Antigua (Guatemala) - Volcanos hiking
On the way from Semuc Champey we had got some problems with our minibus which couldn't manage the hight of the mountains. The car would stop at some point on the way up without any chance to carry on up to the pick. The other buses from the same tour operator would experience similar problems. We lost a couple of hours therefore it was impossible to go to the Atitlan's lake directly. We had to stay by night in Antigua (10h trip). At the end it wasn't such a bad idea as the next day we took a hiking tour to the top of the volcano - Acatenango (4000m) with a wonderful view on to the other volcanos: 'de Agua' and the active one 'de Fuego'. The trip was 5h long the first day and 5h on the way back the second day. We walked only 6km each day but from 2000m up hight up to 4000m. I suffered the hight attitude and struggled to breath from 3000m up. The temperature was lowering down slowly therefore it wasn't too hot, the surface was volcanic black sand so very difficult to climb up. The conditions were extreme and challenging. We carried on all the camping equipment like 20kg each to be able to camp by night on 3700m hight. The sunset was mind blowing, the colours above the picks of the vulcans a were stunning. Totally recommended just for a sake of a view. We made a fire and had some warm nudles soup followed by a hot fresh dark chocolate as Guatemala is one of the biggest exporters of cacao. The night was beautiful full of stars and the heat of the fire was very pleasant. I met a couple from Australia: Giulia originally was from Italy and Tomasz from Poland, both born in Australia. She was studying medicine and him - the informative engineering. They were young, positive and very energetic. I loved their light and opened minds. We wake up at 4am to continue hiking up to 4000m to the top of Acatenango. It was a nightmare, a couple from our group ace up on continuing the trip, they remained in the campus. We carried up in a darkness, falling down in the sand and climbing up so high. The wind was increasing as we were climbing up to the point that on top of the Vulcano I couldn't stand up. The wind was so strong that was pulling me down of the pick. I was scared to be there and watch the sunrise. My fingers were freezing up to the point that I couldn't move them any more. I watched a sunrise from a little bit more hidden place. It was spectacular but full of suffering experience. We came down to the base, took a cup of coffee, put down the tents and we're ready to go all the way down. It was fun sliding down in the sand. We all were covered by dust and looked like we've been coming out of the war. In such extreme conditions we managed to come back to the base. On the same day we were ready to go to Atitlan's lake to rest. It was a reward to end up in such a idealistic place after such an extreme hiking. I forgot to mention that we made all the trip from Livingston, through Semuc Champey, Acatenango Vulcan up to Atitlan's lake with our Finish friend - Junas. It was a nice energy between all of us and we would agree on everything which I proposed;)
