sabbatical

Well, in the afternoon we did some things together and others not which suited me just fine. We had bye-bye dinner in Monoloco and that was alright. Jose was telling me that Gato is on vacation - trying to be helpful - and tells me with a big grin. We couldn't get a hold of the boys so it was just the girls. Elmer called me to ask about the pick-up time but I couldn't understand a word he said - too much noise! He came by and stayed with us for the evening. Camilla left earlier since she was feeling sick. We all went to Red's after dinner for some drinks but it was so quiet that it was actually boring. So the group split up some went home and others continued on to Reilly's. It was a late night but good fun ...

Tuesday Elmer and me phoned Drew & Briana (Earth Lodge www.welcometoearthlodge.com) about the pick-up time and got told when to be where. Since I had skipped breakfast I was starving when lunch was served. I quickly packed my stuff and Mario gave me a ride to town - very handy! I was sitting in the cafe waiting for Elmer and than for them. In the end they shouted my name and we found each other. They thought it could be us since we were the only one's with backpacks but than also thought that no because we looked local. I guess I can blend in in that case! Really funny! It was a fun ride up the mountain to the avocado farm and the huts up there. It was great no pollution, peace and quiet, great home cooked food (2nds were an option), the hut was okay (but this time the mosquito's loved me), the hut for toilet and shower (bugs crawling around the water puddles). The water was freezing cold and I only managed one shower and the next one will be at home that much is for sure! We talked, met other people up there, watched movies, played with the dogs and cats, chilled in a hammock, enjoyed the view ... it is really the prefect place to think and chill! Elmer and me got to know each other better and my Spanish is slightly improving. Jon a guy who is there for a while was from Colombia and we chatted at nights outside in Spanish while inside the group chatted mainly in English. We returned today (Thursday) to Antigua since he has to see his son who turned 6 today. We will meet later either for dinner but for sure for dancing in La Sala. In the meantime since I have returned I arranged the shuttle service for the weekend to the beach, checked my mail, stopped by The Black Cat for a chat ... Martin called earlier and since he is the go between with the travel agencies I have to see if he has got any good deals for me for next week ... I bumped into Robert again who looks slightly out of it. He had some bad news. A friend who he had finally managed to meet before he left Germany had died suddenly. They had made plans to see each other on his return ... so he was moving around like a zombie still. He had to go somewhere but we will catch up next week. Poor baby! Guess life is very unpredictable! For me it is time to get on the move again because I still need to buy some groceries for tomorrow and I think that I'll just get a bite somewhere since I am not very hungry at the moment. The last few days I had so much food but it was so good! Going dancing tonight will help greatly though to burn some calories o,)) otherwise the figure in the bikini won't look pretty o,))

