World Domination… Guatemala!
When reminiscing about my trip to Guatemala, the first thing that comes to mind is mental and physical endurance. I visited to hike Volcan de Fuego with my friend for her birthday. She loves to push the limits of her body, I on the other hand like to relax and eat when vacationing. However, once a year for her birthday, I agree to partake in her shenanigans which this time included sleeping in a hostel bunk for the first time. Guatemala was full of adventure, new friends, and of course amazing food.
To climb Volcan de Fuego we used OX Expeditions which was an affordable one stop shop. They picked us up from the airport and once we were settled in they proceeded to give us a tour of the facility. To say that I was unprepared is an understatement. Other people in the tour group had arrived days before hand just to adjust to the altitude. In general I feel like I can do anything, so of course I thought that I could just hike up a volcano without warming up nor any exercise routines in place prior to my trek. Guess what? I did! I focused on each step and stomped up the entire volcano. I was hot then cold with constant shortness of breath. We took breaks but my friendship was challenged when the birthday lady decided not to hike with me and opted to ride a horse up instead. As a result, I was angry most of the hike up which is why I stomped. I questioned why I left the short lived ‘summer time chi’ to sleep on a cold ground in the middle of nowhere.
Surprisingly between my stomps, I actually enjoyed being surrounded by the volcanic scene. It was humbling to see both beginner and seasoned hikers encourage each other when the angles got tough. Sometimes we were even walking up 90 degree angles marching over tree roots and unpaved areas. Being around people doing something extraordinary motivated me to simply enjoy the beauty of it all.
The hike took the entire day and we carried our food, and what I learned was our housing, on our backs. I didn’t read the brochures which is why I foolishly assumed that roughing it meant we would have a bunkbed cabin with an outhouse. I quickly learned that the plumbing consisted of a shovel and that the beds were just rolled up yoga mats. I did manage to use my backpack as a pillow to have some sort of comfort. There were six people to a tent so if you came alone then your options were to either snuggle up to a stranger or shiver yourself to sleep like I did.
The excitement of completing the upward hike came only second to the views from above. I travel quite a bit so I’m always looking out the window of an airplane, but this felt different. This view was both serene and utterly breathtaking. We had a communal style dinner of pasta and wine to celebrate our completion before bed. Not wanting to have to dig a hole, I figured it was smart to limit all oral intakes. Since my friend rode a horse up I decided to join her in riding one down, and what an experience that was.
Once the hike was over we explored various areas from the bustling city to the more relaxed rural areas. Seeing the farms and local respect for nature is something that many of us can learn from. The food was fresh and made with love. After devouring a dish at dinner one night I learned to use cinnamon in black beans to help make them savory. The hand pressed tortilla cake thingamajigs on their own are worth a return trip back. Walking up a steep hill for over an hour was worth the dragonfruit drink that awaited us at some random bar. Because of this eco-friendly podlike hotel bar, I learned that I don’t care for Asian dragonfruit, which is white, but the purple kind is mouth watering. The owner joined us for drinks and great conversation. This lodge seemed to have respect for the people while also being cautious of their green footprint. The food was once again made with love and the owner seemed like a friend.
We also visited markets where handmade blankets and goods were sold and, as always, we were sure to support local vendors. I also learned that many Guatemalans don’t speak Spanish which added another challenge to communication. We were told that there are over 21 Mayan languages spoken, and I love that they have held on to their culture. The people are hardworking using only basic tools and their bodies to complete labor-intensive tasks. Wheel barrels were a common tool used to move up and around the uneven surfaces.
I would jump at the opportunity to visit Guatemala again. The only changes that I’d make are my attitude and opting for a hotel. The hostel experience was what I’d assume a college dorm was like but I’m a student of life, not a university. If I sleep on the ground for a night or two that must be followed by checking into a four star minimum hotel to keep my sanity. I’d want my same horse as before that I trusted with my life tiptoeing down the steep and narrow paths alongside the volcano. I’d encourage my friend to hike the way up and if she can’t then a wonderful solo mission will be had with an amazing attitude. Personally, I’d walk up a hill for an hour just to taste that dragonfruit drink again. I think it would also be a good idea to lose 3 pounds before the trip so I can stuff my face with those corn cakes. I would gladly go back to the gem known as Guatemala and as I type this I’m planting a seed that will flourish.