Day 20: Up at the Cross & Ramsey Arrives

This morning I woke up and walked to the north east side end of Antigua Guatemala. The volcano on the right in this photo is just under 14,000 ft. elevation, and I will be hiking it tomorrow (Monday the 15th).

I took a small walk up the mountain.

To the cross over the town.

I met Pierre from Montreal. I must say it was a really wonderful conversation. In many ways, I hope to be in the position he is in now. Working for the Canadian government he is actually able to work for 18 months at 75% salary, and then take a 6 month vacation. He went on a 6 month trip to India in which he spent less than $1,000. He's been a lot of places, and he's just started a 6 month vacation living in Antigua. 

On a completely different level, I was inspired by his philosophy. He reminded me, just because you can go to the moon, doesn't mean you should go to the moon. If you don't want to go to the moon, you shouldn't. 

We also talked about the importance of living in the moment. Our perceived grasp on the future is a construct, and our recollection of the past isn't reality either. I know I spin my own story all the time. 

He also made me think about sending my laptop and camera home. "When you're worried about losing something, you act differently." This is very true, and although I try not to be materialistic, I do worry about my laptop. I can't help it! 

Anyways, Pierre from Montreal was awesome, and a great start to the day. We probably talked for 90 minutes. 

I went into town and there was a little festival.

I continued to walk around and see really really really old stuff.

Some more old stuff. Like from 1618 olde.

So many wonderful textures.

Pineapple chicken and rice for lunch.

I've been walking a ton. Probably too much. Miles and miles wandering around. Below you can see that I needed some lubricating lotion to keep my thighs and butt cheeks in check. Also, some wet wipes for the hike tomorrow and Tuesday.

Gotta make sure my butt is in Tip-top shape for tomorrow's hike!

This is the trip! Acatenango. Lots of reviews say that its a pretty tough hike. I assume that they are all pansies, so I'm not worried, but I'll have my two cents on the matter by tomorrow night!

Ramsey just arrived!!!! And he has quite the story about getting here.

24 hours ago, Ramsey called us to tell us that he wasn't going to make it. He is trying to rent the house he owns, and he ran out of time remodeling it. BUT he worked all through the night, not sleeping, and with paint in his hair and on his hands he started packing a backpack at 3:30AM, it was the first time he ever packed his backpack. He decided, "I probably won't make my flight, but I'll try," and headed to the airport to make his 5AM flight. He made it.

As you may remember, my nook broke last week, so I ordered a Kindle and sent it o Ramsey's house, and he brought it! Now I can continue reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance! Yay. 

As you can see, there is a lot of rain in June in Guatemala. Also, It isn't the warmest month. We will be climbing up to just under 14,000 feet in elevation tomorrow morning, and we will sleep there. INSANE! IT WILL BE COLD! And I'll probably get altitude sickness.