A trek to relaxation

Hola amigos y familia
We are writing from the San Marcos on the beautiful Lake Atitlan. After saying our goodbyes to Xela and all of our new acquaintances we headed off for our 3 day 28 mile trek to Lake Atitlan. On Saturday we all met at 6am with bags packed as light as we could and only what we needed for the trek. We headed off for our first day, mentally prepared, because we knew it was the hardest and longest, about 12 miles. The landscape was beautiful and we all found time to enjoy it during the struggles of going up and down the mountains with our extra weight. Our guide, David, was excellent. He had hiked that path 40+ times and was an expert on the terrain. Even though he probably could have done the trek with fewer breaks he had plenty of patience with us and when we wanted to stop regularly. We got to our camping destination next to the river. By the time we got there it was already getting dark so we had to get up our tents and start dinner started fast. David cooked us some delicious pasta with tomato sauce and after that we quickly got ready for bed and fell asleep... well, most of us. The girls tent and Andy, Alex, and Bobby´s tents were sounds fast asleep, while Max, Kaise, and I´s tent on the other hand was not so peaceful. Our zipper to our tent didn´t close and there were a blanket of mosquitos living and feasting on us. It was almost impossible to sleep for the 3 of us because we were swarmed and eaten up by the mosquitoes. We all woke up the next morning with a significant amount of blood loss and feeling reasonably rested, although I don´t know how, and started off for day two. Sunday was much shorter at around 7 miles, but it felt even more tough because of the soreness from the day before. The pace was a bit slower, but we ended up reaching our destination earlier than the day before, around 5. Our second night was in a ¨hotel¨ in a little town along the way. Our rooms consisted of 8 matresses on a floor in one room and 3 in the other. This was a lot more comfortable but reeked! If only you could imagine. We had restful night sleep but woke up at 5 am for our final so we could watch the sunrise over Lake Atitlan. Walking up to the viewpoint and seeing the jaw dropping view of the lake with a bright orange sun coming up over three volcanoes that surround the lake, one of which was smoking this was absolutely incredible a sight that could never be forgotten. Even though it was very early we were all revived and ready to go for our final day. The last day was the shortest, about 5 miles, and the most beautiful with expansive views of Lake Atitlan and the whole way down. We got to our first town of Lago Atitlan, San Pedro, then took a boat to our current destination, San Marcos. We said our goodbyes to our guide, David, and walked to our new hostel, La Paz (the peace). San Marcos is a beautiful little town that is very focused on spirituality and tranquility. Our group is split into 2 houses, one of the girls and one of guys. So far this week we have been participating in yoga, meditation classes, tarot readings, and much more. The yoga has been both challenging and revitalizing. A great way to start the day, which all of us have done at least once. Our 4 hour meditation class was also great. We learned 4 different types of meditation: moving meditation, writing meditation, a special breathing meditation, and and walking meditation. The object of learning the different types was to find one or more that worked particularly well for each person. We all left that class feeling refreshed and clear headed. The majority of our time here has been all about relaxing and self reflection. On Sunday we are off to Antigua to celebrate the Day of the Dead and Monday is our final day in Guatemala, then we are headed to Nicaragua. I collected thoughts and feelings from everyone about this week and here they are...

Max- grounded, open-minded, healthy, excited
Celia- refreshed, relieved, rested, excited, joyful, thankful
Kaise- excited, youthful, revived, zentastic, itchy
Bobby- has been looking at things incorrectly
Alex- Revived, inspired, happy, tranquil, contemplative and also wants to say... He has been loving the vibe in town and spending time thinking about his life and how to better himself. He has also made a vow to become a vegetarian for the rest of this trip.
Heidi- Refreshed, inspired, challenged, expanded, compassionate and also wants to say... I have enjoyed yoga every morning. Pushing myself athletically, mentally and providing a proper recovery for my legs, which loyally supported me our three day trek from Xela to Lake Atitlan. La Paz is the absolutely perfect place to rejuvenate our bodies and get our spiritual gears turning. We reside in a lush little town with much to offer, including a 4 hour meditation class, tarot readings, yoga, and many other fulfilling activities.
Dan- Thankful, inspired, proud, energetic, rejuvenated, and loving life and i also want to say thanks mom and dad for letting me have this incredible experience i can´t tell you how great it is for me and for my fellow CAM-goers.

Until next time,
Peace and Love from Dan, Alex and the rest of the CAM group.

