Back to school at Lake Atitlan

Days 37 to 49: San Pedro and Lake Atitlan

Mon 31 Jan 2011 - Fri 11 Feb 2011 25 °C

Time to address the pitiful Spanish - I arrive in San Pedro hoping to find my inner geek at Spanish school. After half an hour of trying to string a couple of sentences together and fearing I won't hear a word of English again in this place, I bump into Pim & Malka from the Belize boat trip (who by the way have some great underwater photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/56559897@N02/sets/72157625841121004) and John from the caves trip, which is nice for the first night at least so that I don't have to limit my conversation to a present tense discussion about a bus or similar.

I attend school in a pretty garden by the lake for half a day each day and stay with a local family which means I am forced to do some kind of homework by way of talking with them (which is a good thing as I never was very disciplined with homework - unfortunately learning Spanish is hardly something you can just cram in one night).

Swotting away at Casa Rosario

During my two weeks at the lake, I try out some kayaking, and take in the views from the top of the Nariz de Indio (Indian Nose) which is well worth the climb. I visit some of the local towns around the lake and the market at Chichicastenango where I test my bargaining skills.

Lake Atitlan

The colourful markets

My new friend John introduces me to a local speciality - the Dias Verde (Green Goddess), a punchy blend of vodka, ginger and mint, available from the Ventana Blue restaurant. On my last evening in San Pedro we visit the restaurant again for another round, but alas! For some unbeknown reason there is no electricity in the town which means the blender is out of action...no Green Goddess tonight! Grrr this wouldn't bloody happen in London (I remind myself that it's part of the fun and drink some more beer instead). Thanks John for the generous sacrifice of going back for another after my departure so you could get me the photo!

Guate_jan_..011_047.jpg