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Saturday 2 May 2015

Guatemala Rocks

Spanish classes, hippies, trekking in Altiplano, sleeping in villagers' houses and washing in Temascal (traditional Mayan sauna), cimbing volcanoes, countless sunrises, liters of aguardiente Brahva, working on engineering project, hitchhiking, tuktukero(s), meeting awesome fantastic inspirational persons and reuniting with the old friends, getting stuck in a hostel for almost 2 months living with people who were more like a family, eating and inventing amazing vegetarian food and cakes (OMG! Diet, diet when I am back), earthquakes, thunder storms, book readings, Easter egg painting, private boats in the middle of the night, discovering the only (hidden) bar in the village, trying out traditional clothing and running in it along the streets without shoes, making alfombras, participating in Easter procession and selling cakes, tonns of guacamole, liters of coffee, dozens of watermelons and papayas, driving in a taxi with a drunk costarican - all of this Guatemala. Cannot believe I've only visited few places, just a half of standard gringo trail has been done. Still Guatemala was an unbeleivable experience that I will never forget (therefore, need to write it down, as I do not have that many photos). I will miss it. I cannot believe my Latinamerican adventure is over. I want to be back, I want to be in Moscow. I want Moscow to be in Latin America. I am about to start new chapter. Exciting.

I need to write about Guatemala!

Sunday 29 March 2015

I feel very lazy.... maybe next time.

P.S. According to Maya Calendar I am Tijax, Knife. Hehe

Monday 23 March 2015

Week 58. 23rd Feb-2nd March. Guatemala, Xela

Я решила, что 4 недели в Мексике достаточно, и пересекла границу Гватемалы.

Wednesday 18 March 2015

Week 56, 8-15 Feb. Oaxaca

I cannot believe I am only 2 weeks behind now! Almost there! And as I feel inspiration writting in English, I will keep going. Сорри, мами!

Monday 16 March 2015

Week 57. 16th-22nd February. Chiapas

I tend to spend at least a week in a city and around: Puebla, Oaxaca, now San Cristobal. Chiapas is the mostly indigenous and the poorest departamento of Mexico. Zapatista movement of mid-90s was born here. Now San Cristobal is a huge tourist attraction with plenty of restaurants, hotels, hostels, street vendors pushing you artesanal textile, amber, fake amber, jade, ceramic jaguars, etc...

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I promise I'll catch up with this blog soon. For now quick news feed. I am staying in a hostel at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala in a small less touristy village. And I love it! We have such a nice small community here: we have communal meals, hiking together, exploring places, getting to know villagers, befrending evangelist priests, local guides, coffee shop owners and tuk tuk drivers. Beautiful little paradise of great people!

Saturday 21 February 2015

Week 52 Continues, 16-18th Jan, San Gil

It was soo long time ago and I am soo nor motivated to write a lot about it, also almost nothing happened there, so quickly

Week 52, 12-15 Jan, Medellin

Medellin. Второй крупный город Колумбии. Родина Пабло Жксобара. Место тусовки жкспатов. Когда-то один из самыз опасныз городов Колумбии, теперь культурная столица. Для меня жто был еще один большой город, который надо быстро посмотреть и быстро же оттуда уезать.

Thursday 19 February 2015

Week 51, 6-11th Jan, Zona Cafetera

I am finally out of Cali! Forever! No more night shifts! No more salsa. On Tuesday I arrived to Salento to find out that this week is Feria de Salento and it is full of people from all over Colombia partying on the main plaza. Will this partying ever end?

Tuesday 17 February 2015

Week 54 Continues. 30th Jan-2nd Feb. Puebla And Adventures In Places Without Hotels

После 4x дней в Мезико, мне зотелось оттуда сбежать, что я и сделала. Первой остановкой была деревня по пути в Puebla, где мы планировали залезть на вулкан, с которого видно все. Но не тут-то было.

Week 55, Feb 3-7, Mountains, Canyons And Mountains

I figured I could leave my big backpack in Puebla while I go hiking/climbing mountains to the North of Puebla. It appeared to ba a good idea, when I ended up yet in another village without accommodation after dark.