Friday night I had the light off around 9.30pm but the coughing kept me awake for a while. I had my alarm set for 3.30am and just had to put my clothes on. I went outside and stopped by Camilla's. She was out also on time and slightly funny because she was still pretty tipsy. She managed to get into trouble at the after party because some guy was pestering her already since she was in Sin Ventura and just didn´t get the message of NO. In the end she slapped him which resulted in him saying I will kill you. Down here that is something to take serious. She and Suzanna went to the group of guys they know. She said that she didn´t know how he looked like since that would have resulted in a fight. Three different gangs were her protector therefore and wanted to make sure that she got home safe and for the next week she has to be a bit careful and stick with a group they said. I guess that it pays off that you know local people and the right one´s for this ... So our shuttle was very much on time only 15 minutes late which is nothing here. The next pick-up was someone who was complaining about the fact that they were running 30 minutes late but that is pretty normal here. The next girl as well and we nicknamed them the bitches since that was all they did during all the trip. Some people should never leave their home country they just give tourists a real bad name. I thanked the lady who drove us very much just to make up for their rude behavior. The airport was a very small one and we had to wait for a while. The waiting room was filling up with tourists and mainly Americans. Why are they always so loud and annoying? O)) Oh well, the plane ride was rather uneventful and I took care of finding the shuttle transfer to Flores to the hotel since Camilla was still slightly out of it. She nicknamed me Mum since I took care of everything. In the hotel we were given time to change and we could leave some things there and than our walking tour started. I had sprayed on plenty of bug spray (DEET 25% and only had 2 bites at the end of the trip), packed more than 1 liter of water and food. Camilla and me had opted for the English tour and that was already enough to follow since the group was pretty big. In Spanish we would have missed a lot since in that heat your brain just doesn´t want to function quiet so well. It was above 40 degrees and the humidity made it feel even hotter. After a walking tour of over 4 hours and seeing all the major temples and climbing two of them we were beat and just wanted to have lunch. I really don´t know what I had expected but it was pretty impressive but differently imressive than the pyramids in Egypt. Our waiter liked us right from the start a lot and introduced himself and always chatted with us a bit in Spanish and complimented us with very flowery compliments which was pretty funny. We were able to check out our room after lunch. We were in for a surprise we got a cabana and it was huge and the best beds ever, not to forget HOT water shower. Since the heat was just too much we decide time to check out the pool. It was great and until dinner time we were at the pool and enjoyed the sun. Than a group of monkeys came by and everyone was trying to take pictures. After dinner there was nothing to do there and we decided an early night would do us good and we were off to sleep at 9pm. During the night the time was changed here and it has moved up one hour! Sunday morning we woke up around 9am and freshened up and had a relaxed breakfast. It was really nice and filling. I really think that I will miss my tortillas, friojles, cheese and eggs ... others are like real tourists and want the continental breakfast style thing! After wards we decided to lie at the pool and work on the tan since it was really hot again and it was making us lazy and drowsy. Later on we though that we should check out the museum but got told that it really isn´t worth it and went back to the hotel. Around 2pm it was pick-up for the airport again. It was interesting since it was the English speaking group that returned. Julio our guide was speaking to our driver in Spanish and thought that our Spanish would be so non-existent that we wouldn´t be able to follow. Yeah right! He said on his morning tour he observed that a fat American lady died of heat stroke in the ambulance since it took so long for it to get there. Obviously he did´t want to tell us and freak us. Oh well, you just really have to listen to your body and if it tells you to chill, take it easy do it and pack enough water! We arrived at the airport and had just enough time to get some food and more water and than it was boarding time. This time we ended up in a tiny plane like for 15 people. It was boiling hot in it and once they had closed the door lots of people were like this is just too hot and of course the air conditioning wasn´t working. I decided best thing to do is drink and than snuggle in and sleep. Camilla wasn´t able to do that and once it started raining it was getting worse with nice little bumps etc. She looked like hell and felt really sick once we got off the plane. The shuttle was waiting for us already and we had to wait for 2 people that didn´t show which resulted in the driver making lots of phone calls. In the end we left and I bet it was the bitches who didn´t´t check the time for getting back since they were still outside the airport in Flores when we were already sitting in the waiting lounge. So we were back home after a horrible shuttle ride (that guy was the worst driver I had so far) around 7pm. I just wanted a shower and fresh clothes. I turned my phone back on which had turned off and had forgotten the correct pin code for. I had to kick some SMS out when it went off and Elmer was demanding what was going on because he always got the message that the phone was out of service. So sweet he is really making an effort to stay in contact and keep his promises. I went by Camilla since we hadn´t had dinner yet and wanted to grab a bite in Antigua. She was so pale and feeling really bad. So I went by myself and took a book along. I was in Monoloco and had my first real salad (no side effects). Afterwards I went to the Internet cafe and the girl asked me if I want to work for her just a couple of shifts in the week and I think that I might take her up on the offer after my vacation. Around 10pm I went to La Sala to find the others and see what they were up to. Since Monday being Labor Day the city was crowded with all these people from all over. At first it was only Chelsea that was there and Enzo, Camillo that I knew later on Heidi showed up and I asked her if we could go somewhere else. We walked around from bar to bar but either they were really empty or so full that it wasn´t really fun. In the end we went to Monoloco and had a drink there. I was starting to cough again and ordered a tea. Elmer was serving us and was just looking at me and asking if I was okay. Alejandro and Carlos showed up of course as well and Heidi and me had the first real proper chat which was nice. At 1am they started turning of the lights as a sign to please leave. We slowly finished off our drinks and Elmer came over. We chatted briefly and he said if I would stick around a bit longer he´ll be off work in 10. He was really quick and we chatted for a while and Enzo and Chesea showed up and Heidi felt a bit superfluous and decided to chat with some other group hanging around. Really entertaining! We took a taxi home. Chelsea and me were in my room chatting until shortly after 2am. Chelsea is really bad she is playing two guys and is getting it from all sides since we think that is unfair.
The trip to Tikal was worth it since it feels as if you are in another country since it is jungle and the heat is stifling. I am glad though that we paid extra to take the plane and not an 8-9h our bus ride ... unless the bus would have been airconditioned you would have arrived pretty beat I bet! I am doing pretty well at crossing things to do off my list.

