Aqua caliente = hot springs

Xela has some amazing hot springs up in the mountains with a view of distant volcanoes. Together with a small group from our hostel, we set off on a local bus, which they call a chicken bus. Our little travel group consisted of two Israelis and two Canadians, one of whom was a sweet, quirky older lady with Bob Marley hair :) The buses here are ancient American school buses that have been exported to Guatemala, where they’re still in use. Before they hit the road, they get a good coat of paint, so they’re super colorful. It’s pretty normal to have three people squeezed into each seat, so the buses can get quite crowded. A ticket costs 3.50 quetzales. The last stretch up to the hot springs was on the back of a truck (6 quetzales per person). It was a beautiful ride up the mountain, passing fields where the locals were busy harvesting. They were growing things like onions and cabbage. The hot springs were an absolute delight to soak in. The water coming down from the mountains was scalding hot. So many of us love a warm bath, and it was just a dream :) Back in Xela, the bus dropped us off at a market. It was exciting to wander around among the locals, but most of the stuff looked like it had seen better days. At 6 PM, we had a meeting about our volcano tour. We were assigned our gear and packing lists. Later that evening, Honny started feeling unwell. He was throwing up constantly. We’re not sure what caused it, but many others have had similar issues here due to hygiene. So we’re not sure if we’ll be able to go tomorrow. It’s a bummer, but it turns out we also have to carry 25 kg, which is a lot for me. The hike itself will be tough since it’s steep, and many people get altitude sickness. So maybe it’s a blessing in disguise...