La Caminata
The hike was to a point over looking a lake. It was a 90 degree up hill climb to the point and quite dusty but it was beautiful. The “1,000 steps” that were referenced were actually only 570 but were from the lookout point to the lake and did not include the two plus hours it took to walk to these alleged steps. It was great to be in “la naturaleza” and we passed by many Indigenous families cultivating crops like potatoes and onions throughout the hike.
The views at the top were breathtaking and after finding the appropriate word in Englsih to describe the fast moving precipitation hitting the lake (mist) off the nearby volcanoes we discussed the Mayan ceremonies that were going on around us. The lake is sacred (no swimming, no drinking, no nada) and every day of the Mayan calendar is significant in some way. There was a group sitting on the shore praying to loved ones passed, for health, and for the natural environment (very Mayan, very Avatar).
Who is we? Well Dean, who I will have to write about in a later post in more detail, organized/forced the local school owner to take me with him and another student on the hike. David is great and is trying very hard to run a business as a language school operator here in Xela. (Plug: http://kamalbeschool.com/introduction.htm)This week he has one student, Bethany who is from Brooklyn. She was happy to have someone to talk with in English and David was happy to listen and ask questions about different topics in English. I was able to communicate well with David in Spanish and was happy to have a safe teacher to correct me when I needed it.
‘We’ also included 3 Guatemalans who took the bus with us from Xela and who ended up traveling with us the whole time, whether they liked it or not. When things are offered here, whether it be to sit and have coffee, a snack, or a hike together, it is rude to decline. They were University students studying law in a nearby city. They were great to have around and really nice. Another addition to the group was a lady and her mom. The lady was a nurse in Santiago and her Mom was visiting. They both spoke fluent Spanish and eased the conversation quite a bit between all parties. They were great and we were happy to have their company.
We decided to take a ride back down to the street where we could catch a bus to Xela. Everyone was just about over all of the walking that had gone on that morning. The pick up was painful but quick and the bus ride was cramped and smelly. We talked on the ride back with one of the law students about the Indigenous culture and their clothing. It was very interesting and the Mayan culture is one that I, and many others, know very little about.
I am quite tired now from the hike and lack of oxygen in my diet from the altitude but I am sipping a delicious cup of coffee and sharing my experience with all of you. Missing a hot shower and a comfortable couch but having a great time! Wish you were here.