Did you know Xela is Alex spelled backwards, a story of gigging down in the streets of Xela

Friends, family, countrymen, lend me your ears. We write to you during our last precious week in the lovely city of Xela, more formerly known as Quetzaltenango. Since its been a little over two weeks since our last update, fasten your seatbelts and prepare for a semi lengthy account of our ongoings thus far. Arriving in Xela on a Monday, our first days of class were on a Tuesday. The classes we are all taking (save for Andy the spanish master) are 5 hours,8 to 1, Monday through Friday. The teachers at Casa Xelaju are very knowledgable not only about the spanish language but also a great deal of Guatemalan culture. All of our experiences at Casa Xelaju have been nothing short of pleasant. The school offers daily activities that we all have been rather eager to participate in. The first of these experiences was a lesson in the Latin American dance of Meringue which had all of us stepping on toes and counting the steps out loud. Bobby´s homestay family had a birthday party and Dan´s celebrated a marriage anniversary. Interestingly the families are related and melded these two circumstances in to one joyous occasion. Meanwhile, the rest of the travelers attended a Salsa fundraiser which sparked a high level of enthusiasm to learn this style of dance. As a result, the follwoing evening we all took a free Salsa lesson provided by the individuals who put on the benefit. After the lesson had ended we all went back to our respective houses and prepared for our hike to Laguna Chicabal. Laguna Chicabal is a lake sacred to some Mayan cultures, situated in the crater of Guatemalan volcano. Having finally ascended the volcano we came upon the lake shrowded in fog, giving it a very mystic appreance. It was easy to see why the lake is important to so many people upon first glance. Located around the perimeter of the lake were altars about every 50 feet. On our way out of the crater we had to ascend exactly 615 steps before we could begin our descent. On Sunday, the eleventh, the boys experienced an authentic Guatemalan sporting event. The Xela Super Chivos (Super Sheep) played the University of San Carlos from Guatemala City. The event overall was a huge success highlighted by our newly enhanced vocabulary (mostly bad words), eating Guatemalan stadium food, and a 3 to 0 Super Chivos victory. On wednesday of our second week, we volunteered at a local grammar school called La Pedrera after our own classes were finished. The children who attend the school come from very impovrished backgrounds and enjoy the attention of big gringos. It made those who went feel a sense of nostalgia because of our intimate experiences in Poptun, Peten earlier on in our adventure. The next day after class, Casa Xelaju offered a lecture on the history of Guatemala up until 1954 going into specific detail on the revolution during 1944. This lecture was accompanied by a second part which covered from where we left of until present time. These lectures were great opportunities to practice our spanish comprehension due to the fact that they were given in spanish by a teacher of the school. If it werent for Andy´s timely translations most of us would have been lost within the first 5 minutes of each lecture. On friday the seventeenth we had a day off from school due to the celebration of Guatemalan Independance. We took this pause from our studies to further explore the area around Xela. The first stop was at a Mayan village called Zunil. We visited two very different places during our time here. The first of these was a weaving cooperative which employes over 500 Mayan women. This gave us some insight into all the hard work that goes into the creation of the bags, clothing, and trinkets that we come into contact with on a daily baises. The second of these locations was a house tucked deeply into the city. This place was the current home to the Idol named San Simon. San Simon is an example of the clash of cultures between Spanish indoctrinated Catholicism and Indigenous Mayan faith. It is also a prime example of Idol worship which the Catholic Church does not recognize as legitimate. After our departure from Zunil, the highlight of the day was upon us. Having bused for 30 minutes we were able to take a dip in the hot springs named Las Fuentes de Georginas for some rest and relaxation. All in all it was a great day. On suday the eighteenth we took a 2 hour and 30 minute day trip to the famous Guatemalan market city of Chichicastenango, to the locals known as ChiChi. The best way to describe the ongoings there is ¨Sensory Overload¨. The crowded streets, persistent vendors, inescapable noise created a very hectic scene. This is also were the lot of us completed the bulk of our shopping for all of you back in Gringolandia. That brings us to todays events. After class we learned how make chocolate at Max´s homestay. After today, we only have three brief days in this fabulous city. But its not all sad because on Saturday we embark on a three day trek to Lake Atitlan, one of the most flooring sights Guatemala has to offer. In total we will hike 42 kilometers in three days, thats 26 miles for all you who arent so keen with the metric system. Assuming that our prayers of surviving this hike, we will update all of our loved ones at the end of October. We depart for Nicaragua on the second of November.


Much Love from Dan, Bobby, and the rest of the CAM Carpe Diem Crew

just so you know who is who....
(from left to right)
Dan, Bobby, Celia, Heidi, Karen, Alex, Max, Andy, and Kaise (pronounced like kai-eees like pie)

PHOTOBUCKET, that means pictures mom.

