Guatemala, Home Away from Home

It is a very peaceful place and the culture is steeped in its heritage, being very proud of its customs and ancestry.  It was my first time to Lake Atitlan, the most beautiful place I have ever been to, and we were only there a few days before we were looking for land to buy.  Here are some of my favorite pictures of the lake and people. 

Beautiful Lake Atitlan

We went to a wildlife reserve where we got to ride the zipline too. In this video you can get a great view of much of Lake Atitlan. Ziplining Above Lake Atitlan

Lake Atitlan

Our Stay in Hotel Aaculaax

We stayed in a gorgeous hotel in San Marcos on Lake Atitlan.  The window here was made with a technique using paper mache' and recycled glass, a technique we want to learn and use in our own home someday.  The hotel was built on the side of a cliff and our room had a stone wall which a water fall ran down when it rained.  

One of Many Mayan Sacred Sites

We only made it one of the Mayan Sacred sites but it won't be our last visit.  Here is a view of the lake from there. It was a bit risky trekking up the steep cliff but here I am sitting beside a couple of ancient stone candle holders, possibly hundreds of years old.  The red spots on these rocks are natural and our guide says not animal blood,  Could they be a result of thousands of ceremonies held in this spot?

Antigua, Guatemala

Although not our favorite part of Guatemala, Antigua is still a beautiful city.  I especially loved the lactating fountain. 

Wildlife Volunteering

It was only a few hours after arriving for my volunteer position at ARCAS that I knew I could not stay there. I had been told that it was primate baby season and I would be needed to help with the babies but really I was given very little contact with any animals and only about two hours of work a day. I only stayed there for 48 hours, instead of a week, because I knew I was wasting my time and would be better off just traveling more. But I soaked up all the info I could and got the opportunity to hold a baby howler monkey. They are the hardest primates to rehabilitate due to their extreme sensitivity. Here is a video of me and Pearl the Howler baby.Pearl the Baby Howler Monkey