In the grass at Iximche

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!! I missed seeing everyone over the holidays but had a great time seeing old friends
anyway.

Iximche

The month of December went very fast. The end of November ended with a reflection weekend with Breaking the Silence in Montericco.

Montericco is the a black sand beach on the southern coast of Guatemala that is very beautiful.


We rented a bungalow that came equipped with a pool and was very close to the bar. It was a million times better than our last reflection weekend.

Elsa and I kissing our baby turtles

On our free time we were able to do fun touristy things, like set baby sea turtles into the ocean!!!

There is a sea turtle reserve in Montericco where they protect the eggs until they hatch indoors and then release them at dusk into the ocean.

On the ruins in Iximche

They have to do this because people will dig up the turtle eggs to sell or eat them.

Crammed on the bus as usual, from Iximche to Chimal

We also were able to eat delicious food at an italian restaurant that evening and Elsa and I went to a bon-fire at the beach that a few Canadians had invited us to.

Interns at the beach

The next weekend was Ashley's birthday so we bought a cake at the beach so we could all celebrate a bit together.

Interns at supper

As mentioned the first week of December was Ashleys B-day we got together to celebrate the following weekend. Only 4 of us could make it, the others live too far away. She decided that she wanted to have a picnic at some ruins near Chimaltenango.

My little turtle

So, the night before I headed to Amandas to meet some new volunteers. One is from Brazil and the other from Belgium. We made super and drank wine, and had a great time.

Sunset Montericco

The next morning, three of us headed on a wild goose chase to the ruins near Tecpan that are called Iximche. After being lost, confused and a little motion sick we arrived, 3 hours late. The picnic was delicious with fresh guacamole, chips, bread, salads, wine and other treats.

Sacred Sacrificial Site Iximche

The ruins were very nice as well. It was the last city of the Kachiquels before they were conquered. There were several visible pyramids and sacrificial sites.

Girls at the Montericco

That evening we headed back to Chimaltenango and stayed at a friends apartment there, we made homemade pizza drank red wine, and nearly froze to death.

Bonfire Montericco

On the way home, we all got hungover/motion sick to the point that we had to get off the bus on the highway so that Amanda could puke. The highways in Guatemala are insane, you don't need to go to any amusement park to get a thrill that's for sure.

Ashs Bday Picnic

     

  After this, it was back to work for a week before heading out on Christmas vacation. Alida and I were finishing up doing our workshops on nutrition in a few communities. We were lucky enough to go to San Pedro, which is another town on the amazing Lake Atitlan.

San Pedro, Lake Atitlan

The workshops went well, but on the way home our boat crashed in the middle of the lake. We didn't know but all the boat drivers were refusing to go on the water because the waves were epically big.


But some mechanic decided to take out his small boat because he thought he could make some money (We didnt know this either) So we boarded the boat with about 10 other people.

San Pedro, Volcano San Pedro, Sunset

As we boarded we were all  handed life jackets -- something that never happens in Guatemala. We weren't even out of the dock when the motor goes in the boat and we bang into some trees, and the boat starts tipping. But he gets the motor going and off we go, flying through the air.

Sure enough in the middle of the lake the motor goes again, but this time it doesnt start again, the waves bring us to shore in about 15 minutes. Because of the rising lake level we crash into trees and rocks that the lake has take over. The boat starts to fill with water as it is caught between trees and rocks. A man takes off his clothes jumps in to try  and free the boat. We get off the boat, via jumping in the water, in the middle of no where and have to walk up the side of the mountain to reach the highway where we are not supposed to be. The highway is seriously dangerous because there are robbers who control the road and rob every car that goes by, this is a known fact, and the only way to travel is by boat. So then we are on the side of the highway, but we knew a guy on the boat, who works for the fair trade certification company in Guatemala. So he gets a ride for himself and us, we have to be escorted by the police so that we don't get assaulted. Finally we made it home safe, just in time to get an "elote loco"  -- a piece of barbequed corn with mayonese, chile, ketchup, and cheese on it, deelish.