Today I woke up when Camilla came over around 7am to get the phone since she was expecting the phone call fro the school. It didn´t come. Chelsea and me had breakfast and than I went back to bed to read a bit more but ended up sleeping some more. After lunch we decided to go to town. I´m inter netting and after wards maybe catch a movie ... tonight we will have leaving dinner and afterwords maybe Red´s. I am really not looking forward to that so I hope that Robert and Sjors might come and want to do something different. I called today for the pick-up time tomorrow but nothing is certain yet so I have to call tomorrow again. Go figure! I also need to arrange my trip to the beach either today or Thursday or tomorrow morning. Elmer is all busy arranging things today but we will talk later on on the phone again.

Well, I was actually pretty beat when I came home Wednesday night and called it an early night. I watched after dinner with Ema and Mario ¨Troy¨ it ended around 9pm, read a book and went to sleep around 10pm.

Thanks for the calls Sweety, made my morning so much better! It was the last day in school and I still have to think of something to give Carmen as a present. I hadn´t found the right thing for her yet. She is so nice! I will miss her. School was over and than it was time for lunch. I was so tired and since there were like 6 kids running around the house it was all just a bit too much. I slept for a while no matter how much noise they make. Chelsea went to town early. Camilla stopped by for a chat since she was a bit bored. We made a date for later to go to town together since we both had dates around 6pm. Robert called to tell me if we could move the time up since he had to clean his bedroom because the dog had found his cookies and they were all over his bed and floor ... While I was waiting for Roberto I got company from someone else! Here it really doens´t take long to have guys talking to you. Robert and me discussed where to go for dinner. He had heard from his teacher that there was a good place a bit further down the street we were on. It seemed to be forever and suddenly we had police and military uniforms in front of our noses. That area was really safe therefore. It was actually the most chic place I had seen in a while and the prices matched it as well. We had a quick look around and decided on the restaurant for dinner that I had found in the Lonely Planet. However, for his birthday we will return to ¨Panza Verde¨, get all dressed up and have fun together there! The place we went to ¨Queso y Vino¨ was really nice as well and the wine was great and the chat as well. We got to know each other better and I think that we might hang together a bit more in future when I return from my 2 weeks vacation. After dinner we went to La Sala and split up there since he got the message that someone was waiting for him in parque central. I started chatting with the guys I had meet at the after party until Elmer showed up. Who had called me surprise, surprise during dinner time asking if I would come out dancing. It was a fun night until this stupid cow managed to get my ankle real well with her stiletto. Skin is scrapped off and it is slightly swollen which takes care of what I will be wearing in Tikal - boots! It was all over again way too quickly and I crashed at his place. I walked in this morning around 8am and had my breakfast, a shower and than went to school. Vilma needed my passport number for the certificate and I chatted a bit with the rest. Tobias showed up and told us that he had been jumped here at night and that they tried to rob him but that he had defended himself and that is why his hand and leg are slightly mutilated. Too be honest his own bloody fault. He should know better than to go wandering alone around 2am at the bus station here in Jocotenago that is like an invitation! Now I am quickly online and than I will go home for lunch, meet Vilma later on since she will show me the project and afterwards I will meet Camilla for grocery shopping. I bet we will be hungry when we leave so early in the morning and the flight itself is around 6am and doesn´t even last an hour. If I get out of Antigua at a reasonable time I might go to bed for some sleep and than go dancing since I had promised Felix to return something to him otherwise I will stay in ...

