit to make a carpet with a spanish school.
A fun hike up a volcano outside of Antigua Volcan Pacaya

My first lava sighting. I had no idea how much heat it can create.

Heres the proof I was near it.

Photos!!!!!

Here are some photos to catch you up on how things are looking down here

This is from Las Penitas the beach right outside of Leon, Nicaragua


Here is the Catedral in the central Plaza in Leon, Nicaragua

This is the view of the roof tops from the Sandinista Museum

Here is the Cathedral standing on the roof of the Sandinista Museum




here are the kids that are part of the pre and after school program that is run by the community. We visited them right before they went to school.

These cows seemed to have no interest in getting out of our way as we headed to the beach.


Here are the Cacoa beans before they are crushed to make chocolate that we saw at the factory in Matagalpa ¨Happy Town¨Nicaragua

Thats me crushing the beans

All the chocolate is made that way by one of three women


Chocolate!!!!!


This is a marsh on a walk that Mary and I took around Matagalpa

There is a view of the city from afar

More of our awesome scenic walk


We came across some chickens


And some cows


I think this is a Ceiba tree but I am not sure

The church in Matagalpa

The soccer game where our team destroyed the other team


The wonderful street and saying good bye to Matagalpa

And saying hellow to the beaches of Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras


Our friend enjoying the wonderful water

Meredith and I took a nice peaceful walk out to the dock



On the boat going out to Scuba dive for Mary and Snorkel for me and Mere




Sting Ray just chillin


Pumpkim Hill at one end of Utila

At the top of Pumpkin Hill

The view of the island


The three of us M´s making out mark

Discovering the back streets of Utila

More of the ilsand

Love Love Love

Me and Lily at Lago Yojoa in Honduras

The marshy swamp of Lago Yojoa