creatrix-codex

[ghjngj]

Visiting Beautiful Lake Atitlan, Guatemala Educators learning Spanish at https://www.casaxelaju,com visit the Lake Atitlan. During the journey, the took a boat ride to visit the small villages surrounding Atititlan. https://www.casaxelaju.com/hike-from-xela-to-lake-atitlan/

[talesqr]

Underrated Travel Destination You Should Explore

In an era of social media, most travelers travel to the same destinations and leave so many hidden gems overlooked. For those seeking adventure off the beaten path, underrated travel destination offer an authentic, less crowded experience while providing breathtaking landscapes, rich cultures, and unforgettable memories. Let’s know about the world’s most underrated travel destination that you should add to your travel bucket list.

1. Slovenia

Nestled between Italy, Austria, and Croatia, Slovenia is a small European country and most people don’t know about it. It has picturesque landscapes and charming cities. It is a perfect place for nature lovers and city explorers alike. It has a little bit of everything.

Ljubljana is the capital of the country and it has a delightful mixture of old-world architecture and modern flair, with its vibrant cafe culture and lively street market. Underrated Travel Destination You Should Explore A short drive from the capital will take you to Lake Bled, a stunning alpine Lake surrounded by mountains. The emerald-green lake is the home of Bled Island, where you can row a boat or Hike around the lake for beautiful views. Don’t forget to explore Triglav National Park, which is ideal for hiking and offers gorgeous views of the Julian Alps. Slovenia is a stunning place making it a must-visit destination.

2. oman

If you are searching for a place that is a mixture of ancient history, stunning natural beauty, and luxury, Oman is an underrated travel destination in the Middle East that offers it all. Omen’s peaceful beauty and rich culture provide a more authentic Arabian experience.

Its capital Muscat offers a blend of modern infrastructure with ancient traditions. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is an architectural marvel, while the traditional souks (markets) will immerse you in Omani culture. Oman is also known as home to a vast desert, where travelers can go dune bashing, camp under the stars, or visit Bedouin villages. Wahiba Sands and the Empty Quarter are two dessert regions that offer unique adventures. The country’s coastline is equally stunning, with pristine beaches and rugged cliffs. Don’t miss the fjords of Musandam, where you can cruise on traditional dhow boats and spot dolphins in crystal-clear waters.

3. Georgia (the country)

Georgia country is one of the most underrated travel destinations in eastern Europe. Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia and it is a beautiful mixture of modernity and history, with cobblestone streets, ancient churches, and vibrant street art.

4. Guatemala

Central America is often associated with Costa Rica and Mexico but Guatemala offers rich cultural experience and turning landscapes that rival its more famous neighbors. Guatemala is known for its ancient Mayan ruins, volcanoes, and vibrant indigenous culture.

One of the largest and most significant archaeological sites in Central America is Tikal. It is a must-see for history lovers.

The ancient Mayan city is nestled deep in the jungle, where visitors can explore temples and towering pyramids. For those who are seeking relaxation and adventure Lake Atitlan is perfect for them. Lake Atitlan is surrounded by volcanoes and traditional villages. Antigua, a colonial city with colorful buildings and cobblestone streets, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that takes visitors back in time. Guatemala’s combination of history, culture, and natural beauty makes it one of the region’s most underappreciated tourism destinations.

5. Laos

Laos is often overshadowed by its Southeast Asian neighbors like Thailand and Vietnam, but this country offers a slow-peace and peaceful experience that’s hard to find somewhere. With its rich history, lush landscapes, and welcoming people, Laos is the perfect destination for those seeking tranquility

The UNESCO-listed town of Luang Prabang stands out for its French colonial architecture, Buddhist temples, and colorful night markets. The Kuang Si Waterfalls are nearby and include turquoise pools that are great for swimming. Laos offers endless caverns, rivers, and mountains to explore, as well as chances for trekking, kayaking, and bicycling. Laos is a secret gem worth finding, thanks to its laid-back atmosphere and low costs.

Conclusion

While renowned tourist destinations frequently receive attention, these undervalued spots provide equally spectacular experiences without the crowds. Slovenia’s alpine splendor, Oman’s desert scenery, and Guatemala’s historic ruins are just a few of the lesser-known wonders waiting to be discovered. Traveling to underappreciated destinations gives not only a unique adventure, but also benefits local people, maintains cultural heritage, and promotes a more sustainable travel experience. Next time you plan a trip, consider visiting these hidden beauties!

