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San Jose, Costa Rica, 30 June 2003

Semuc Champey, El Salvador, Granada and Ometepe

Odv
2004-09-15 11:54:15

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During our last month in Antigua, we continued our Spanish lessons, and both had part time jobs. Maris was teaching English at a local school, to 5 and 6 year olds. It was her first experience as a teacher since her graduation.

I did some software development, spending hours every day in the same Internet Cafe, connecting to a computer in the Netherlands developing software to integrate on-line credit card payments for an Internet shop in Holland.

Leaving Antigua was not easy, the town after all had become our home. We also had our social life in Antigua after 4 months, even though many friends had already left before us. At the house we had gotten very involved in raising Willow, a beautiful kitten, that looks like a tiger. Giving her a lot of attention and even letting her sleep on our bed at night. Early in the morning she would meow to be let out of the room. She became a very social cat, enjoying the presence of people and came to greet us when we returned to house. At the table she would come and lie on my lap.

Our land lady, Claudia, made a delicious dinner for our departure, and we partied into the early morning hours. The next morning was very difficult and tearful. It was hard to say goodbye to Claudia, with whom we have had a great time partying. One thing I will not forget quickly is the look on Willow's face as we said goodbye, as if she knew that something was different. Claudia promised to take very good care of her.

Getting to Semuc Champey is quite a trip, a 4 hour bus ride from the capital to Coban. Where we had to spend one night in Casa d'Acuńa. We left our backpacks in this hotel (for 5 Quetzals per bag per day), and found our way to Lanquin with a microbus, even though it is only 50 km away the ride takes more than 2 hours over curvy dirt roads. In Lanquin we got on the back of a pick up truck that brought us to Las Marias, a hostel in the middle of Nature and close to Semuc Champey ...