Finding interesting activities to keep you busy is not hard in Antigua. People are constantly handing out flyers on the street for the various travel agencies they work for. Brian and I found a fairly cheap tour to the volcano, Pacaya, for about $7 roundtrip for each of us and decided that it would be a good idea to climb an active, constantly erupting, volcano!

Back in the hostel, we were talking to Matt, who recently did the trek, and I really couldn’t believe the stories he was telling about jumping over lava streams and witnessing rock break away as lava poured down the side of the mountain. He recommended we wear good shoes so they won’t melt as easy. Funny thing is, he was absolutely telling the truth! Brian took some video that we uploaded unto vimeo for your viewing pleasure.

Brian was the brave one and went a bit further than I did. Once you get to the top, you are walking on uneven, breaking lava rock, some of which are still warm. The really bad part is that in the cracks and crevices between rocks remain smoldering ones. I think the hike up really kicked my butt and I only made it halfway across the lava rocks before I thought it would be a good idea to turn around. I just kept getting this vision in my head of me falling into the cracks and a) breaking knee, ankle, wrist or b) burning myself. I’m kind of kicking myself now for not completely going for it, but when you get an eerie feeling about something, its usually best to trust your gut. And, honestly, I still got a great view of the lava from where I was at. I’ll take it!

Overall, it was awesome… and a little crazy! I can’t believe everyone here is so cool with being so close to danger. You would NEVER be able to do that in the states.

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It’s after 9pm in Guatemala, and Brian and I are happy to report we are alive… but barely. We are absolutely exhausted! However, the day has been a joy since we did make it to Antigua and were able to enjoy the evening walking around town, trying to find the ATM and a place to eat.

Lucky us, we were able to have a great dinner at the Sky Cafe, and let me tell you, our view was amazing. Just take a look!

Other than that, being in Guatemala hasn’t really sunk in just yet. We’re here, but it is definitely a blur! Guatemala is quite different overall - the drive over the hilly terrain was awesome, as was the flight in when we could see volcano tops peek through the cloud cover. I’ll be lucky if I make it through the week without getting sick, though. Being creatures of habit, I definitely started putting my toothbrush under the tap water… blasted! Oh well, I figure its bound to happen at least once in the next two months! This is going to be an awesome adventure!!!!

P.S. I did end up bringing my DSLR camera. I was getting the last minute jitters and such, but I decided it would be worth it. Can’t wait to bust it out - this country is gorgeous!

From flashing lights to ringing bells, the one true sign that lets me know the holidays have arrived is when my pants start fitting a little more snug. You know you feel it, too! Fall is the season for eating, all the way from Halloween candy corn, to Thanksgiving turkey legs, and further on with Christmas cookies and milk. This year, I had an even larger head start with my four meals a day diet in Spain.

Normally, I’d be a little concerned about my vanity pounds, but this year… this year is different. Two days after Christmas, Brian and I will be on our way to Guatemala with backpacks chock full of pepto, immodium, and cipro. I have a feeling that sometime in the next two months, those extra pounds will come in handy, if you catch my drift.

We can count the days left until takeoff on one hand, and I can tell you that even Brian is jumpy with anticipation. For the past couple years, between work and school, he hasn’t had any substantial amount of downtime. I’m interested to see how he handles all of this upcoming freedom.

Well, that’s about it for this post. I just wanted to let everyone know that I’ll be partaking heavily in the holiday activities in hopes of remaining festively plump. Oh, and don’t be fooled by the stern look on my face. I’m wishing you and yours some Happy Holidays!

Yep, you guessed it! Another world traveling couple has been converted over to a wordpress format with a little help from yours truly. Craig and Jen were found just in time to save them from the evil, over-priced web hosting that is yahoo, and now have a more affordable and streamlined travel blog (formerly a website made with site builder) hosted by GoDaddy.

Take a look at the before and after photos and let us know if you like it!

If you’re looking for a new travel blog, but need a little help, let me know! I just downloaded easyPHP and can now work offline modifying blog templates. How exciting! Wow, I must sound like a nerd right now. Oh well, where’s my pocket protector? I’m out.

Once upon a time, in a great land known as Italy, there traveled two superhuman beings – Fragola and Limone. Together, as the best gelato flavor combination known to man, Fragola and Limone used their subzero powers to join forces and freeze the bad guys away. Together, they were Gelati Superheroes!

This post goes out to Jami. We were in high school and both experienced the life-changing event that is the first trip to Italy. For ten days, we soaked up as much of Italy as we could, and we made sure to eat as much gelato as was physically possible. The cool part was that we did so much walking in the process that we didn’t gain a pound!

In the beginning, we were like anyone – wanting to taste as many gelato flavors from the never-ending display case – but eventually just kept coming back to good ol’ strawberry and lemon that put a frosty end to a scorching hot day. Jami and I loved gelato so much that we managed to become members of the Gelato Club, and have the t-shirts to prove it.

Over time, however, we noticed a change. We started to “become” strawberry and lemon. I began referring to Jami as Limone, and she would shout to me from the bathroom, “Hey, Fragola, this blow-dryer isn’t working so well on my hair!”

“Well, Limone,” I shouted back. “That’s because it’s a butt dryer for after using the bidet!”

Our appearances also started to change. Subconsciously, we both bought matching star tank-tops in our respective strawberry and lemon colors, and we even started wearing kacki-colored shorts to represent our “cone” bottoms. When gelato superpoweredness would overcome us in full frosty force, some say there was a slight resemblance to Quailman. I guess I can see what they mean.

Fragola and Limone’s crime fighting days may be over, but the memory lives on. Jami found my website earlier this year and donated $50 to the trip fund! I immediately decided all gelato eating experiences will be done in her honor while I am traveling (and she’ll probably get a little somethin’ somethin’ in the mail for her generosity).

