LAVA IN GUATEMALA

I AM ACTUALLY SAD TO SAY THAT I AM BACK TO SOMEWHAT OF A CIVILIZATION.
I HAVE SPENT THE PAST 3 DAYS AT A PLACE CALLED THE EARTH LODGE. IT IS ABOUT 15 MINUTES OUTSIDE ANTIGUA AND AT ABOUT 2500 FT. WE RODE IN THE BACK OF A PICK UP TRUCK UP THE MOUNTIAN AND THEN WERE DROPPED OFF AND HAD TO WALK A TRAIL FOR ANOTHER 10 MINUTES. WE ARRIVE AT ¨THE LODGE¨ AND BASICALLY ALL IT IS SOME SORT OF FARM ON A MOUNTIANSIDE. THEY HAVE LOTS OF AVACADO TREES (YUM) AND ONE MAIN HOUSE WITH A KITCHEN, DINING AREA, DAYBED & AND TV. ALSO PLENTY OF HAMMOCKS. THEY HAVE A FEW CABINS BUT I STAYED IN THE DORMS WHICH WAS A LITTLE CABIN WITH 4 SETS OF BUNKBEDS AND ANOTHER LITTLE CABIN NEXT DOOR WITH A SHOWER, SINK AND TOILET. WHEN I SAY TOILET I REALLY MEAN A REALLY DEEP WHOLE IN THE GROUND WITH A TOILET SEAT ON IT.
THE MAIN AREA MUST HAVE ORIGINALLY BEEN DUG OUT OF THE MOUNTIAN AND HAS THE MOST AMAZING VIEWS OF THE CITY. YOU CAN ALSO SEE 3 VOLCANOS. ONE OF THEM IS ACTIVE AND ON ONE NIGHT IT WAS REALLY CLEAR AND WE SAW LAVA COMING OUT OF IT ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. IT WAS AMAZING.
A COUPLE FROM CANADA AND THE STATES OWNS IT BUT HAS A FEW GUATEMALAN GIRLS MAKING BREAKFAST AND LUNCH. THE DINNERS ARE FAMILY STYLE WHERE EVERYONE SITS DOWN TOGETHER AND THEY MAKE ONE BIG MEAL. IT WAS REALLY NICE. FOR 3 DAYS OF BOARDING, 3 MEALS A DAY, SNACKS, DRINKS AND LOTS OF BEER, IT COST ABOUT $20 A DAY. I SPENT MY DAYS SUNBATHING, READING, WATCHING THE CLOUDS CROSS OVER THE MOUNTIANS, EATING GUACAMOLE, PLAYING CARDS AND WATCHING CLINT EASTWOOD MOVIES. THEY ALSO HAVE THIS ROPE SWING, WHICH IS BASICALLY A SQUARE PIECE OF BOARD WITH A ROPE THROUGH IT AND ITS TIED TO A TREE THAT HANGS OVER THE EDGE OF THE MOUNTIAN. IT WAS SO SCARY AND FANTASTIC AT THE SAME TIME.
I MET SOME REALLY FUN PEOPLE THERE ALSO. ITS GREAT WHEN YOU GO SOMEWHERE BY YOURSELF BUT SEEM TO FIND PEOPLE THAT MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE HOME. I ALSO MET THIS GUY NAMED MATT, WHO OWNS A HOSTEL IN ANTIGUA CALLED THE BLACK CAT WHICH IS WHERE I AM STAYING TONIGHT. I HAVE LEFT MY TRAVEL BUDDY AT THE LODGE BUT I HAVE A FEELING I WILL SEE HIM AGAIN SOON.
I SPENT MY MORNING AIMLESSLY WALKING AROUIND ANTIGUA, WENT TO THE CITY CENTER, THE MARKET, AND ENDED UP SPENDING ABOUT AN HOUR TRYING TO FIND MY WAY BACK. THE CITY IS LIKE A GRID BUT EVERY STREET LOOKS THE SAME AND THERE ARE NO STREET SIGNS.
IM NOT REALLY SURE HOW I AM DOING BUT I HAVE BEEN FORCED, AT LEAST WHEN I GO OUT, TO USE MY SPANISH. ON OUR WAY HERE URI WAS MAKING ME DO THE ORDERING AND THINGS LIKE THAT WHICH IS KIND OF EMBARASSING, SOMETHING I NEED TO GET OVER. IN BETWEEN OUR BUS RIDES HERE, WE WENT OUT TO GET LUNCH. I WANTED AN EGG BAGEL AND HE WANTED A HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICH. I DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BUT WE ENDED UP GETTING 2 HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICHES. I JUST ATE IT AND KEPT MY MOUTH SHUT.
TOMORROW I AM HEADING OFF TO LAKE ATITLAN. IT IS ABOUT 2 & 1/2 HOURS WEST OF HERE. IT IS A LAKE THAT WAS CREATED FROM A VOLCANIC ERUPTION TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO AND IS SURROUNDED BY 3 VOLCANOS. THERE ARE QUITE A FEW CITIES SURROUNDING IT BUT I WILL BE STAYING IN SANTA CRUZ. THEY ALSO HAVE FRESH WATER DIVING THERE SO I THINK I WILL CHECK THAT OUT. MY PLAN IS TO STAY THERE FOR 2 NIGHTS AND THEN HEAD BACK TO ROATAN. I AM REALLY NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THE 14 HOUR TRIP BACK WITHOUT SOMEONE TO TALK TO BUT I AM ANXIOUS TO GET BACK TO MY LITTLE ISLAND PARADISE.
I WILL POST PICTURES ONCE I GET BACK TO ROATAN.