So one day at noon we piled into our usual transportation
device (bus-thing) and headed to Panajachel. On our way we stopped at a buffet
of traditional Guatemalan food and at another Mayan gathering site like Tikal.
We got to Panajchel and checked into our hotel for the night.
It was Hotel California, a really tall hotel (like five
stories), but with only three rooms on each floor. Our room was on the second
floor. We did not get the street-side room with the balcony, but I figured it
was for the best because of the electrical lines that were in reach.
This was
the night that I remembered that I wanted to watch How to Eat Like and Animal, because a lot of awesome people shared
it on Facebook. That night we watched it three times and it never stopped being
absolutely hilarious. Stop reading this right now and watch this video.
After and before this video we also watched clips from Judge
Judy and a video of a boy who had gotten his wisdom teeth out and was all
drugged up. Don’t forget: corner kick.
We ate dinner at Solomon’s Porch, which was connected to
Hotel California and, conveniently, owned by the same people. The outreach of
Solomon’s Porch is to positively impact the city of Panajachel, which is known
as a place where people go to use drugs and party.
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| This is Brandon (Crystal's husband) in the boat. He is so funny. |
The next morning we had to be up earlier than everyone
wanted to ride a boat to San Juan, one of the little towns around Lake Atitlan.
This was also the morning when I decided I was going to take so many pictures
that minds would explode. We approached a sketchy-looking building surrounded
by nothing and it turned out to be our hotel.
La Voz
(Note: If you do not want to learn information about coffee
plants, skip this section. I realized it might be boring for some people and I
do not want to be the reason you are sad because then I would be sad and I
certainly do not want to be the reason I am sad.)
We dropped off our stuff and headed to La Voz, a coffee
plantation in San Juan. Here, we learned all about coffee and I learned so many
interesting facts.
First of all, different types of coffee are grown in
different types of shade. There are three types of plants used to shade the
coffee at this plantation: avocado trees, banana trees, and weird archy trees.
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| strange archy tree |
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| avocado tree |
These trees provide shade for the coffee plants, but they
have other sweet uses to. The avocado tree provides avocado, another way the
plantation can make money. The banana trees are good for bees because the can
pollinate there and whatever bees do. The weird archy trees are good for
migratory birds, but I’m not sure why. I am actually not sure that I ever knew,
but in my head I was good for the birds because as they are flying they can dip
under the trees to add some excitement to their route.
Just like with bananas, there is a disease killing coffee
plants. There is no way to fight it, so when it get a coffee plant and makes
the leaves black, you have to cut the plant off at the bottom. The best part is
that the plants is not even a complete loss. You cut it off and it grows back
healthy. This is a cute little coffee plant that is old and young at the same
time.
After the tour we were given samples of coffee and waited
for the tuk-tuk to bring us our lunch. In that moment, we got a glimpe of how
people were feeling post-coffee and pre-lunch.
Me: “Can I have a sip [of your water, Morgan]?”
Morgan: “Heck if I know!”
(Awkward silence where I kind of fidget uncomfortably)
Morg: “Wait. What did you say?”
Me: “Can I have a sip?”
Morg: “Oh. Yeah. I thought you asked what time it was.”
Crystal: “Hey Morgan! What time is it?”
Morg: “I don’t know. Have some water.”
Making Scarfs
After lunch at La Voz we walked to a woman’s cooperative
where the Mayan woman made clothes on their looms and sold it in their stores.
We had the chance to make scarves ourselves with the hip-loom. It took hours
and I found it very enjoyable.
After we finished our scarves we went back to the hotel and
chilled until dinner. Even though people said it was polluted, Jamie and I
decided to swim in the lake because, let’s face it, this is THE LAKE ATITLAN.
We had to swim in it.
Santiago Atitlan
The next day we took a boat to Santiago Atitlan, one of the
little towns around the lake. We took a group trip to a church, then had until
the afternoon to explore (Explore is a generous word. We were actually pretty
confined for safety purposes). We wandered around and looked at all the stuff
that was for sale and made some nice gift purchases. Dana and I bought bananas
and tomatoes for lunch and enjoyed it on a dock with Jamie and Ana who had
purchased tortillas and an avocado.
Panajachel, Again
We went to a different hotel for the night and they gave us
delicious smoothies that no one liked so I had three. Also, I met Pablo, the
only bird I have ever loved.
All throughout this trip we got in the habit of sleeping
more girls in a room that what was originally meant to happen. At this hotel we
had two rooms right across from each other and shared them both. It was a great
couple of nights and I was super happy that we all could be together.
The Next Day
I blew glass.
I made a fool of myself in a park.
I ate ice cream before lunch.
I walked through a cloud forest (reminds you of a rain
forest but it is not tropical. It is moist because you are in the clouds).
I swam in a pool of water that is heated by a volcano.
I ate ice cream again.
We watched Emperor’s New Groove.
Jamie bought pot holders.
Back to Antigua
All this weekend I missed my family and friends back in The
States more than normal. I think it was because Antigua and my family here has
become a second home for me and being away from that for so long was hard.
Either way, I was glad to be back in Antigua, back to my
second house, my second family, and my second room. Seriously, I love it here.
PS. I won the tuk-tuk game. The prize was a little tuk-tuk.
I gave it to Francisco.
PPS. Sometimes I eat chocobananos and I feel sick (sad face
times one million)
PPPS. On the trip I ate pancakes for breakfast every day.
That is four days in a row. It was great.
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