4/28 ? 4/30: Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala

Day 1: After breakfast we headed out looking for the black sand beach of Monterrico. After some haggling with the company arranging shuttles and taxis we finally convinced them to take us for $10 US each. We made a pit stop at the only store in the vicinity and picked up some drinks and snacks. After about a half hour of driving toward the beach (and some sketchy occurrences that may or may not have been someone casing us) we started to be a little worried; it was supposed to only be 20 minutes away. So we asked and it turns out the beach was actually about an hour away. We finally got there after about an hour of driving on country back roads and immediately sat down at a little café-type restaurant for lunch. Delicious. I had a coconut while we waited for the food to be done. I’m going to miss those.

After lunch we walked down to the beach; it was beautiful. The sand is soft (and really hot) and dark because it comes from volcanic rocks. The waves were HUGE and way too strong to swim in so we played along the edge. We booked a horseback ride along the beach and let me tell you, an hour on a horse is painful. But it was fun; we spent the whole ride trying to keep our horses from biting one another and singing ridiculous songs. After that we made our way back towards the town to get a ride back to the ship; we made a stop at a bar and all had really yummy cocktails. Rhina arranged for us to get a ride in the back of a pickup for $7 with a police escort because it was getting dark; apparently no one in Guatemela travels at night without an escort due to the increased levels of crime that has been happening. We got back to the port and waited for the shuttle to take us back to the ship. While we waited I spent the last of my money on a really sweet bag from a little Guatemalan woman selling handmade goods.

I spent the next two days on the ship because I had homework to do and really had no desire to see anymore of Guatemala; the only thing I had wanted to do was go to Tikal but that was too expensive and dangerous. Instead I got some much-needed rest and got some work done. And in all honesty, I’m ready to be home. I never thought I’d get tired of traveling but I feel like I need a vacation from traveling; all the planning and frenzied pace really gets to you after a while. I’m ready to go back to my wonderful regular home life. I’ve learned so much on this trip about people, their cultures and religions and traveling in general; and most importantly, I’ve learned more about myself. The next week is going to be full of creative packing, sleepless nights, media-swapping, nostalgia and sappy goodbyes. I’ve made some amazing friends on this trip, met some incredible people, done incredible things and I couldn’t have asked for a better 4 months; I only hope next time around I can bring everyone I love with me to share it with them. I hope you’ve enjoyed my journey. I might write more reflections later on but until my next world adventure, I’m out. Love and miss you all. <3