I did my shopping today, withdrew money at the ATM before the run started at the banks again. Every Friday here is pay day and the lines at the banks are crazy. Also at the 1. and 15. are not very good ideas to do bank transactions inside, take forever! I thought it better to try to withdraw money today since in the weekends it happens that the ATMs are empty or are out of order. Monday being Labour Day here means all banks will be closed etc. I am glad that Camilla and em will go by plane and return Sunday means a whole morning to sleep in for me while for her it means a phone interview on Monday mornring. If we aren´t too beat we will say bye to Anja and Suzanna who are going travelling and might or might not return here again. I had dinner in the mean time and now I only have to pack my stuff together for the trip and than I am off to bed to get rid of this stupid cold for good. I have been sleeping a lot lately and have been taking it very easy with everything, oh well! As long as my ears will be fine than I will be fine as well ... Next week vacation time which means nothing that I really have to do and we can just chill and talk and do nothing like lying in a hammock and watch time go by ... I am sure that I´ll be ready afterwards to get started with my project.

Last evening was good fun. I left the internet place and almost got completely soaked on my way back. My sandals were wet and when I passed the supermarket I just had to buy an umbrella. I ended up with an intact one after looking through 20 or more and the design is lovely: flowers and the colors scream Grandma. At least I didn't get more wet but the market was flooded and lots of people were wandering around barefoot. I didn't dare do that because there is just too much glass on the street and other stuff that I wouldn't want to step in. It was so dark on the way back that I was just grateful that I had to get off at the end stop. I walked home and Ema opened the door since I couldn't be asked to look for my key. She had put a towel on the floor so that the house would stay kind of clean. Chelsea saw me with the umbrella and let out a jipee because she had also gotten soaked but was so lazy so that all she did was get a tuc-tuc home. I was dumping my things in my room when the phone went off and Roberto had finally managed to work out how to use his phone. He was going out with Sjors for a beer and we would meet later. I changed clothes and had to show what I had bought. Ema was very impressed with the skirts and complimented me on them, Mario as well as a mater of fact. After dinner I tried out the little sweets that Elmer had given me. They were like donut holes with lots of sugar. They tasted nice and I shared it with the whole family. I think that I will wear the new black skirt for Thursday nights dancing. I had to wear the new top straight away. The temperature had dropped but I was hoping around Monoloco in the T-Shirt and only at the end of the night decided to put on my fleece since I was so sweaty and afterparty behind under the stars makes it rather chilly. Our couples were sitting at the table making out so that was really boring but thank God I know by now lots of people and just started milling around. I have to find new people soon the crowd that I am with right now is about to break up soon. People going traveling, friends and family coming over ... or returning home again. Nicole and me had a nice chat as well beign her last night. I ended up chatting with some lawyer and some tour guide for Antigua in my best Spanish O). Mike wasn't to be found but I ended up at the table of the German speaking people which was good laughs. Camilla and me left in the end though and went on to Sin Ventura for some dancing. I hadn't really intended to dance but before I knew it I had plenty of guys around me. The nice thing is though that they are friends of Elmer and they keep their distance. It was so much fun and Anja and Suzanna were so happy drunk that we decided to move on to the after-party. I had send Heidi a message to tell Chelsea that we would make our own way home. We sure had major fun at the after party although the location is kind of strange. We couldn't leave when we wanted to though since the police was outside and we had to wait for them to disappear. I got taught a new dance but since I was slightly tipsy it didn't go well but we had lots of laughing fits. The pictures sure show how much fun we had O))Emanuel gave us a ride home so I was in bed by 3am. Since I hadn't had a reply to my text from Heidi or Chelsea I just assumed they were cool!