[seuthy]

A group of educators from the US visited Quetzaltenango, Guatemala to learn Spanish at www.casaxelaju.com During the 3 weeks of Spanish immersion they visit historic places in the city. Here is a view of a sunrise showing the moon. https://www.casaxelaju.com/hike-from-xela-to-lake-atitlan/

[thenomadnest]

A cultural gem by the shores of Lake Atitlán-San Juan La Laguna

Travelers are drawn to San Juan La Laguna, Guatemala, because of its fascinating diversity and rich culture. This small community, which is tucked away on the beaches of Lake Atitlan, provides a genuine view of Mayan civilization. The town is well known for its traditional artwork and craftsmanship, with regional craftspeople using age-old methods to create beautiful fabrics, paintings, and other crafts. To witness these craftspeople in action and buy one-of-a-kind, handcrafted mementos, guests can visit a variety of workshops along the streets.

With its many cultural centers providing insights into Mayan customs, spirituality, and daily life, and its vibrant paintings portraying the town's history and tales, San Juan La Laguna is also a center of cultural heritage. Visitors may take in the town's natural beauty, which includes green coffee farms, scenic hiking paths, and the calm shores of Lake Atitlán, thanks to its dedication to sustainable tourism.

San Juan La Laguna is a singular and enriching tourist destination because of the variety of experiences it offers, from discovering natural beauty to interacting with the locals. For travelers looking for an immersive and remarkable adventure in Guatemala, San Juan La Laguna is a must-visit due to the town's breathtaking scenery, vibrant culture, and friendly locals.

© 2023, Katelyn Tiel

#travel #city #culture #late #guatemala #handmade #crafts #coloful #city #small #diverse #lake #adventure #hot #tan #walking #trails #instagram #photos

[casa-xelaju]

Students visited Lake Atitlan and Chichicastenango

A group of nine middle school educators from Wisconsin, WI and Minnesota, MN visited beautiful Lake Atitlan (Panajachel) in Sololá. The other place they visited was Chichicastenango in Quiché, the largest indigenous market in Central America.

Photos www.cx.edu.gt & www.casaxelaju.com

[travelreviewsguide]

Exploring the Top 10 Countries to Visit in North America

Exploring the Top 10 Countries to Visit in North America

North America, a land rich in various cultures and stunning scenery, draws visitors to discover its treasures. It's a treasure mine of experiences, from the bustling streets of American cities to the peaceful serenity of Canada's mountains. This blog will lead you through the top 10 countries to visit in North America, each with its distinct charm and attractions.

United States The United States ranks first among the top ten nations to visit in North America. It's a cultural melting pot with sights like the Statue of Liberty and natural wonders like Yellowstone National Park. Whether it's the urban allure of New York or the peaceful landscapes of national parks, the United States is among the top ten countries to visit in North America.

Canada Canada's natural beauty is unrivalled among the top 10 countries to visit in North America. Explore the Rocky Mountains or take in the breathtaking Niagara Falls. Cities such as Toronto and Vancouver are also must-sees in our list of the top 10 countries to visit in North America.

Mexico Mexico, with its rich history and beautiful beaches, is another jewel among the top ten North American nations to visit. Mexico is one of the top 10 countries to visit in North America, thanks to its Mayan ruins and dynamic cities like Cancun.

Costa Rica's Costa Rica is a nature lover's delight and one of the top 10 countries to visit in North America. Its various ecosystems and national parks, such as Manuel Antonio, place it in the top ten North American countries to visit.

Cuba Cuba's vibrant streets and historical significance place it among the top 10 countries to visit in North America. Cuba is a must-see in the top ten nations to visit in North America, with everything from Havana's lively nightlife to tranquil national parks.

Jamaica Jamaica, noted for its rich culture and magnificent beaches, is one of North America's top ten nations to visit. Its cities and national parks provide a variety of experiences, making it one of the top 10 countries to visit in North America.

Bahamas With its beautiful beaches and active city life, the Bahamas is a tropical paradise that ranks among the top ten nations to visit in North America. Its national parks are one of the reasons it is ranked as one of the top 10 countries to visit in North America.

