GUATEMALA

I will admit I went into Guatemala with some trepidation. Travel Wiki kept saying how there were 40 murders every week, and all of the armed crime was going on, and the violence. I was almost tempted not to get off the ship but I am glad that I did.

On our first day we went to the volcanic sand beach but we were horribly ripped off by the cab, so that did not help my impression of Guatemala. But the second day helped revise my opinion. We went to Antigua which is a beautiful village and the colors were very spiffy. But the coolest part was that we hiked Pacaya Volcano to see lava. It was far harder than the Great Wall and I am suprised that I made it. There were these boys with horses who kept trying to tempt me but I did not have any money since my credit card did not work. But when we got to the lava at the top, there was a whole river and we could see it flowing. I got to stand less than a foot away from it and it was very hot and it was glowing. Then we had to rush back to get to the ship before it got dark.

Then our third day was very relaxed we hung out at the restaurant that we kept going to and my friends had helped bartend. So the manager made us a free four course lunch with lobster and it was delicious! We also got free drinks.

I really liked Guatemala and I would not mind coming back, it was the people, who really made the place for me (the one's who were not trying to rip me off).