Home » Guatemala » Guatemala, week 4

Feb - Mar 2002: My friend Priscilla and I took a trip to Guatemala (and briefly into Honduras).

Guatemala, week 4

Jennifer Radcliffe
2005-11-11 11:54:24

Displayed times (last time: )

A strip of black-sand paradise

Today I am in Monterrico, a beach town on the Pacific coast. I just arrived and checked into my hotel - **I'm staying at the Gangle for about 60q a night (about $8). I got a private bungalow, complete with a hammock on my front porch and a mosquito net over my bed. How romantic! It's too bad Manoj isn't here to share it with. The room is very nice, it has a palm thatched roof that's visible from inside the room. Que bueno! The hotel also has a pool and hammocks strung up everywhere.

I am sitting on the beach right now, listening to the Pacific crash against the black sand shore. It's quite an experience! The waves are very strong here, with a strong undertow making it dangerous to swim.

Ocean reveries

Today I swam in the sea with some new friends I met at the restaurant next door to my hotel. We swam out past the breakers and treaded water. I hadn't swam in the ocean for about 7 years - since I was 16. It was a little scary at first but very peaceful once I gave in and trusted the water. My friends all had snorkeling gear and one guy, Victor, let me use his mask. We found a little log drifing in the water and when we looked at it under the water, we saw 6 or 7 little zebra striped fishies hanging out near it. It was really cool. It was nice to feel the support of the deep green water below me, and to feel the rolling waves lift me and let me fall. And to feel the sun on my face, and the taste of the water... and to see my beautiful bronze friend Victor in the green water.. it is an experience I will always remember. As I swam to shore I saw a huge dead sea turtle on the beach. I read in my guidebook that there is a turtle reserve nearby for 3 different types of turtles. I don't think I'll have time to visit the reserve this time, but hopefully next time I visit, I'll ...