Because of popular demand, mainly my dad, we have a photobucket account for your viewing pleasure.

http://s673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/cam09album/




love
bobby

Naturally Flowmatic

Carpe Diem is the name of our group.
Crammin 25 in a 14 seater, as if were in a coop.
Going nation to nation,on the road agin to a fresh destination.
Bags packed, domes in tacked, onwards in our adventure yo, no hesitation.
Were naturally nomatic,scratch that flomatic, no static, on the road wreaking havoc.
Back at it cause were a traveling addict.
Just left Jam bamboo, all night long played teh drums with you.
Were one dope ass crew, don´t stress we like you too.
We don´t have to have the same state of mind,
Be sure to squeeze in some peace and love and we´ll all be fine,
Fantastic, Camtastic, pleae don´t burn you´re plastic.
Travel the worl with our third eye open,
You can catch me in the free world hoppin, to bring a liitle light to a dark place,
To put a smile on a sad looking face.
Max on the guitar, us three on the lyrics,
Don´t go far you know you wanna here this.
We don´t get caught up and we don´t stress beef,
You can´t set trip you´re rollin with me.
Although this adventures in diapers, it´s just a baby,
Weve learned allot and that´s no maybe.
Chillen in the cloud forest, so dense and so green green,
Bro we moved more mud then you eva seen seen.
Boots so slopped up, we be stuck in a lean.
We comin to yoru city, whatcha gunna do?
the CAM Crew comin through bringing good vibes to you.
Scrambalin for the scrilla on a lard pole in Poptun.
Jugamos con pelotas and singing Bob Marley´s tune.
¿Yo estoy caliente y tu?
Pullin Spanish bloopers, giggling, smiling, lovin all of you.
dan´s the man with the plan in his hand.
A thankful G, a positive light he never seases to see.
He provides some dope beats,
When he smiles your heart leaps.
Oh Celia, you´re making my heart, you´re building my confidence baby.
You know it´s true,you be fallin right into my heart,
Slippen every where what´s new?
She´s giving and loving, digs el musica de espanol and also likes hugging.
Mucho gusto, me llamo Andya,
He´s wittier then any fool you eva senna.
He´s one of the leaders of the pack,
Rock climbin, Spanich speaking, his juggling skills are just wick, wick, wack.
His knowledge and insight will take your mind fora flight,
Soarin, never borein, big balla, atcha boy give a halla.
Mr. Bobble-O-Seven intellect and cleverness you´re always reppin.
You´re a deep bro fo sho, a water rhino.
When it comes to el agua there´s no testin, hands down you gave Alex his lesson.
Kaise my brotha you´re one cool cat.
crackin jokes all the time adn reppin the Jamaican hat.
Always goin with the flow and gettin hit on the chicks, fo sho.
the boys are a little jelouse but how we all love you so.
My Dead Head friend, you know who you are.
With you´re guitar and you´re voice, you´re our group star.
There´s no one like you near nor far,
Your humour and your doodles, we all have love for you in oodles.
And last but not least, smallest but with a pick axe one hot beast.
We´ve got Kare Bear, the lovely bubbly you share is rare.
supportive, self-exported, smile loaded.
One´s tempted to hoard it
But like you we´ll share adn while doing so a smile we´ll wear.
Alex what´s left?
I guess it´s just you and me.
What can I say were some funky MCs.
Keepin it fresh and unique
And to think we havn´t even reached the peak.
Reminice a month ago we were prparing to deploy
And remember the earth is our mother not a toy,
So always appreciate her, BOI!
- Heidi
Flow written by Heidi, Alex and Max!

Xela who? No, Xelaju!