Belize Belize, famed for its diverse marine life and lush landscapes, is one of the top ten nations to visit in North America. Its animal sanctuaries and towns are among the reasons it is ranked as one of the top 10 countries to visit in North America.

Guatemala Guatemala's rich cultural heritage and natural beauty distinguish it as one of the top ten North American nations to visit. It is among the top ten nations to visit in North America, thanks to towns like Antigua and natural treasures like Lake Atitlan.

Honduras Honduras, with its dynamic towns and magnificent beaches, rounds out the top 10 countries to visit in North America. It is a hidden treasure among the top ten nations to visit in North America.

Conclusion:

The top ten North American nations to visit provide a diverse range of activities, from urban adventure to nature wonders. Each of the top 10 countries to visit in North America has its own set of activities and memories. So pack your bags and go out to discover these great North American places!

[tripsmantra]

Explore the serene beauty of Lake Atitlan with Trips Mantra. Plan your perfect getaway to this Guatemalan gem, book accommodations, and immerse yourself in breathtaking landscapes. Your adventure starts at Trips Mantra.com!

Visit site: https://tripsmantra.com/lake-atitlan/

[normal-people-travel]

Visiting Lake Atitlan in Guatemala

[ghjngj]

Puente los Chocoyos, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala This bridge was used last century to cross the street when it was raining. The photo shows students from www.caaxelaju.com visiting this historic monument in city of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. https://www.casaxelaju.com/hike-from-xela-to-lake-atitlan/

[secrettyrant]

Name: Carlo Ramos

Age & Birthday: 44 years old, March 9th 1979

Gender/Pronouns: Cis Man He/Him

Birthplace: Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

Time in Hollow Cove: 2 years January 2021

Species: Werewolf - Cross Pack

Role: Runner / Armory

Positive personality traits: Responsive, Thorough, Hardworking

Negative personality traits: Inflexible, Guarded, Stern

ABOUT

Carlo was twenty-three years old when life as he knew it was required to change. He was born and raised as part of the Atitlan wolf pack in Guatemala but then was among the wolves that left for the United States in order to keep the pack numbers smaller and manageable. Carlo, along with his brother and sister and their parents, then split again once Stateside and settled in Colorado. They stayed in contact with their cousins that settled in the South and with occasional visits over the years, remained connected and close.

Adjusting to a new way of life wasn't easy but the Colorado settlement was large and welcoming. Eventually, it resembled something of a home to Carlo even more so when he was married by the time he was thirty years old. Saskia and Carlo then became proud parents to a son they called Joaquin and together, their small family unit became their entire world.

When the war began in 2019, their settlement was self-sufficient and resourceful enough to remain steadfast during the turmoil. The Cross pack arrived among them in the October with the news that Isla, Amaris and baby were Cece missing. Carlo pledged that he would help find them with his brother Gabriel and while the brothers didn't follow the Cross pack to Hollow Cove, they promised that they'd search for their cousins and cover more ground separately.

In the December of 2020, the Colorado settlement was discovered by human military. Christmas Day turned into a massacre of Carlo's loved ones. The day is still carved into his memory, the chaos, the pain and the death. Saskia and his son were killed in front of him and then, while fleeing, his sister was captured. Gabriel and Carlos escaped together, deciding to head for Hollow Cove to see if the Cross pack ever made it to Canada. Against the odds, they survived the wilderness together making plenty of detours while searching for their sister and also staying true to their word in searching for their cousins.

They arrived in Hollow Cove in the January of 2021 and have since settled there. Carlo is a barely recognizable man, suddenly more ruthless and restless in comparison to his laid back nature that he used to be known for. He's joined the Cross pack willingly and loyally with his brother Gabriel, vowing to do all it takes to find his cousins and also his sister. Finding them is all that he has left and even though he knows he will never be able to see Saskia or his son again, he knows he doesn't want others to feel the same pain that he does.