Week 50 Continues, 1-5 Jan, Finishing The Shifts

Pretty much what it says: it was my last week working in the hostel, Anthony, Bruna and Ben went to Ecuador for New Year, most of the guests kept on on their travels. It was jus Ron, myself new argentinian and brazillian volnteers. The only thing that I can remember to stand out was New Year celebrations.

Saturday 14 February 2015

Week 50, Dec 25-31. Feria De Cali

Feria de Cali, crazy event that lasts a week before New Year, full of salsa dancing, street parties, concerts, parades and beer. Many people from all over Colombia and the world come to see it, all hotels/hostels/rented appartements are full. We were not different. Feria proved to be fun, but also hard work.

Wednesday 11 February 2015

Week 48-49, Dec 16-24. Back To Cali

I came back to Cali after 10 days on the coast. Holiday season was apporaching and I wanted to spend it with someone I know rather then in completely random place. Besides, my salsa was not going anywhere, so I needed to work on it.

Tuesday 10 February 2015

Week 53, 19-23rd Jan. MONTANAS

I knew from the very first day in Colombia that I will have to go there. I did argue a little wether I should at the end of my trip: I only had short time, I was alone, it was far. Of course, I went. El Cocuy National Park. Mountains. Former guerilla territories 12 hours curvy drive from the Capital. Over 20 snow peaks, most of the Park area is over 4000m. Of course, I went.

Sunday 1 February 2015

End Of The Week 53, 24-25th Jan. Bogota And End Of South American Adventure

I arrived to Bogota earlier than I expected: I was supposed to spend there only one day, but I will spend there one night. As usual, bus arrived ridiculously early and I had nothing to do, just stay on the bus station waiting for the Sun to come up. Luckily, there was also wi fi, so I could book a hostel: big city, weekend, I thought it would be safer.

Friday 30 January 2015

Week 54 Mexico City

Ok, I somehow miscounted weeks and my one year travel anniversary falls on week 54, rather then 53. Oh, well, the point is on the day 25th Jan a year ago I left UK to arrive to Buenos Aires a day after. On the day 25th Jan this year I left Colombia to arrive to Mexico city (the same day), thus celebrating my year of travels. I have my ticket back in 3 months, but I still have loads to explore before that.
I left Bogota with heavy feeling: after 2 months of not liking Colombia, I finally got it and feel like I did not do everything I could do there. During my last 10 days of travel I met wonderful and most interesting people, both Colombian and travellers, I had loads of free coffees, juices, cheese, I have been to the mountains (sic!). Now I am in my usual widthrawal that I have when I leave another country.

Week 47, 05-15 Nov. CaRRRRRibes

A few weeks ago my friend posted in FB that she was coming to Colombia. So we had to meet. After some discussions we agreed that it would be in Cartagena. My initial plan was to get there by land, but, as usual, it did not work.

I got stuck in Cali and so decided to fly, besides, it was
1. Cheaper
2. Faster
Also Liza was on the coast so it was additional reason to visit before she would go back to her beloved BA

Monday 12 January 2015

Срочно В Номер

Я лечу в Москву. 1го мая. 2го встречайте в Шарике

Thursday 1 January 2015

Weeks 43-46. Beinvenidos To Sunflower Hostel

Sunflower hostel is run by Colombian man and his wife whose niece Lina also works in the hostel on reception. Except Lina, there is a cleaner Fanny who comes times a day. Rather than that the hostel is fuly run by volunteers. When I arrived there were two Aussies, Lewis and Anthony.

Week 42 Continued, 06-08 Nov. Introduction To Cali

We headed to Cali where I was planning to stay for a few weeks to work in the hostel. Cali is 'a capital of Salsa' in Colombia, so my real reason of staying there was to learn dancing salsa.
Liza had a friend of friend living in Cali, so she stayed with her. I found a hostel nearby. The hostel ended up being El Viajero, famous party hostel-salsa school of Cali. I did stay in El Viajero hostel before in Uruguay.