Saturday morning, Kalya and I caught a 4:00 am bus to Chimaltenango, arriving in Antigua at 8:00 am. We made it to Black Cat Hostel, where Robin and Jerry were waiting for us. Only they were asleep, because it was 8:00. So we knocked on their door and they came down for breakfast.
We killed all Saturday in Antigua, wandering around the city and eating the expensive food they sell there. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and I suppose it deserves to be, but it's hard to develop any particular affection for buildings that have no meaning for you. We did go to a pretty sweet convent called Convento Las Capuchinas.
We also took a quick trip out to a suburb of Antigua, where they supposedly sold weavings and macademia nuts. The town was super-tranquilo, with basically nothing going on. They also sold no vegetarian food. Not even rice and beans. Not even potatoes. We left without seeing the macademia nut farms.
Back in Antigua, we continued to wander the streets and get a feel for the place. Just off the square, against all odds, we ran into Arthur Demarest. (Clarification - Dr. Demarest is an archaeologist at Vanderbilt who is in charge of the excavation at Cancuen, which you will here much more about after our visit in a week. We are looking to work with him and IAHA to start a clinic at the site for the surrounding residents, who currently have little/no access to care). Arthur was running late to his speech at a local Jade conference, but I got a hug and we said see you in a week. Small world.
Sunday morning we left for our hike up Pacaya volcano at 6:00 am. At 5:50, Kalya went up to check on Robin and Jerry. Much to our surprise (and theirs), we woke them up again! For two mornings, they awoke to us knocking at the door. I feel bad for their roomies.
The hike up Pacaya was awesome, and pictures don't capture it. We were crossing the old lava flows when suddenly we felt intense heat rising from below our feet. When you look down between cracks, you see flowing lava about a foot beneath you. That's a crazy experience, really surreal.
Then we made it to an active lava flow. The stuff is really like glue or something, super thick and still pretty liquidy. You just have to see it. And boy is it hot. I tried to pose for a picture in front of the lava, and you can see how impossible it was on Picasa. I've included a picture of one guy from our group jabbing the lava with a wooden stick. How hot does that make it - 451?
When we got back from the volcano, we parted ways with Robin and Jerry and took a wonderful, music-free chicken bus back to Xela, arriving late afternoon.
Today was a pretty productive day at clinic, six or seven interviews that actually counted. Spanish class continues to be awesome - Fernando is an awesome teacher. Today, we visited a beer distributor and then took a trip out to the movistar store after class so I could change my cell phone plan. I really have a good time with him, and he's starting a program at Columbia in the fall. Maybe he'll come visit in Nashville.
Thanks everyone for updates. Sorry I haven't replied to everything - life has been busy (and good) lately. Please keep me updated on the text page novel - I've really enjoyed the first three chapters. ¡Les extraño muchisimo!
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