First day of spanish lessons survived. That is about the best prognosis. They wisely serve coffee and tea through out the four hour lesson, but even with that my brain felt like it was wilting after two hours. So I went downstairs and petted the dog, Princessa. See, there was very good reasoning behind this whole dog-deciding-language school thing. Princessa also became part of nosotros in many of my made up ´sentences. Beyond all of that fun, I´ve gone for many walk-runs outside of town to see the local villages. I don´t even want to imagine what my lungs look after sharing the road with so many black fume spewing buses, but it´s worth it to get some execise. Last night I avoided the racuious party at the hostel and climbed up on the roof. There is a little patch of cement to sit on and from there I could see over the rooftops to the ruins of one of the many cathedrals and the mountains beyond. Right when I got up there I saw a shooting star and I felt like everything was a little more right with my trip. This morning, right before my spanish lesson, my teacher and I were standing on the top level of the school and could see a clear view of Volcan Fuego and it was erupting! The volcano tops are usually covered in clouds, so it was exciting to even see the top of the peak (mom and dad, think mt. rainer) let alone to see it erupt.
September 25, 2006
September 26, 2006 at 10:07 am
Creo que Princessa es tu amiga nueva. Es bueno porque perros son amigos muy buenos, siempre. Como es la comida en Guatemala? Creo que es muy similar a la comida de Oaxaca en el sur de Mexico, la comida del “jungle”. La comida en Inglaterra es mucho mas mejor que todos los Americanos que dicen. Mi espanol es terrible, lo siento. Vamos a Scotland en dos dias! Cheers!
September 26, 2006 at 2:30 pm
So you finally have a dog friend who’s a bit of a diva — at least by name. How’s the weather is Guatemala? Just from the descriptions you’ve offered so far, it sounds warm and humid.
We’re not “vamos a Scotland” like mollyandjake, but your dad and I are vamos a Colorado on Friday.
Love,
Mom
September 27, 2006 at 4:38 am
“mollyandjake,” who refers to itself in the singular and, unless you are familiar with the writing style, leaves it greatly ambiguous as to the poster, has got to stop flashing its fancy Español around everywhere.
And also, they are not correct, the food “en Inglaterra” is most definitely as bad as everyone says, and perhaps worse. Scones and Indian food are the only exceptions.
September 27, 2006 at 5:09 pm
I love Google. Here, for your edification, is what some fancy geology site says about Becca’s volcano:
Country: Guatemala
Volcano Number: 1402-09=
Volcano Type: Stratovolcano
Last Known Eruption: 2006 (continuing)
Summit Elevation: 3763 m 12,346 feet
Volcán Fuego, one of Central America’s most active volcanoes, is one of three large stratovolcanoes overlooking Guatemala’s former capital, Antigua. The scarp of an older edifice, Meseta, lies between 3763-m-high Fuego and its twin volcano to the north, Acatenango.
Construction of Meseta volcano dates back to about 230,000 years and continued until the late Pleistocene or early Holocene. Collapse of Meseta volcano may have produced the massive Escuintla debris-avalanche deposit, which extends about 50 km onto the Pacific coastal plain.
Growth of the modern Fuego volcano followed, continuing the southward migration of volcanism that began at Acatenango. In contrast to the mostly andesitic Acatenango volcano, eruptions at Fuego have become more mafic with time, and most historical activity has produced basaltic rocks.
Frequent vigorous historical eruptions have been recorded at Fuego since the onset of the Spanish era in 1524, and have produced major ashfalls, along with occasional pyroclastic flows and lava flows.
September 28, 2006 at 10:56 pm
I have to defend Mt. Rainier here. Just because it refused to show itself to some wily Missourians who passed through town (once, I might add) doesn’t mean it isn’t there! It really exists! It’s not just a lure for tourists to visit.
And in the spirit of being an obnoxious uncle, I leave you this spontaneous haiku about eggs:
Runny yellow yolks
Drip onto my new khakis
I want spot cleaner
September 29, 2006 at 4:49 pm
As proof, I leave you with my photos from Mt. Rainier: http://byrne.km.googlepages.com/mt.rainiernationalpark
We saw the mountain everyday as we followed the wonderland trail! It does exist, I promise you!!
September 30, 2006 at 12:21 pm
Hey there sweet pea. We all miss you so much. Glad to see you are having fun! xoxo