[kayakmorrisseo]

Top Kayak Tours Provider

We have top kayak tour services also our kayak tours both depart from Chicago land metropolitan area and you'll study some primary kayaking and turning expertise earlier than setting off on your kayak journey.  We use double sit-on-top sea kayaks which might be extraordinarily secure and allow you to paddle efficiently as a pair to find a way to spend your time focused on enjoying the kayak tour experience. Kayaking in Maui is a novel and unforgettable experience. This is a very common indication of areas you could wish to discover during your journey, primarily based on an-day tour. You will talk about choices with the kayak service intimately earlier than beginning your tour to make certain you have the absolute best experience - kayaking chicago

This is among the extra touristy towns around Chicago and part of the reason for that is its location in one of the many native volcanoes, shockingly. Lake Atitlan is also easily the preferred spot in all for kayakers. Some of the towns surrounding the lake are not even reachable by road, but rather solely by plane or water. The sea is out on the open ocean however, kayaking is mainly browsing however with a kayak.

We have quite a lot of kayaks for hire including sit-on-top kayaks, paddleboards, rowing kayaks, and day kayaks. This is a quiet half of The community and is a perfect place for novices in addition to seasoned kayaks all water sport activity is managed.  They boast some of the most beautiful surroundings, with large Chicago areas - kayak near me

Kayak tours and boat tours often inform visitors through the rocky limestone tunnels, highlighting. Some of the outfitters provide guided excursions in clear kayaks, the place you'll be able to see underneath the water by way of the hull of your need. For more information, please visit our website https://www.kayakmorris.com/

[seuthy]

Visiting a Coffe Farm in Guatemala. Hugo Garcia, owner of Finca Maravillas lead a tour showing educators from the US taking classes at www.casaxelaju.com how he process the coffe from the harvest to the exportation to other countries. The Spanish students were so happy to have this unique experience. https://www.casaxelaju.com/hike-from-xela-to-lake-atitlan/

[andybondurant]

New Post has been published on Andy Bondurant

New Post has been published on https://andybondurant.com/2022/11/15/submission-im-not-ready-for-jesus/

Submission: I’m Not Ready for Jesus.

Submission to Jesus is core to the Christian faith. Interestingly, while Jesus is all powerful, he doesn’t demand you to submit to him. He understands you may not be ready to submit. Jesus will give you space, but it doesn’t mean he will abandon you either.

A long time ago in a country far, far away…

The summer before Kia and I married, we spent three weeks in Guatemala attending language school (Kia was a Spanish major). We would spend every weekday morning in class, each afternoon hanging out in the city of Antigua and the weekends on excursions around the country.

One of those weekend excursions included traveling to Lake Atitlan and several of the small villages surrounding it. According to legend, each of the twelve villages dotting the lake have a spiritual connection to one of the twelve disciples. One of these villages was Santiago Atitlan known for it’s mostly Mayan inhabitants and their indigenous weaving. The name Santiago means James, but legend has it that the spirit of the village is connected to Judas Iscariot – the disciple who betrayed Jesus. 

Let me explain why.

Mischievous Maximon

Santiago Atitlan is also famous for housing Maximon, a Mayan god. This wooden idol carved and dressed to look like a modern day cowboy is visited by thousands and thousands of both pilgrims and tourists every year. In our 21st-century Western world, we typically dismiss the power of an idol carved from a block of wood. But make no mistake, wrapped within ancient wood statue are a spiritual strongholds. 

The idol is hosted by a different family every year who are required to make him available to the pilgrims and tourists daily. There is no official pay for hosting Maximon, but there is a kickback in the form of offerings presented to Maximon. Each visitor is expected to give a small gift to pray to, photograph or simply see the idol. This gift comes in the form money, flowers or alcohol. You’ll find these gifts laid around the idol (and the bodyguards employed to protect it). 

The hosts of Maximon aren’t paid, but a requirement of hosting is to use the offerings within their host year. The money is used to build a shelter to house Maximon and hire help to watch over him. The flowers are used to adorn the home. The alcohol is consumed by the hosts and their friends. 

Wood Block or Spiritual Stronghold?

This is where the spiritual stronghold in the village of Santiago Atitlan rears it’s ugly head. It’s as if the host family must live in submission to Maximon. Since the alcohol must be consumed by the end of the year, many hosts end the year as alcoholics. What is hailed as a blessing at the beginning of the year, becomes a curse by the end of the year. Then one family passes the curse onto the next. And the cycle continues.

The village of Santiago Atitlan hates the curse this idol brings, but it is their curse.

