Chicken Perlo Crock Pot

Still further, higher and higher ...

This morning we leave early in the morning Honduras (5h00. .. not much sleeping in these days) to reach the old Antigua, former capital of Guatemala .

We travel in such buses ... unknown in France!

The city is bordered by volcanoes, there are thirty in Guatemala, three of whom are still active. You know our curiosity and adventurous spirit ... Upon our arrival, we removed our shoes and thongs our boots was the assault of Pacaya, an active volcano is 35 km from Antigua. For reasons
safety, we strongly advise to go in groups accompanied by a guide and to bring warm clothes and something to noun.
The climb starts at 1900 m and ends at 2550 m, only a few dozen meters from the crater.

As a measure of the climb, the landscape evolves.

A video taken in extreme conditions ...

We are cold, passing in cloudy areas and the heat is starting to felt in the last 300 meters or the ground covered with stones or slag rather shifts under our feet.

The atmosphere that emerges is of rather peculiar, strange, somewhat scary and in no way resembles a mountain hike. We are indeed on an active volcano and the inevitable happened ...

... lava!

We are caught by the beauty of this monster in constant transformation.

"Maybe a little unconscious, very close to the pockets of lava, I tasted a marshmallow plant on a peak of wood and grill in the lava." Olivier

By 18h, it is time to descend and it has the glow of the torch he must control his movements to avoid falling on the brittle basalt rocks.
"not obvious to me down the volcano ... my bloody hands and feet had blisters because of multiple falls during the ascent. I had to avoid the mini Eboulements created by tourists who followed me; I do not see where I asked the feet since I forget my torch at the hotel ... " Helene

Returning to the hostel, a good cold shower will not be enough to get rid of dust acumulee during this climb, or memories of this adventure.

Another excursion in Antigua under police escort (again for security reasons) led us to Cerro de la Cruz to see a panorama of the city and the volcano that overlooks it.

the view is not always the one we hoped ... cloudy day today!

The city of Antigua was founded in the sixteenth century and was the nation's capital for 233 years. Several earthquakes with devastating one in 1773 have completely destroyed the city and the capital was moved to Guatemala City in 1776.
In Antigua, the ruins of buildings destroyed were consolidated and pleasantly developed, which gives a special charm to the city.

facades are a delight for the tourist who wanders ...

... and at the turn of one of these streets, an art gallery attracts attention. It houses the work of over 60 artists including two Guatemalans have caused a sensation in our eyes.

"In these works, the artist Alfredo Garcia Gil denounced the loss of traditional values and violence in all its forms. He never paints their faces. The size of the canvases , dark colors and precision of the line would not let me indifferent. " Helene

"Me knowing in a country where the population is very religious and or places of worship are ubiquitous, I'm going quickly to the paintings of Patrick Mc Grath ... when a trivial detail made me slow down and get closer a works ... then iron at all. This artist painted scenes and biblical characters by inserting objects with fine features of our contemporary consumer society and our remoteness has some forms of belief. A form of art, humor, challenge and provocation ... everything I like! "
Olivier

believe in his or her destiny CB? ...

is in a family atmosphere that concludes our short stay in Antigua. we made a beeline for pupusas (corn cakes filled) for our last cena (dinner) Helene español practicing her with Louisa, age 8, one of three daughters of the boss, and Olivier taking notes of the country's school system with Jose, the server tonight and primary teacher in the day. Here the musical accompaniment for this meal ...

To leave Antigua, 2 places to find: Helene here before a "Panederia" and Olivier before a "Tienda" ...

So you think that these are two places?

The next day, towards Lake Atitlan or Yvon ahead for the big jump. Who is Yvon?
is one that will give us chills at our paragliding jump!
We hope that the photos and videos will be felt the emotions that words can not describe ...

Liftoff ...

... flight ...

It's up!

