Guatemala Santa Maria

My eyes opened at 4 am but I didn´t even have to be up until 5. I was trying
to decide the ultimate trekking outfit which turned to be the laugh of the
group. My fashion wear consisted of my green 3/4 pants, white socks and
purple sandels. What do you think of them combinations? I met the dream
team- Ryan (NM), Helen (WVa), Kathy (Detroit), and Rachel (Hawaii) with the
competing team of 5 from Holland. We thought for sure we were creamed
because those manly women can usually kick some serious ass. So the game
began.

We gathered into the microbus and through the darkness and fog could not
tell what we were in for. We walked a ¨path¨the followed fields and 5
minutes in the Holland crowd wanted to break for bread. Well Team America
with our powerful impatient ways felt the need to break away even refusing
the request from the two guides to keep the group as one. That´s just not
how Americans play. So off we went....taking one of the guides and leaving
the others to their own destiny.

Along the path we crossed a group of Mayan women climbing at the same rate
as us. The one exception was the grandmother had no shoes, and her daughter
was climbing in heels. My two new heroes in my life. This was no nature path
with designated signs and rails to help the weak. This trek was a straight
way to heavan with rock climbing that made you wonder what it would be like
to get down. The trek created new quads I have never felt and moves I can
never recreate.

But the views were beautiful. At times the fog would clear and the city
below would appear through the trees. And the end....oh that end....every
minute felt like an hour and the top seemed to be the same distance each
time you looked up. An older man with his 10 year old kid, both seeming to
laugh their way up, were ahead. As the group took their final break, I
decided to follow the two and get the end over with. I had finally made it.
The 3 hours and 19 minutes were the best stairmaster experience I have ever
encountered.

As I peered over the edge, tents were set up with people who slept the night
before. The wind above and the cloud cover set a chill that made shelter in
the rocks a more comfortable experience. Two men were cooking in another
groove and offered us cafe which we took up with no hesitation...not even
questioning if the water was potable, but I live to tell the story so
everything must be alright.

2 hours we sat with the fog drifting in and out giving us glimpses of the
height we had accomplished. Finaly the dutch found the top. America had
conquered the hill!

I am now in Antigua, Guatemala to soak up the entire week of Semana Santa.
Everyday is filled with a day in the life of Christ. There are 40,000 people
trekking in for Good Friday to watch the massive processions and live the
story! I am curious....there is a lot of passion here!