This morning Chelsea waltzed in around 6.30am when Ema opened the door. I was kind of surprised but figured that she was with Diego and Heidi and Luis. I was wrong she hadn't taken her house key with her and had relied on me. She tried calling me but no connection was so be had so she crashed at Heidi's right next door. She got to sleep on the coach and was freezing cold there. Only later today did Heidi and her realize that she could have slept in Hanne's bed ... really smart! When I woke up this morning my legs were killing me. It sure felt more like I had done limbo dancing last night than Salsa and others. I had a lovely phone talk O)) and cornflakes for breakfast. I was again in such a good mood that Ema is just smiling as well as Mario. I was wearing my new long skirt and I love it! By now I have gone native with my clothes and my color is getting there as well o) After next week with some proper beach time I hope to really be there! School was fun today maybe because I know only one more day to go but what I really need I have learnt (why do I need subjunctivo I can also say it differently O)) no just kidding but I am picking up more and more and only when I have to think about rules does it go wrong. When I can just talk that it is mostly right and I use the correct tense. After school we went home and since Ema was out she had told me that she had prepared our food already. Today it was a fruit salad which was yummy. I went off for a much needed shower and than took a nap! Around 3pm I meet Camilla and we went to town. I had to get more cash from the ATM's and was in for more fun and games with these stupid things. By now I have figured out which bank group to use since they aren't such a pain in the butt for using their machine. Off we went to the travel agency to get our tickets and are now really going for the weekend to Tikal. Camilla had a date with Terry who was already waiting for her in the park. Elmer had called me earlier but I could hardly understand him in the bus. We will meet again before he starts work in one of the cafes here and I can really do with either a proper drink or a piece of cake. Afterwards I will go home and Chelsea just called to say that she will be home for dinner. I can still make up my mind than if I want to go out or not.

Well, time to go now otherwise I will be the one running really late for my date and I am trying to get him to be on time O)) He is already improving and he is reliable since he had said that he would call me and he was a bit tipsy last night as well.

well, last night it kept on pouring until like 2.30am. Elmer had called the mobile and my place and the mobile again but I was out earlier and than Chelsea had the phone ... but Heidi came along to pass the message on which was great! So I called him (another 15 minute conversation and I am so happy that I can do it) and we were both like no the weather sucks and we both can´t be asked to move out of the house. I was watching a bit TV, chatting with Milton, writing a leter etc. I had to steal the phone out of Chelsea´s bedroom since she had falen asleep with it. Sweety thank you so much for that very lovely call! I went back to sleep and feel very rested today I must say. School was fun because I actually knew what I was doing and I am more motivated now because I will have to speak the next two weeks non-stop Spanish and that is so much better to ... Well, after school I didn´t take a nap since I had so much sleep it is strange actually. Oh well, I went with the girls to town and went on a shopping binge but it was so much fun to be honest and I have now everything that I might need for a while. I found my towels for beach and regular one, some earrings, a handbag, flip flops etc. Than Camilla and me booked ourselves the trip to Tikal for the weekend. We think that we might stay up all night Friday since the shuttle pick-up is at 3.30am Saturday! I am curious how the plane ride will be in a baby plane o,)) After that Camilla went off for her meeting and I was waiting for Elmer who was running late. We grabbed a quick coffee and tea and quickly discussed next week. I thought what the hell try the net again since due to lightning the power here is going frequently. I am really happy though that the blog saves my writing. Other than that all that is new is that Robert has finally managed to work out how to use his phone. Who has ever said that men know whow to use a mobile o,))) So I guess we might go for dinner tomorrow night o,)) I will have to head off to the buses soon to be back in time for dinner. Ema washed some of my clothes today (I had orignally thought not necessary but actually aal my pants were dirty only jeans not; so I bought two skirts today as well to have something different to wear) and the funny thing is that it was boiling hot today but around 4pm it changed to more rain and thunderstorming and lightning. I am happy that my baby backpack has the rain cover otherwise it would really suck to get everything wet.

Gotta run now!