Weekend at Lago Atitlan

Last weekend the GVI crew was out at Lake Atitlan with a full agenda of bicycling, kayaking, hiking and swimming. This amazing trip was part of the formal GVI agenda. Aside from all the great work we do with the kids during the week, I'm pleased that the GVI organization recognizes a need for quality recreation from time to time.

Working through the extremely well-managed Old Town Outfitters guide service, our group of 11 volunteers, and two guides and a driver drove 2-1/2 hours from Antigua to a high-point outside of Panajchel to begin a 25 mile (mostly) downhill bike ride toward the lake. Halfway there we stopped for a yummy picnic lunch prepared by our guides, then continued through the windy roads with gorgeous views of the lake until we reached Panajachel. "Pana" is one of the few towns on the lake that is accessible by road; most of the other little towns can ony be reached by boat.

We spent an hour poking through the open market in Pana then boarded a shuttle for a quick half-hour boat ride to our hotel, La Casa del Mundo. The location and layout of the hotel is simply unreal. Starting at the lakeshore, the hotel's stone steps wind up the cliff with gardens, balconies and guest rooms climbing higher than you might think possible. Every time you think you're at the top, you see another perfectly cut stone staircase up to another level! I shared a room with Fiona, and we enjoyed our balcony with a view of the three volcanoes surrounding the lake. It was simply breathtaking.

Dinner was fantastic, and afterward we went out to enjoy the wood-fired lake-front hot tub. Many of us took turns jumping from one of the lowest balconies into the lake to cool off between soaks in the hot tub. The falling stars were out in force that night.

After a big breakfast we hopped into seak kayaks for a 2-1/2 hour gentle paddle along the lakeshore to a fantastic swimming area, with 24-foot high rock cliffs perfect for jumping from into the lake. There's a bit of a theme here... exercise followed by jumping from tall places into the lake :) After watching everyone else jump from the cliff I finally worked up nerve to so it myself. I wish I'd dine it earlier, because we only had time for me to jump once! I may have to come back here to try it again.

We left the kayaks behind for a bigger boat to tow back to the hotel, and changed into our hiking boots for a 2-1/2 hour walk back through the indigenous villages and fields to the hotel. I found it interesting to walk through (more or less) the back yards of the folks living around the lake. They seemed a bit more shy of tourists than the folks at Santa Maria de Jesus (where I teach during the week). The women's clothing was also a bit different -- more elaborate embroidery and vibrant colors against black, instead of slightly more muted colors against blue. Perhaps it is a difference in family preferences..? Unfortunately I don't have many photos of the people from the villages, since it is somewhat rude (and dangerous) to take photos there.

Once back at the hotel we had time for another quick swim before lunch, then back in the shuttle to Pana, and a van ride back to Antigua in time for Aaron's birthday dinner. (Happy 27th Birthday, Aaron!)