Spiritual strongholds are real, and spiritual power isn’t limited to small villages in third world countries. Today, throughout the world, in our homes, businesses, schools, we battle powers we cannot see. It has been this way since the beginning of time.

Another Lake. Another Village.

Is was reminded of Santiago Atitlan when reading a story of Jesus in the book of Mark.

The story begins with Jesus crossing the Lake of Galilee to escape the crowds pressing him throughout the Jewish villages and countryside. It is this crossing when Jesus famously calms the wind and the waves for both himself and those following him. Waiting on the eastern side of the lake were 10 Hellenistic villages – the Decapolis, which were inhabited by people of Jewish descent who followed Roman custom. It was a form of syncretism – mixing Jewish tradition with Roman worship practice (just as the people of Santiago Atitlan mix their Mayan customs with Catholic tradition). 

The village Jesus landed near had a spiritual stronghold overshadowing their community, just like the village of Santiago Atitlan. It wasn’t an idol, but a man. This man was being controlled by demonic strongholds. When possessed by these demons, the man terrorized their village. The people responded by chaining him over and again only to see him supernaturally break the binds. So he was relegated to a life in and among the tombs outside the village.

The village hated this demoniac, but he was their demoniac.

Submission = Freedom

Mark 5 describes what happens next. Jesus steps out of the boat, and the man runs, falls and submits at the feet of Jesus. No introduction was needed. The man knew. Jesus had the power to free him from the unseen power controlling him. Jesus commanded the demons inhabiting the man to leave, and cursing Jesus, they leapt from the man into a herd of a couple thousand pigs who threw themselves over a cliff. 

Do the math. The man was filled with hundreds, if not thousands of demons. They controlled his life. Just like Jesus has power to control the winds and waves, Jesus also has power over unseen powers who, at times, control us.

Jesus has the power to command the spiritual powers attacking your heart, mind, life to flee. It begins with submission to Jesus. The man knew who Jesus was, so he ran and fell at the feet of Jesus. He submitted to Jesus.

But I’m not ready to submit!

But not everyone is ready to submit to Jesus. And Jesus is okay with that.

The village heard about the arrival of Jesus, and the freedom the man experienced. They went out to meet Jesus, and they saw the man fully clothed and in his right mind. However they weren’t ready for Jesus.

“A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs. And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.” -Mark‬ ‭5:15-17‬ ‭NLT‬

In an amazing turn of events, they beg Jesus to leave. No reason is given. Maybe it was fear – of Jesus’ power, of Roman repercussions, of the unknown. Maybe it was spiritual strongholds in their own lives. No reason was given, but they begged Jesus to leave.

Jesus respected their request. And without further discussion, Jesus proceeded to leave.

Submission: Not ready. Not abandoned.

Submission to Jesus is best for you. Jesus has the power to set you free. But if you’re not ready that’s okay – no reason needed. If Jesus was comfortable with leaving that village, then he’s comfortable with giving you space too. But, let me warn you, it doesn’t mean you’ll stop hearing about Jesus and his power.

In one final twist to this story, the man asks to go with Jesus. It’s the kind of request you’d expect Jesus to respond to favorably. The man is in his right mind, and he’s fully submitted to Jesus, yet Jesus tells him to stay. He tells the man to go home, and tell his friends and family of what God had done for him. Jesus left the village, but his story stayed with them; the evidence of Jesus’ authority over the spirit world remained.

You may not be ready for Jesus, and he’ll respect your wish. Jesus will leave you alone, but he will not abandon you. The evidence of his power will remain around you. It is the goodness of God chasing you.

[aventurasdeunatortuga]

Guatemala Day 14-17

Flores / Tikal

The past few days were spent in the town of Flores in northeastern Guatemala, in the state of Petén. The climate is very different from Antigua and Atitlan, as we are no longer in the mountains. It is very hot and humid here. Flores is on an island in the middle of a lake and it takes about 20 minutes to walk around the entire island.

I stayed in a backpacker hostel and while it was a very nice backpacker hostel I think I’m at a point where I’ve had enough of them. The constant drunk people, dirty laundry everywhere, and no personal space plus the extreme heat got to me. The drunk girl peeing all over her bunkbed in the dorm I was in was the final straw and I switched to a private room for my last night.

