Cerr

     I had an early morning sunrise hike of Indian Nose this morning at 4am so I got up around 3:20am. Hessler told me yesterday to be ready 3:55am and that’d he’d be there to pick me up. Well, at 3:33am he calls and says that he’s outside and of course I was not ready yet. I told him that I’d be out shortly and left about 3:45am only to find a dog asleep blocking my exit way. He woke up from hearing me, turned around and laid down again. Finally I just stepped over him to get outside.

     I thought there was a group for the sunrise hike but apparently it was just me. I grabbed a helmet and hopped onto the back of Hessler’s ATV. The ride there seemed long and as a passenger I thought I could’ve driven but how would I have gotten to the office so early because no tut tuts were out at this time. Plus I think I’m all ATV’d out as far as this trip so I didn’t mind just riding. I did however have to hold on for dear life and make sure I had a good grip the entire way as roads were windy and there were off roads. I got some good ab support in today.

     I feel like Hessler drove at least 35 minutes and all I could think was, “Are we there yet?” Once we arrived he gave me a headlamp and we began our trek up the mountain. The headlamp helped some but I still couldn’t see that well. Thankfully Hessler had 2 phones so he used one as an additional flashlight which helped a lot, the problem was though he walked too fast. Of course the hike is upward and there were flats parts, slopes, steps and muddy parts.

     Going up I had to take quite a few breaks just to gather my breath. It wasn’t hard I’m just not that fit and have asthma so I need to pace myself with these types of things. The steps were annoying but without them it would’ve been a much harder hike. Hessler at one point asked if I wanted to take the hard way up or easy way and the answer was easy without a doubt. The hike probably took a good 35-40 minutes.

     At the top there was a man with fire (I later learned he was boiling water for the coffee and hot chocolate). We three were the only ones up there at the moment. We were given a mat and went to sit front row to wait for the sunrise. It felt good to sit down and rest after the hike and once I caught my breath I took some night photos. After about 10 minutes we heard other voices as more people were beginning to arrive. Hessler said today was going to be a nice sunrise so we’d probably see a lot of people.

     More and more groups began coming in and the photo sessions really began as the sun began to rise. One girl had her drone and captured video and images that way. Hessler took a few photos as well as myself and video. It was a beautiful sight to see and worth the hike. I asked for hot water as I brought my own tea with me and they passed out bread. Today was indeed a great day and you could even see Acetenango in the background smoking at the top.

     We stayed until it was light enough and pretty much led the pack back down the mountain. I got a chance to see in the daylight the path we went up at night. Going down seemed to take just as long and when I felt comfortable enough I took out my phone to capture photos and videos. Once back down I was happy, I had made it. I was dreading the ride back because it just seemed so long and a bit uncomfortable for me. I asked Hessler instead of dropping me back off at the Airbnb to take me back to the office since I had a ziplining tour at 9am and it was near there where I needed to go.

     While he understood the first part I don’t think he fully heard the rest because halfway to the office he flagged down a tut tut and had them take me the rest of the way. After a while I noticed this tut tut wasn’t going the way I needed to go. Turns out Hessler thought I was going straight to the zipline area and that’s where the tut tut was taking me. I tapped him and showed him where I needed to go which was in the opposite direction.

     Of course once I got to the correct destination he wanted that error to cost me which I told him, “No, I didn’t tell you to go that way, that was not my mistake.” We reached a compromise but he didn’t get the rate he wanted and tough luck on that one. I arrived early to my meeting point for the zipline tour (about an hour) so I pittered and pattered around. Right on time Carlos (made up name because I don’t remember) came and scooped me up on his motorcycle and we were off to the ziplining site.

     Luckily it didn’t take long and was a quick ride. Soon we arrived at San Pedro Canopy. I met my guide Pedro who got me all suited up and then he tells me we have a 10 minute hike upward to get to the starting point. After doing the sunrise hike this morning and hikes yesterday I don’t want to do another hike this year. I was huffing and puffing upward because I wasn’t prepared to hike again, I just literally did one. I was so relieved once we got to the top.

