planting trees near Xela

Xela

I´m now in Xela (Quetzaltenango) in the Spanish School ICA. I like it, yesterday I had my first lesson and I know: It is so hard for me to speak., but I can understand well, when the people don´t talk too fast.

way to the Fuentes

Today a group of 4 students (including me) and our director left Xela at 7 am to go first to Zunil, pick Marcelo up and continued to the Fuentes Georginas. That are hot springs close to one volcano. If you want, you can take a bath there in hot water which comes directly from the spring. But the way was very interesting, too. First, I have been in the back of the truck, outside  talking to another student, Andy from England. In Guatemala it is very common that people sit outside in the back of the truck, for me it was new, but I liked it. You can feel every hole of the street in your back and smell the exhaust gases. The good thing is, you have a great view all around!

Erin planting a tree

At the spring we first climbed a hill to plant some trees. I don´t know how high we hiked, but it was so terrible exhausting. The soil was wet and we had to cross a creek first and right after this climb a wall WITH the trees. Then they way was better but very steep. At the end I made more breaks then walking uphill. During we started planting a few trees the fog came and didn´t wanted to go away. We had so dirty fingers and the way downhill was little dangerous because of the wet underground. Every time when somebody slipped we said: No mas cerveza para ti! ;) (No more beer for you)

the fog comes

Fortunately we all made safe and sound over the wall and creek back to the spring. In the end we could enjoy little time the hot water of the spring (I didn´t, I was too lazy to change the clothes). The way back was very foggy, cold and through some rain, suddenly the street was very bad. And the view wasn´t so good as the first drive. But it was funny again to sit in the back, this time with Sandra (Denmark) and Erin (Canada).

one spring with the fog

On the way we have seen a lot of indigenous working in their fields. Marcelo explained  that all the field were forest before. But now there isn´t one tree and the people have problems with landslide, especially in the rainy season. We saw this at the streets, sometimes half of the street or some parts doesn´t exist anymore.

And Elisa, I saw so many people walking around with Pesticide, too bad!

in the back of the car (me making the photo)

bad road

And, check out this: Look at Google pictures for the words ´Hoyo Guatemala City´ This is so crazy and real!