Christmas at Lago de Atitlan
Half of Lisas bag was packed with „Christmas presents“ for us: new tires, tubes and guide rings from our Sponsors (thank you Continental and Cosmic Sports), sunscreen, magnesium and delicious German CHOCOLATE! Oh yes, we four had a great time and good food!
One day we climbed up the „Indian Nose“. The astonishing view was worth the rip-off prices – no ticket house but different locals asking to pay. That’s really a nice business idea: standing around, pretending to be the owner and asking for money…. however.
The town was full of little colorful lights squawking jingle bells drowned by firecrackers. Honestly, it felt more like New Year than Christmas. Of course, we were missing our families in these days and especially a glas of a good red wine that our fathers would have served with great relish, and a piece of tasty cheese and… No, we are absolutely happy and won’t complain now!
And did you know? Jesus was born in a hammock!
San Pedro la Laguna: Escuela española a Lago de Atitlan
We were so much looking forward to it: learning Spanish and being able to communicate with the people, more than with our few words and mainly using hands and feet. Finally, we decided to spend two weeks at Lago de Atitlan in San Pedro la Laguna to take Spanish lessons and be there for Christmas. San Pedro is a friendly little town and famous for its cheap but good Spanish schools. And not only that, so far it’s definitely the place where we got most for our money in every respect. We stayed in a small room with a great terrace and an incredible view over the whole lake for 2,50 Euro per day each! Check out „Hotel Peneleu“ near to the Santiago dock and the restaurant „Jakuu“ with enormous food plates!
Going to our sweet Palapa school every morning and having loads of homework in the evening we felt like little school kids again. No, it was fun and really nice to stay longer in one place and getting to know some locals. We became friends with Hardy’s teacher Juan and kept on studying with him, his girl-friend and our friend Aaron privately in his little garden the second week.
Since a couple of years the water level of the lake rises so that it slowly swallows the houses and bars at the shores. Despite official warnings a lot of local people still don’t take this problem serious and continue building houses close to the lake.
