joined the POW! mixed martial arts gym nearby and attended my first Muay Thai class this morning. couple of hours later played indoor soccer with the BigMachines team at an arena a few blocks from my apartment. it’s not snowboarding, but i’ll find ways to enjoy the winter.
in New York for the first time in a while, spending the day with a client. nice to be on the manufacturing shop floor again.
in the hotel gym first thing to kill some time, then we packed and crossed the street for what was easily the best breakfast of my life. taxied to the airport and got Лена sorted for her flights home, then sorted out my own. flying to Chicago is sure easier than flying to Jackson.
up way too early packing for our flight back to the capitol. checked back into the InterContinental and took a short nap. we did some interesting shopping nearby at a mall that that was nicer than most i’ve been to back home, then some time spent at an internet cafe copying files from my camera. fun meal at Sushi Ito then back to the room for more rest and relaxation. night spent at Elite in the Zona Viva comparing Guatemalan dancers to our experiences in other countries.
late morning taxi to Tikal from Flores. wow, what an amazing privilege exploring the temples and other structures at the site. climbed a number of pyramids, took loads of pictures and shot endless videos. perched on a small ledge a few hundred feet above the ground isn’t for those with acrophobia – certainly this sort of access wouldn’t be allowed back in the States. Temples IV and V were the highlights as the views were incredible. and sitting in the grass in the middle of the Great Plaza flanked by Temple I and II as the sun started to set with no one else around was an experience of a lifetime. was difficult to leave the area as i didn’t want the day to end. taxied back to our hotel in Flores for dinner a few doors down.
third morning in a row at the cafe on the Square for the morning coffee fix. last few hours spent in downtown Antigua then back to the hotel and time spent poolside. taxi back to the airport in Guatemala City for a flight to Flores, a small town sitting on an island on Lake Peten Itza. arrived late but just in time to watch the full moon rise across the lake from our hotel balcony. appropriately ate at a restaurant named La Luna for dinner.
again coffee on the Square, at the same hip cafe. brought breakfast back to the hotel, and again some more pictures around the hotel and the adjacent ruins. taxied just outside of town to climb the Pacaya volcano while Лена rode a horse up. not allowed to go to the very top and look down upon the lava pool anymore, but had some great views of the crater from a distance. dinner at a nearby sushi restaurant then played with the iPhone video camera.
early morning coffee at a cafe on Parque Central, then explored the local market looking for flowers. photos around the hotel grounds and what is left of the chapel destroyed by the 1777 earthquake that leveled the city. back into town to shop and tour around a bit. champagne in the lobby sitting by the fire then dinner back in downtown Antigua at a very small restaurant where i was taught to curse in Russian.
both up somewhat early, and lots of photos around the lake. took a swim and found a massive boulder along the shore which was the perfect perch to dive into the water. taxi to the old capitol Antigua and the gorgeous Hotel Cirilo. driven to a recommended Italian restaurant for dinner which was mediocre at best, although they did have a fantastic tiramisu.
up early and enjoyed my time hanging out by the lake. taxi to Chichicastenango for the Sunday market and enjoyed the crazy shopping experience. didn’t buy anything for myself, but was fun haggling in my broken Spanish. third night in a row sharing a bottle of champagne, then back into Panajachel for dinner and drinks.
