A change of pace. I have spent the better part of a week in San Marcos, one of the 13 villages at Lake Atitlán with the intention to stay a while longer. Lake Atitlán is a popular stop on the tourist trail. At almost 18km at its widest point and bordered on all sides by volcanoes and steep … More Can you feel the serenity?
One of the ways I decided that I want to use my time while ‘on leave’ is to learn to take better photographs. A few weeks ago I read this post http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/02/11/photographing-people/ It has really simple, practical tips on how to better photograph people, which is something I feel I don’t do enough of. Mainly because … More Trying something new – more practice required
Acatenango will forever be something I remember, not because it is the third highest volcano in Central America but because it is also the most challenging hike I have done so far, but oh soooo worth it. Reaching 3976m (13,040ft), Acatenango last erupted in 1972 and has been dormant since. It can be climbed as a … More Hiking one volcano to see others
The hiking boots are out of the bag and back on my feet…thought it best to ease myself in gently so my first hike was to Pacaya Volcano, just outside of Antigua. It’s a very popular thing to do for people visiting around here and almost anybody could manage it. If you are feeling unsure … More Toasting marshmallows on a volcano
Antigua so far has been a town of hello and goodbyes for me. Am back to travelling solo, as the girls flew out the other morning. Since then I have been adjusting. Am getting used to having no plan but my own and it being Antigua, drinking lots of great coffee! I had heard many great … More Antigua – and then there was one
Not sure my bum will ever be the same again There are a few journeys that have left indelible marks on my memory. One was many years ago in Cambodia, driving to the Thai border. We bumped along for hours cramped in a small bus, with numerous punctures and long delays at the sides of … More Take a run and jump she said!
Rio Dulce is one of the few places I have hesitated about going to. Would it be worth it? I had heard mixed things, but in the end I decided to go, seeing as I was in the neighbourhood, well relatively. My guidebook described the town itself as a squalid settlement! Quite harsh I thought, … More You never know unless you go
Flores was a very gentle introduction to Guatemala. Late breakfasts, long lunches, great coffee and fresh mojitos all weakly balanced by very short walks sums up our time in Flores. A pretty little place, that feels like it only exists for tourists. We were here for a few days as a base to visit Tikal, one of … More Flores, a town of tourists, colours and cobbles
Niamh on Leave 