Schools out

Xela, Guatemala

Courtyard at the ICA school

Two weeks of Spanish school have basically confirmed what I already suspected - there is no way I can learn how to speak Spanish in two weeks!

Susanne is doing much better and actually seems to be able to communicate occasionally.

During the last week, besides attending the school, we have been kept very busy with other activities.  Last weekend, in our time off, we took in the festivities around the Parque Central, where there was everything from a solemn religious procession to a parade of the Miss Guatemala contestants.  Lots to see and do.

Of course, we still spent some time studying, usually at our favorite coffee shop.  It was a popular spot for students on Sunday.

We took a trip to the nearby small town of San Andres Xecul, boasting a very bizarre church with a shocking-yellow façade, among other oddities of a religious nature around the town.  The trip to and from Xela was half the fun, using chicken-buses and riding in the back of pick-up trucks - a real genuine Guatemalan experience.

 

Last Wednesday we joined a couple of other students on a school-sponsored trip to the Fuentes Georgina hot springs, about an hour and a half out of Xela, at considerably higher altitude.  There was a choice of a couple of bathtub-warm pools and the feature, incredibly hot, pool, all naturally heated.  The countryside on the drive up to the place was a real treat with great views of agriculture taking place on near-vertical slopes.  Very tropical surroundings.



View of the volcano from the front of the ICA school

Back in Xela we have been treated to a wonderfully dry and temperate couple of weeks.  Temperatures have been consistently cool in the mornings and evenings, heating up to the mid 20s during the afternoon - pretty much perfect conditions for us.  This is supposed to be the start of the rainy season but so far we have only had a couple of showers at night.


After two weeks in Xela, it feels like home.  It is hard to be saying goodbye to our new friends and family, but that is just part of the cruising life, even if we are cruising on land right now.



Our adopted Mother Berenice

Our very patient teachers Carlos and Ana

Tomorrow we will be taking our leave of Xela, and making our way to the nearby Lago de Atitlan (Lake Atitlan) for further adventures in Guatemala.

BTW: For those of you who normally receive our SPOT updates, poor SPOT does not seem to like Guatemala too much.  We will continue to keep pushing the button, but no promises.