Thanks for the memories, Jami. Who else am I going to dress up in Italy soccer jerseys topped with Forza Italia sweatbands and convince people in Detroit we just got done playing in a soccer tournament in Italy with?

I brought the support page back so family and friends can “donate” to the travel fund. Christmas is just around the corner

I just want to thank Lonely Planet for officially getting me scared for my upcoming adventure in Guatemala. I know it is their job to point out anything that might be of importance to travelers - they don’t want their asses in any bind for playing places off as completely safe - but man, every other page in this book is stating where I shouldn’t go!

I know Guatemala is a developing country, and I know that I will have to watch my back. I knew this when I started planning a long time ago. Now, however, I’m rethinking taking my big DSL camera with me for fear of it getting jacked! I just purchased a pocket camera off ebay, so we won’t be camera-less, but I do fear missing out on some of the amazing photo opportunities that might present themselves along the way. I’m definitely not a professional photographer, but without practice I will never become one either.

So, what do you all think? Ditch the DSLR and rely on the pocket cam? If it helps at all, the majority of our time will be spent in the Antigua and San Pedro (language school) areas.

And while we’re on it, do you all put your bags on top of the chicken bus? Do you secure it with anything to the bars? Would it be possible for Brian and I to take our Ospreys onto the bus with us (and stick the bags under the seat or in our laps)?

So many little questions and second guesses running through my mind! Ah, only 20 days!

*picture from lonelyplanet.com

It’s officially December. We had our annual December 1st ice storm yesterday, and now its time for final trip preparations. When I think about all that’s going down this month, I get seriously overwhelmed:

• Brian has to finish his Master’s thesis.
• Brian graduates.
• We have to move out of our apartment in less than 2 weeks.
• Brian has to house-sit for his mom, and start packing the stuff up that he wants shipped to NY in March.
• We have to finish buying all the stuff we need for our trip to Guatemala. (By “we”, I mean “I” since Brian put me in charge of making sure we are both ready to go!)
• We have to finish our X-mas shopping.
• We have to celebrate X-mas with our families.
• We take off for Guatemala early on December 27th!

After that, life just isn’t going to be the same. After 2 months in Guatemala, we come back to Illinois for a week, then make the journey out to New York. Brian will then start working full-time for Bunge, in New York, until they transfer him overseas in the fall. I will stay in New York until March 16th, which is when I take off for Poland, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, and Georgia - a 6 month journey.

Only 24 days now…

Ever since my beloved TV LINKS website got dismantled, I have been feeling a bit down. I love free stuff, so when my free TV was taken away, I didn’t quite know how to handle myself (Ok, not really. I still have Veoh and AllUC for my TV pleasures). I guess the way to explain myself is that I haven’t felt like I have gotten any sweet deals since I discovered my TV LINKS website love… until now. We got a FREE crumpler bag!

Lonely Planet is having this awesome deal where if you spend $40, you get FREE shipping, AND a FREE Crumpler Bag! This is too good to pass up. The bag is just the right size for Brian’s video camera, and provides the protection it needs. If you aren’t familiar with the Crumpler product line, here is why their bags are so cool:

• They don’t look like your typical camera bags.
• They are padded to protect the camera.
• They are fairly secure. To open the bag, you have to unfasten a buckle and then get through some extra loud and strong velcro. You will hear or feel if someone is trying to get in your bag!

I have been using the Crumpler 3 Million Dollar Home bag for my DSLR since this summer and love it to pieces. I definitely recommend them for travelers, so hurry up and get your travel guides and score a free Crumpler!

The FedEx package arrived today that contained my crispy-clean Kyrgyz visa. I grabbed the envelope like it was Christmas morning, only to find a huge black fly in my Chardonnay. I stated before that I was specifically told by the language school to not get a tourist visa, and after multiple attempts at contacting the Kyrgyz Embassy, I found out that I should apply for a business visa for study. Now this:

Maybe they weren’t on their game because of the recent holiday. Whatever it was, I still find myself scratching my head when I think about the information they received and what the final product was. I sent this:

• An application requesting a business visa.
• An invitation letter requesting a visa for study.
• A cashier’s check for the amount of a business visa (not tourist, which is less).
• I also want to point out that I was told on the phone (after having to call 8 times to reach someone) that I should apply for a business visa.

After all this, they decided to keep my extra money and produce a tourist visa. *scratches head* At this point I think I’m just going to keep it the way it is and deal with this after I get there. I have a lot to get done before we leave for Guatemala, and I don’t want to spend anymore time and/or money with the Kyrgyz Embassy. If I can’t extend this visa in Kyrgyzstan, I’ll just venture over to Uzbekistan for a bit.

I spent most of the day upgrading my website. I was running an older version of wordpress for this blog because I wanted to use the fold page list plugin (it didn’t like the newer versions we tried before). Luckily, I found the collapsing page menu plugin from sporkfancier.com. It does basically the same thing, but lacks the ability to exclude pages in the process (drat!). So, I decided to get an upgrade overwith while I have the time and internet connection to do so.

For the most part, everything went alright. I even found a new photo gallery plugin in the process that I am very excited about. I liked the lightbox gallery I had before, but it just looked too cluttered. The NextGEN gallery is much more streamlined, as you can see from my Spain galleries. The best part is this fun plugin they have - check it out here:

Speaking of upgrades, I recently upgraded my itty-bitty jump drive to an 8gigger I found on Ebay for $27. I downloaded the VeohBeta viewer from veoh.com and have been dowloading various episodes of tv shows onto the jump drive. I also plan on putting a few movies on it for rainy days when traveling. It’s a great way to save space on your laptop.