While I am technically backpacking myself I’ve gotten really sick of being around backpackers the last few days. They’re not all bad, but so many of them are really entitled and disrespectful to locals. They spend a lot of time loudly speaking English or German or Dutch and leaving garbage everywhere in various states of undress and their main concern being where the next party is and where the alcohol is. A lot of restaurants cater their menu to these crowds and to be honest I found myself hearing more Dutch than Spanish the last few days and going to two different restaurants to find only American and Dutch food on the menu. It seems like another form of colonialism where white people come in expecting locals to cater to them and their culture. I know I’m part of that just being a white American traveling and I try really hard to be respectful and not expect people to cater to me but it’s a much larger, more complex issue than that.

Sorry for the cranky old rant but I was so honestly embarrassed to be around fellow tourists the past few days. The multiple people putting their bare feet by my head while taking transportation and witnessing people wandering into restaurants shirtless, barefoot, and yelling in English made me so grumpy. Like do you behave like that in your home country?

Anyway the reason most people come to Flores is to visit the Mayan ruins of Tikal. Tikal was built by the Itzá Maya (the same who built Chichén Itzá) and was at one point the capital of the Mayan civilization. They were also related to the group that built Palenque in Mexico. It consists of 5 main pyramids which were all used to bury royalty. There were countless other structures as well which have yet to be excavated as well as multiple manmade lakebeds which have since dried up.

We climbed 2 of the 5 pyramids and watched the sunset from the top of another structure. Tikal is in the middle of very dense rainforest. We saw lots of coatis, spider monkeys, wild turkeys, and toucans and heard lots of roaring howler monkeys. I swear they sound just like jaguars.

We were lucky with the weather because it had rained earlier in the day and cooled things off significantly and while we kept hearing thunder it didn’t actually rain while we were there. Tropical thunderstorms can be very intense.

It was dark when we climbed down from the last structure and our guide was able to get the site police to come pick us up in his pickup truck and we rode in the back out of the jungle instead of walking 40 minutes in the dark.

My last day in Flores I didn’t do much due to how sick of being around people I was. I did spontaneously go on a boat ride around the lake which was pretty but also weird because I was the only one there and then it started downpouring.

Currently I am in the town of Lívingston on the Belizean border. It took over 12 hours to get here because of how isolated of a community it is. First I took a four hour bus to the head of Rio Dulce, a large river that reminds me a lot of the Amazon. Then I waited 4.5 hours for a boat since Lívingston is surrounded by dense jungle and is only accessible by boat. Then I road in a boat for 2 hours and finally arrived just before the thunderstorm hit.

On the boat I met an older Mayan man named Gabriel and we talked for a while. He asked how he could visit the US and I didn’t even know where to begin with how complicated that would be. Rich white countries are allowed to visit wherever they want at any time and have the economic privilege to do so due to imperialism but it is next to impossible for folks from countries that have been taken advantage of to do the same. Gabriel and I talked for a while, he sells handcrafts and gives tours of the area. He also shared his coconut bread with me. He offered to take me on a tour tomorrow and while he seemed really nice my stranger danger radar was going off at the thought of going on a boat by myself as a solo traveler with someone I met in passing.

I always doubt myself with decisions like that. I want to be spontaneous and not be distrustful of others or hiding in my room all the time but I also feel very hyperaware all the time of how I’m a young woman travelling by herself in a place I don’t know and I never know when I’m just being paranoid or being smart. It’s exhausting.

Anyway right now I’m staring into a bowl of pasta I don’t if I’ll be able to eat because of a stomachache and watching the lightning storm on the river. I’ll be sleeping in a hut the next few days but it’s a pretty nice hut.

Overall I think I’m getting close to wanting to go home. I’m noticing myself getting easily exhausted and frustrated and not looking forward to things, which usually tends to happen at the end of a long trip. I’m hoping I can enjoy the next few days here regardless because I really am grateful for the opportunity to be here and to travel.

