Hola Again!
How´s life? Jenny, Matt, and I are alive and well. We´ve been up to a lot over the past 2 weeks or so. Right now we´re in Flores in northern Guatemala, quite close to the Mayan city of Tikal. After San Pedro la Laguna we headed West to Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala´s second largest city. It´s a bustling place. We didn´t spend long in the city though. We went on a trek with a group called Quetzaltrekkers - they´re a non-profit organization run by volunteers that take people on treks around the surrounding mountains and volcanos. All of the money they get from clients goes to an orphanage, school for street kids, and a clinic. I´d love to come back down here to work with them and learn the ins and outs of their project. I think it could be implemented in some other developing nations too. Anywho, we did the 2 day Santiaguito hike with them: a trek to the base of Guatemala´s most active volcano. It was a "blast!" Some exciting parts were crossing a rickety, Indiana Jones style bridge with wooden planks missing here and there while suspended over a massive gorge created by the last major eruption in 1902. From the middle of the bridge, you could see two halves of a church, hanging from the edges of the cliffs on either side of the 40 - 50 m wide gorge. At night, while camping out under the volcano, we watched a couple of eruptions with lava flowing down the side of the volcano. Jenny thought we were going to die.

After Xela, we made our way to Coban, via Huehuetenango, Sacapulas, and Uspantan. Not many people go to Coban via this route because there´s not much of a road. It was quite an adventure.

We then relaxed in Semuc Champey, one of Guatemala´s parks. The highlight here was a spelunking tour of the caves with Domingo, the local guide. We must have used up at least 3 of our lives here. We were told to simply wear our swimsuits and sandals and not to bring anything. Armed with candles (no helmets or flashlights) we swam, crawlded and climbed our way through the dark labyrinth . . . And we didn´t have to sign a single form! I love this country!

We´re now in Flores, looking after Matt. Poor Mateo´s had to get a handful of shots at the dodgy Guatemalan clinic. I even had to give him a piggyback back to the hostel beacause he was so sore. Once he´s better, we´re headed to Tikal and then into former British Honduras (Belize). We won´t be there long though . . . probably less than a week. We just can´t wait to go to Honduras.
Take care.
We´ll be in touch!
Ben