a weekend at the lake

where we went: Lake Atitlán (Lago de Atitlán) is a large endorheic lake (one that does not flow to the sea) in the Guatemalan Highlands. While Atitlan is recognized to be the deepest lake in Central America, its bottom has not been completely sounded. Estimates of its maximum depth range up to 340 meters. The lake is shaped by deep escarpments which surround it and by three volcanos on its southern flank. The lake is volcanic in origin, filling an enormous caldera formed in an eruption 84,000 years ago.

What a weekend!

We left Guatemala city bright and early on Saturday morning, got directions on how to get there and everything. We stopped for a chocolate bar and went on our way. I fell asleep (surprise surprise) and when I woke up we were pulling into a gas station because the the person we asked about directions told us we were 3 hours away and going the wrong way. So typical of us! OY! Luckily we were only about an hour out of the way and we made it to the lake in time for a late lunch. We then found a guy with a boat to bring us to our hostel across in a little city Santa Cruz!

The hostel was amazing! it was kind of like camp styles! cabins and little trails with a restaurant and bar in a main area that also had a lounging area that overlooked the lake and the beautiful view! We hung out in hammocks and I took a nap (once again, are we that surprised?) then around 6 we went to the main area for happy hour followed by dinner. The food was AMAZING! It was a buffet with either grilled chicken or an amazing, kick ass (really , there is no other way to describe it) veggie burger. It was delicious, they would not tell us their secret recipe, but something about beetroot and lentils and yumminess! and then about 8 salads! All delicious! After that there was some hanging out, played some cards. Apparently its tradition that on Saturday nights people dress up after dinner...and when I say dress up, I mean cross dress! So all the men were in dresses from the dress up room. It was quite a site on the dance floor!--which is really just the dining hall!

Sunday morning I went for a quick swim! It was a tad chilly but soo beautiful! After my swim I had breakfast and then Makenzie and I wen exploring a little bit.

Found a tree and swung from it. All in a days work! Did some more reading and hanging out watching the beauty. At 1030 our little boat guy came back for us and we went back to Panahajel, where the car was. We walked the streets of Pana for a couple of hours, buying random things at the markets there. I showed much more restraint than my friends but still got some cute things- some jade earrings, a painting and some Christmas gifts...shhh, sorry can't say what they are!

We were going to go Zip Lining in the nature reserve but it started to rain so we decided that it would be an adventure for next time, since we know we will be back...probably pretty soon!!!

On the side of the road out of the city we stopped to look at this awesome waterfall!

Beautiful! This was a weekend filled with beauty. We stopped for a very late lunch around 4 and as we waited for our food we just all realized what a beautiful world we live in and how truly blessed we are to be living such an adventure!!!! Wonderfully blessed!

I have some school work to get to, so I will end this here.

love xox