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 ..."