"The thrills and chills during paragliding jump after waiting 40 minutes as the wind calms down, we could take off ... a magic moment and 45 minutes of happiness when you find yourself in the air above the birds, their feet in the air above Lake Atitlan, a huge expanse of water ... an experience, a Once more memorable! " Helene

"With hikes is the element that I Earth crowd with the diving, water is the element in which I could evolve, with the ascent of the volcano, is the element of Fire that I'm coming ... and paragliding fence has this wonderful book that I thought since stirring Air , the 4 elements being connected, I find myself being with little modesty, the savior of the world: the 5th element! (Thanks Luc Besson, after the Big Blue, you still inspire me ...)." Olivier

time to say yet another thank you to Yvonne ... we change element and cross the lake lancha (boat)

to spend our last days in Guatemala in the village of San Pedro Laguna.

Here is a preview of the facades of the houses ... persuasion or belief ...

or

San Pedro was to us an authentic village ...

... or the people wear traditional dress,

tuc tuc

or honk going full blast and Internet cafes abound!

Here, we used to snack on the streets of tostadas (corn pancakes covered with guacamole and hard with some small vegetables), the opportunity to eat well and cheap (20 euro cents for one) ...

Olivier ready to set the picture as it seems he is often seen dining

... and above all improve our español discussing "the end fat "with, among others, Rosalita whose cuisine was delicious!

Thus we learned that was frowned upon for a woman to marry a man not living in San Pedro Laguna.

It is a disgrace for the father to see his daughter abandon the family.

Our last trip in Latin America (snif. .. sniff!) allowed us to chew a beautiful moment of life:

laundry Here is a family affair ... uh! women!

It undertaker moments of life!

Goodbye landscape of Latin America ...

See you at the airport for an April 1 worthy of the name (change tickets, lost luggage, boarding last minute). The airport IN-TER-NA-TION-NAL of Guatemala has neither buzon (mailbox), or waiting room and is in extremis, we are offered a meal at Ronald:

In this empty airport, while close at 20.00 ... our plane to take off at 5:30! ...

is comfortably installed under the neon lights, between check-in and the team of security guards at night that we fell asleep on our sleeping bags laid on the tiles (thank you to the bed of rotten cheap cheap ... even worse on waking in the back!).

you soon in Argentina!
Maid riddle before you leave:

"we will cross yet it does not exist ..."

New Mouth Sms For Friend

like a fish in the caribbean

After Semuc Champey in the jungle in central Guatemala, we head on east and ... Sea Caribbean.

few words (yet) on the route, because it seems important to share these moments so different from a trip to France, comfortably seated in a car or by train! (Yes because you might not know, but you can go to 23 in a minibus with 12 seats ...). The some 250 km to Livingstone we have taken the day, and the timing we had to greenhouse allow to board the last lancha item. Indeed, Livingston, Bay bordering the Gulf of Honduras is only accessible by boat ... And about the boat, our long bus ride we had prepared well for this crossing ... projecting the movie ... TITANIC! So leaving Kate and Leonardo on the stern of the boat unsinkable sinking into the Atlantic Ocean at night we embarked on our little makeshift lancha ... We will arrive dry, safe and sound ... and hungry in the city of Garifuna.

But what are the Garifuna?
a / the name given to the pelicans in the bay;
b / the famous dish made of coconut milk Caribbean;
v. Livingston residents, descendants of African slaves.

The correct answer was .... c

The Garifuna are the survivors of a people, rebellious warrior who opposed slavery settlers european (french, English and English). They were deported to the islands off Honduras and abandoned around 1797. They won the ratings of Honduras from Belize, Nicaragua and Guatemala.

outspoken defender of their traditions, they continue to perpetuate their traditions, music, dance, craft, and their daily actions. Thus it is enough to cross despayse many black African headdresses dreads, and practicing a language or mix words from French, English and English!

In Livingston, the music is everywhere ... and dreads too!

These four days pass so close to the Caribbean Sea we will do, however, failed to have a taste!

can not be said of the Gallo cerveza (beer of Guatemala).

Sounds heavenly but ...

we encounter enormous raptors feast on the garbage strewn on the beach here ... Greenpeace's work!

Almost all of the flowing water over his run into the sea, and people have no concept of recycling and preservation of their environment: everything flows down. They go against their many other concerns to be addressed: unemployment, corruption, poverty and civil war relant not yet digested.
We will still perform a march of 16 km round trip along the beaches of the seaside to visit the "siete Altar ", pools of fresh water flowing into the sea

a little disappointed by the site ... has compared Semuc Champey ( see previous article)

Finally we have local traditions, and enjoying the GIFIT tapado.