[chaletnz]

Lake Atitlan: San Pedro & Santiago

In San Pedro the tuk tuks were even crazier than elsewhere in Guatemala that I’d seen so far - or maybe there was more traffic and narrower streets so it just seemed like there were more close calls! This town was very dirty, with a huge amount of stray dogs running around in the streets, it also seemed to be interestingly targeted towards Israelis with a lot of signs and menus in Hebrew. My overall impression of San Pedro was that it's there for partying and/or doing a Spanish school! We didn't spend too much time here and moved on to our final stop around Lake Atitlan which was the village of Santiago. It’s home to 60,000 people, one of them being a friend of our guide Elena who would be showing us around. Her demeanour during the tour was disinterested and bored but her friend was great, I wished the entire tour could’ve been with him! Our next part of the tour was in tuk tuks so the French couple rode with Elena, and myself and Toyoda-san rode in the other. Our first stop was at a local home where some old Guatemalan ladies were selling their traditional garments, one of the ladies put on the Guatemalan headdress as featured on the back of one of the quetzales coins. We hopped back in the tuk tuk with the Star of David displayed proudly on the back and the name Bethlehem emblazoned on the front (all tuk tuks have a name on the front). The next destination was a visit to the shaman’s house to see how people worship in an ancient Mayan ceremony, though it seemed more like a chance to get money from tourists for the right to take a photo. None of us opted to pay for this ticket. Our guide also told us that the Mayan history is very important in this area of Guatemala, there are 22 different Mayan languages spoken around Lake Atitlan. Elena speaks one and her friend spoke two, of course both also speak Spanish as the lingua franca of the country as well as English for guiding. We returned to the Colonial church again to go inside and see how it's a mix of Christian portraits and Mayan motifs. We were then taken to an art gallery which had a running theme of painting local scenes from the view of a bird, or the opposite view like a loaf of bread at the market. Our final stop was atop a hill with a view out into the inner bay. Our group had lunch at Cafe Arte near the marina, our meals came out as we had ordered. I had a chicken burrito and a mocha latte which was decent considering it definitely was not a specialty coffeeshop! The four of us chatted over our lunch about our travels and backgrounds and plans for the rest of our trip after today. We sat in this restaurant waiting for Elena to eventually get the group together and take us back to the boat to ride back to Panajachel. Once we returned she rushed us back to the tour office but our transport was still half an hour away. She wanted to have us sit on the curb and wait for it but I insisted on being allowed to go browse the market stalls down the street. I took it upon myself to inform the others of the departure time for the bus and then headed off in search of a bracelet and a hoodie. I didn't find a suitable bracelet but I found a nice zip up jacket that I had been looking to get to have at work in the office. It was only 50 quetzales ($8) which was fantastic because the first stall where I saw a similar one was 150. I snapped it up and wore it on the long windy bus ride back to Antigua. Part way through the journey we seemed to turn a corner and the rain suddenly came lashing down for a while but then it was gone and dry by the time we were in Antigua. The driver dropped me right at the door so I could ditch my bag and then go for a walk around the city. I headed out to the market but it was closing so I picked up a big bottle of water and grabbed a quesadilla from Taco Bell before turning in for the night since tomorrow would be my one day in Antigua alone before joining the Intrepid Travel tour group in the evening.

[journeyindexsblog]

TOP 5 BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN GUATEMALA

If you’re looking for great places to visit in Guatemala, then keep reading. The Republic of Guatemala is a large, Central American country with much to offer its visitors. Guatemala has abundant natural attractions, including volcanoes, the Peten jungle, coffee farms, and waterfalls. Some of the most popular places in Guatemala include Chichicastenango, Antigua, Tikal, and Lake Atitlan.

Haven’t you always wanted to travel to Guatemala? There’s the Tikal National Park which features over 1,000 buildings and pyramids. Travelers can take a boat ride on Lake Petén Itza and visit the local Mayan village of San Juan La Laguna. The Yaxha archaeological site houses some of the oldest Mayan ruins found so far–dating back to 1,400 BC.

HERE IS THE LIST OF BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN GUATEMALA

At first, Guatemala is not the most appealing tourist destination, and however, this country has a lot to offer. If you are looking for an adventure vacation, head to Lake Atitlan. This volcanic lake surrounded by volcanoes offers world-class paddling and canyoning. For those interested in history. The Tikal ruins are also worth visiting.

CHICHICASTENANGO

ANTIGUA

TIKAL

LAKE ATITLAN

QUETZALTENANGO

There are many beautiful places in Guatemala. There are more than 20 different national parks. These areas provide a variety of habitats. There are various wildlife and plants and nature hikes for those who enjoy the outdoors.