Love in Guatemala

I know what you are thinking, but...we did not a find specific love in Guatemala, more so a love for the people and land of Guatemala. Guatemala is a constant reminder that despite extreme poverty and below subsistence living conditions, the people carry a large smile and warm heart. I could (will) learn a lot from the people in Guatemala. I want to spend more time here, hopefully volunteering my time while gaining just as much from the people in return.

The land is lush and beautifully green, so far (picture below is from the Rio Dulce).

From the city of Antigua, we took a day trip to hike one of the active volcanoes, called Pacaya. Thanks to our honed hiking skills from Santa Barbara, we made it up the mountain!

The guide was even impressed by the lava explosions. The entire group spent so much time watching the show that we had to hike down in the dark...scary (especially when the guide jumped out of the bushes at me and I grabbed Tiff for dear life)!

Turneffe Island Resort...incredible

Tiff and I arrived to Turneffe Island Resort which is one of the atolls off of mainland Belize. I pinched myself wondering is this place was a dream or reality. We had our own island in the Caribbean, you could walk around it in about 20 minutes. We had just come from Black Cave tubbing and zip-lining through the jungles of Belize, as if that wasn´t the greatest time.

Over the last week, we took about 16 dives which included a 130 foot dive in the Blue Hole. I made friends with about 10 sharks, harmless, he! Tiffs family was incredible and we all had so much fun together. We were sad to go, but happy to begin the next leg of the trip.

After a series of boat rides and a scary propeller plane, we landed in Guatemala (by boat). We are now in Livingston, Guatemala. I can´t believe it but we just ran into two friends from Texas (sort of from TX, Mic-Israel and Pablo-Spain). We are off to celebrate New Years in Livingston and are heading up the Rio Dulce for some Jungle fun tomorrow, or maybe not! What a tough life! We miss and love you.

p.s. I tried to add photos but it didn´t work, so image a beautiful white sand island with aqua water. :)