The GIFIT is a kind of rum marine roots ... It is very bitter and difficult to drink pure ... The soup is tapado Fish (Yes, yes! fish in the singular) with shrimp and crab all marine coconut milk ... sold excessively dear!

Without nostalgia and with hate, we leave a few days for Honduras, the island of Utila, known for its underwater diving and offers among the cheapest in the world.

Utila is a favorite destination for travelers has little budget.
upon arrival on the island, we are drowned (!) Under the proposed accommodation and dive package. We opt for the Parrot Dive Center where we make six "fun dive (diving pleasure) over three days. each having the elementary patent in this field, a refresher is needed, however, because for one as for the other, our last descent back in the bottle (!) has ten of years!

makes it to hide his new mustache Oliver pretends to revise!

We therefore devote a week after a revision based on the first level (open water dive). For example, here are two common sense questions:

1 / If You Fell Düring discomfort due to air expansion ascent in a body air space
If you feel any discomfort during your ascent due to expansion of air in your air cavities has
/ slow or stop your ascent and Give the trapped air Time to Work Its Way Out;
slow or stop the ascent to allow air to drain;
b / ascending continues: Will the air force a year escape.
continue the ascent, the air force a passage.

2 / After a dive to 18 m for 30 min, Followed by a 30 min surface interval and a repetitive dive to 16 m for 28 minutes, your ending pressure group Would Be:
after diving to 18 m for 30 min, followed by a surface interval of 30 min and then a second dive to 16 meters for 28 minutes, your group will be final pressure:
a / b / R c / d O / T
a / b / R c / d O / T

So? Easy ¿¡?!

be answered 1a / 2 b / (for the second question, using a dive table).
order to link business with pleasure, we decide to update our knowledge on the beach. But along the way, we encounter two problems:

Marie and Pierre, a french couple who have many pleasant drink beer tents .. . and although unpleasant bebete : The sand flies, sand fleas that have literally eaten at sunset.

And yes, to preserve the budget, nothing like that to prepare even his own dishes!

Result races the next morning, we were good students, according to Rebecca our dive master (dive master). After the oral interview in English, we were able to reconcile theory and practice to drive a first dive after which Rebecca told us able to perform our six fun dive.

special dedication to Sonia who collects photos of Helene in diving ... (memories, memories!)
Just for the photo ... because it is difficult to get into the boat as well!

become independent we will make three times two consecutive dives (surface interval with), always supervised by a dive master.

Here is a sample of underwater world of the Caribbean as we have seen:

the southern stin ray

carb
the yellow line and trumpet fish

Cushon sea star and the sand dollar

the parrot fish and angel fish French

flamingo tongue

we could follow a graceful turtle for a few moments ...

And it is these pictures that we let you ... a bientot!

"How not to give you the urge to plunge ... to share that feeling your whole being so close to the state fetal and amniotic fluid
... You are under water , surrounded by a very sweet, your breathing is more innate, automatic and virtually unchecked, it is a sign of survival, it means, can be seen and assessed in breath after breath for the dive lasts.
Your eyes are subjected to a profusion of corals, fish ballets, light rays cotoyant dark depths.
You fly your body and offers you possibilities of moving out of proportion to our good Earth.
Underwater, with of bottles, your mind is employed in this space, and just flash images of dangers, such as "The Jaws", drift nets, giant octopuses, Jules Verne, as well as the craziest discoveries, wreckage, emphores Roman, or encounters with dolphins, whale sharks, rays ... We will return soon
in mind the movie "Le Grand Bleu" and then I say YES, "Enzo, mid Palms!" And I plunged back again and again ... Give yourself the opportunity to enjoy the dive! "Olivier
GOLD

" A Utila, the fact of putting on the combi, fitting the palms reminds me a lot of Egyptian good memories ... The nights at the beautiful star has Ras Mohamed and the chuckle with Marielle when both of us we were found at the middle of a huge school of fish outings Red Sea Hurgada or evening Olivier bartered his costume professor Dechaine for the rocker's ... A big thought for the little mama and canaillou ... "
Helene