More from Guatemala!
Well, in keeping with the theme of this trip, I did something rather dangerous but pretty wild involving natural disasters.

I climbed a volcano.

Let me start out be admitting that I´m not the most athletic man in the world, okay? So climbing something with about a 40 degree slope made out of crumbly shit that has a zillion razor-sharp edges is probably not the best plan for a guy with the coordination of your average drunken yak.

Yet there I was.

I did not get far, however, before it became apparent that the elevation, my general physical shape and the allergies I apparently have to something here triggered a slight asthma attack. The guide was a small Guatemalan guy who looked very worried at the sounds I was starting to make, and ultimately summoned one of the other guides who was leading a horse just in case. I´ve never been on a horse in my life- but it was that or give up right then, so I got into the saddle and did my damnedest to learn.

We got near the top and they made us dismount and continue on foot. I was careful, but by then the guide was worn down a little and was no longer sprinting up the hill so I kept up easily. Climbing a field of rubble is difficult at best, but knowing that I was risking a death of a thousand cuts if I fell was a bit daunting. I mean, look at this shit.

The lava was far enough down that we could walk on the pumice, but the wind blew gases hot enough to light branches on fire. The others had brought along marshmallows, but I was content to watch.

The place was dead, dead, dead. A more desolate spot I´ve never seen. Nothing but wind and heat and pumice- and in the distance, life.

After a time we descended, but it was almost dark by that point. I went on foot- my arse still hurt from riding- but partway down I a href=¨http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j120/tucatz/101_3401.jpg¨looked back. It doesn´t show in that pic, but there was a sullen glow at the top. I wish I could have gotten close enough to the liquid stuff for pics, but I kinda like living, ya know?

At the moment I´m living here, and this is the view I awaken to in the mornings. The local beer is Moza, and is fantastic. But since I´m in an internet cafe at the moment and paying by the minute, further descriptions will have to wait...
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Mon 6 Jul 2009, 22:06, 12 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

So many links
are you challenging the linkage king Spakka?

How long are you there for?
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Mon 6 Jul 2009, 22:12, Reply)

I´m here until the 13th.
I wish I could stay longer- that cabin costs $15 a day, and food is less than $20 a day including beer.

Gonna hurt to go home.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Mon 6 Jul 2009, 22:31, Reply)

You lucky, lucky man.
That is all.
(berk, Mon 6 Jul 2009, 22:16, Reply)

It's amazing what happens to someone when they jettison the unwanted crap out of their lives.

( girlinthehole, Mon 6 Jul 2009, 22:19, Reply)

Would that I could!
I don´t know that I´ll ever get back here again, so I´m doing what I can now. But the unwanted crap remains- even here I still have to job search!

This has been one hell of a ride so far, though. I´ll post market pics later.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Mon 6 Jul 2009, 22:29, Reply)

Are the first 3 links
Supposed to be the same picture?
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Mon 6 Jul 2009, 22:20, Reply)

Crap! No.
It will take me a few to correct that...
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Mon 6 Jul 2009, 22:27, Reply)

Wow, Loon
that's breathtaking. So jealous of your view!
( Maladicta, Mon 6 Jul 2009, 22:25, Reply)

Looks very nice out there
How long have you been out there? How much longer do you get to stay?
( Captain V, Mon 6 Jul 2009, 22:30, Reply)

I got here on the 2nd.
I´ll be returning on the 13th. Not enough time, dammit!
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Mon 6 Jul 2009, 22:36, Reply)

Still enough time for me to envy you a lot!
I hope you get to do lots of other things that will make call you a git!
( Captain V, Mon 6 Jul 2009, 22:40, Reply)

There didn't happen to be
a honeymooning couple on that climb, going by the names of Anna and Don, did there?

My recently-married friends climbed a volcano in Guatemala a couple of days ago, and have pictures of them eating marshmallows at the top...
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 10:34, Reply)