This morning I was rudely awakened by what I think must have been meditation on speakers coming from somewhere nearby. Also spoken in a different language. Perhaps an indigenous language. I did managed to fall back asleep and finally got ready to leave Aaculaax. Even though I was really content there, I was ready for a change. I packed up my things and headed to Hotel La Paz, for their 50Q per night dorms. Today is my last full day here, so I also want to pack in as much as possible.
I headed out in search of breakfast, meditation, message, and a kayak. I found breakfast at my hostel, meditation was a bust (no I don’t want to do partner work with a stranger, thanks), a message at the Holistic Center, and a kayak at the local travel agency. I also stopped at the local internet cafe here in order to answer some pressing emails from my folks. I ended up being early to pick up my kayak and subsequently had some time to talk to Brenda, the woman who worked there. She asked me the typical: how old I was, where I was from, whether I was married, and what I did for a living. And some questions about my family. I asked her about her family, her marital status, where she lived (San Pedro), and whether she liked her job.
I finally got my kayak and made it onto the water by 1:10pm. I spent two hours on the lake and they were absolutely blissful. It was sunny where I was, but just cloudy enough in the hills to make the landscape very enticing. I really enjoyed watching the local people going about their daily business, which ranged from fishing, to collecting water, to bathing in the lake. In particular I was entertained by this one local family who had about five children with them. Each kid took their turn waving at me and saying “Ola”, which I returned in kind. I loved seeing the women in their traditional skirts and the men fishing in their wooden canoes. Something about it was just so enchanting.
Additionally the hills around San Marcos are wonderful with amazing foliage, sheer cliffs, and just generally beautiful. Each side of San Marcos had some truly beautiful spots. I also found my German friend again rock jumping. Although I was too late to say hello, I did manage to hear him hoot and holler as he jumped into the lake.
I returned slightly early, but was ready to get out of my kayak. I got myself ashore and waited for help to arrive. Although I was greeted by a very friendly man asking me in broken spanish if I had money for him. I did not. Finally Antonio arrived to help me carry back his kayak to its proper place. I also ran into Tamara again (looking mighty strange with my hair sticking up at odd angles and a very wet bottom) who expressed her surprise that I had left. I told her I had moved to Hotel La Paz and she informed me that they have amazing hot chocolate. Good to know!
I had just enough time to change and get some vegetarian empanadas before I had my massage appointment. It was great to just relax and have someone work out some kinks. My masseuse was a native of Israel, whose name I forget. But he did a fantastic job and I distinctly remember leaving feeling amazing. He also advised me that Utila Island was not as nice as Roatan in Honduras. So now it may be that I should check both out before I make my way to Nicaragua.
When I got back to my dorm I discovered I was no longer its only occupant. Camilla was from Sydney, Australia but had spent some time in Canada working for some ski hills. We ended up heading out for dinner together at Ganesh, which turned out to be a veggie burrito. While we discussed travel tips and places to go we were serenaded by a band. Which featured a local man on guitar, an Argentinian on violin, and several people taking turns playing the drums.
I also enjoyed the moment when Brad had to pull me aside and ask me once again for my name. It is not Annie, as he had thought. Although I was written down in his tab book as Annie. How nice.
Early night again, paragliding in the morning! Although I did get to listen to some, hopefully, confused roosters before I feel asleep.
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