After reading this blog families, friends, and loved ones will understand why it has been such a long time since our last post. Today is our first full day in the lovely metropolis of Quetzaltenango aka Xela, but before i delve too much into our current activities let me inform you all of what our group has been doing the past several days. The last post we shared that we were about to embark on a small journey to Tikal. We arrived at the national park around 3 or so. After placing our bags in our respective tents who entered the park for a three hour tour. If you know anything about Tikal you understand 3 hours is analogous with a speed date. Fortunately, we were able to spend the next morning either making it to places in the park that we werent able to see or spend more time in the locations that we had seen the previous day. Tikal is a fascinating place which reeks with hundreds of years of culture, and we were happy to have spent time there. After a brief, final lunch in San Andres we set sail for Coban and the hostel Casa Luna for a single night. The trip totaled around seven hours in which we all either read books, held conversations, sang and/or listened to music, or like Alex slept. The drive into the highlands was very beautiful and the terrain which is a combination of jungle and mountains was unlike anything that i have ever experienced. Arriving in Coban to the tune of Bohemian Rhapsody put smiles on all of our faces. We welcomed the cooler climate that the mountains provided and some even adorned sweatshirts and long pants (Dan and Bobby were looking too handsome in our new Mayan Calender tank tops to change). The next morning we took a public bus basically the size of a school bus and a smaller van to the village of San Lucas Chicacnab. The van made to seat 12 was filled with twice as many living, breathing humans (not counted were the Guatemalans who were hanging on to the roof) which is the norm for public transportation in the great country of Guatemala. Our journey was not yet complete after reaching San Lucas. We had a 2 1/2 hour hike uphill in the jungle between us and our destination, Chicacnab. After minor struggles and playing some word association games to pass the time, we made it to this remote jungle village high up in the mountains. Living here was basically the furthest thing from the life that most, if not all, of us were accustomed to. The village of Chicacnab consisted of 32 families who all had the same goals in mind; to stop deforestation in their village and to continue to live their relatively comfortable lives. Hardly any women spoke spanish, which made those of us less adept in spanish conversation feel a little better about ourselves. Q`Eqchi, one of 23 Myan dialects, was the first language that all inhabitants learned to speak. Our accomodations were simple, but at least they had a building that all nine of us could share. Interstingly enough, a Carpe Diem group had previously helped build the structure called "The Hotel" that we rested our heads under. The floor was dirt and we didnt have any electricty but this had little to no effect on the group morale. Sharing a space together and again eating our meals with one another were nice perks that our time spent in Chicacnab afforded us. Our service project was to dig into the side of a small hill behind The Hotel and level the area so they could build an adjacent kitchen could be built. If anyone out their reading this has ever tried to dig into the side of a hill and build a structure from scratch you would know that 5 days is far too few to complete such a task. Undetered, we took our picks and hoes (this allowed for a nauseating ammount of jokes) and started our project. One of our fearless Leaders, Karen, was in short a piking fiend which the lot of us struggled to keep pace with. During our third day of work we experienced rain throughout the entire day and were forced to stop labor. This did not stop us from having a good time however. Bobby, Alex, and Dan had a mud fight for the ages and will not soon be forgotten. Celia and Heidi learned from a 14 year old girl how to weave during one afternoon. The mud fight entailed a shower for those who participated, while bathing we witnessed something that will remain with us for a while. A group of villagers had taken a pregnant, sick woman to the nearest hospital several hours away. We witnessed her return; she was strapped to a chair which in turn was being lugged on the back of a grown man. Our jaws immediately dropped and we all exchanged words of appreciation for the proximity of hospitals in each of our home towns. The last night of our stay the villagers held a celebration for us decked out with a Marimba, chocolate drinks, and plenty of dancing. We all enjoyed the final night very much and it was nice to feel a sense of appreciation and accomplishment. The next morning we departed with hugs and handshakes, made our way down the mountain, and waited for our bus to civilization and Coban. While waiting for our bus we started a geography word association game which Andy ended up winning 6 hours later. Once in Coban we all ate a short lunch and departed for the hostel named "Jam Bamboo" which is in walking distance from Semuc Champey. The hostel had a Italian menu and we all ate pizzas, pastas, and salads the two nights we were there. The first night one could feel the pleasant, warm, and welcoming aura of the hostel. Andy, Max, Alex, and Dan helped us all feel the aura by joining in on a drum circle with those who worked at the hostel. The following morning we anxiously hiked down to Semuc Champey, meaning Sacred Waters in a Mayan dialect. The landmark is aply named. It begins with a river rushing into an underground cave, all the while several small trees feed the numerous tranquil pools on top loaded with bathers. I can speak for everyone when I say that it improved all of our moods dramatically. After an action packed day at the lovely Semuc Champey we sluggishly returned to Jam Bamboo in groups of two. Upon return Max and Bobby made sweet music with Kaise and Celia as their audience while the other group trekked up a hill to get a bird´s eye view of all of Semuc Champey. The night was rather mellow with all of us enjoying pizza and good conversation. The next morning we made an eleven hour journey to the second largest city in all of Guatemala named Quetzaltenango (Xela). Xela has a population of around 150,000 and is our home for the next 3 weeks. Last night we met our new homestay families (these families are also our last homestay experience on the trip). We look forward to above average living conditions and building a meaningful relationship with each of our families all the while enhancing our spanish skills in a nice and comfortable environment. As i had previously mentioned, today is our first full day in Xela and also the first day of classes. We expect the blogging to pick up in frequency seeing as how we now have 12 computers at our disposal at Casa Xelaju, our spanish school. We all send our love and think about you all a lot. Staying with one family for an extended period of time will undoubtedly make me miss my family back in Loomis, CA a whole ton more. Let me again speak for all of us when I say that we are supremely thankful for this opportunity and look forward to personal growth and further insight into what it means to be a responsible adult. I believe now you can understand why you all have experienced a dry spell of information regarding your young travelers. Also, I fully blame any spelling and grammar errors due to the increasing pain in my rump left our from our 11 hour bus ride.



Much Love,
Bobby Fleming and the Carpe Diem CAM Family