     The view was amazing and there were of course photo ops and Pedro assisted. Looking at the cable going across that we’d be going on looked far but not that bad. Pedro instructed me on what to do and told me to wait for his radio signal as he was going to go over 1st. He went over and I waited for the signal, when it came through O went. Now I’ve done zipling before a couple of places but this one may have been the highest and longest going across so far.

     When I let go I wasn’t afraid but as I got further out and saw how high I was and how much further I had to go, I held tight and called Jesus all the way across. At first I closed my eyes because the realization of how high I was got to me but I made myself open them to see the experience and the words, “Don’t let go of the handle bars, grip them tight” rang in my head. When I got across and Pedro caught me it was like an adrenaline rush.

     We hiked down about 10 minutes where we met up with another one of his co-workers. Again he went across first while she helped set me up and then I went over. Not as high as the first one but still just as thrilling. We hiked up a couple steps and that was it.; I can now say I’ve ziplined here as well. Carlos was there and I hopped on the bike and he dropped me back off at the office.

     Today I’m doing things back to back which is why I’m trying to avoid the Airbnb and not go unless I plan on staying in. I told myself I had to do a boat ride before I leave so I’m taking the boat to the city of Santiago. I walked to the dock from where Carlos dropped me off, paid the 30 quetzales one way and got in the boat. I drifted off at one point as the wind from the side windows brushed my face. After an adventurous morning it felt good to just sit comfortably and relax for a few minutes.

     Once at the dock in Santiago people are waiting to recommend things from tours to merchants. This one man tried his best to recommend things to me and I assured him I would not be here long so he went on his way. Finding food was a bit of a challenge but I finally stopped at a cafe and got beef tacos. The meal came with a drink so I sat down and ate there. The meal was alright still missing a good seasoning despite the sauce, lime, onions and peppers that were on the side.

     Afterwards feeling full I was ready to go and headed back towards the dock. On the way I did stop by a few merchants to get some souvenirs. I ended up paying cash for most of it and just asked for change in quetzales that way I wouldn’t have to search for an ATM. (I should’ve had enough to last me until I left but ended up having to spend some for my to-go dinner back in San Pedro because they didn’t take card (quite a few places are like this which I found to be very inconvenient)).

     We waited 30 minutes in the boat before it embarked back to San Pedro. By now I was tired and wanted to get food and go in. I walked from the dock in San Pedro to save money on tut tuts and stumbled upon a cafe and chose to go inside (this is the place that only accepted quetzales). I ended up ordering chicken fajitas to-go and had planned on taking a tut tut back to the Airbnb from there but since I used my quetzales, walking it is (about a 20 minute walk).

     I was so happy to finally get back to the Airbnb and saw my host upon entering. (I still have quetzales but am saving some to give to him as a tip, for my tut tut tomorrow to take me to my shuttle pick-up area and for airport snacks). He asked how everything was going and I said good (he’s been so helpful while I’ve been here). I got in the room, stripped, washed up, threw on lounge clothes and got in the bed. I took a good 45 minute nap that was well needed.

     For the rest of the evening the plan is to check-in for my flight tomorrow, eat, pack and relax. I feel as though I did a lot on this trip without actually doing a lot (if that makes sense). Today was the day I did the most in one day (3 different tours/activities) but the trip is now coming to an end and it’s time. I think I crafted the perfect amount of time and I enjoyed my experience. Now if you were to ask would I visit Lake Atitlán again…no, once was enough. I came and did what I wanted to do (I prefer Antigua and Guatemala City over Lake Atitlán. If anyone ever visits Antigua I recommend to visit Lake Atitlán during that trip as well (less of a hassle coming from Antigua).

     Checkout is at 11am tomorrow at my Airbnb but my shuttle back to the airport leaves at 10am so I’ll be out before then. I’m hoping we do a stopover for at least an hour or so in Antigua again so I can go to one of my favorite eating spots Rincon Tipico and get some good food before I leave. I’m ready to go back home though, it’s time to get back to work, afterall I have 2 more international trips before the year ends.