Day 5

Today was our first cultural day of the trip.  After breakfast, we went to a local soccer arena and started off the day playing a few soccer matches with our tour guide Jairo and some other local players.  Running around and playing soccer at an altitude of 5,000 ft proved to be quite a challenge for the students (and the faculty).

Next we took a drive up to the Baul - a spot up on the mountain which overlooked the entire city of Quetzaltenango.  After admiring the views and snapping lots of pictures, the group found some slides which led down a steep hill.  Dr. Rust, Dr. Northrup and some brave students sped down the slides.

We then drove up another 5,000 ft and visited a natural hot spring.  We enjoyed lunch right alongside the pools then relaxed in the hot water.  Our tour guide led some of the students to a hidden pool in the middle of the forest along the side of the mountain.  After the long drive down the mountain, we stopped at the local cemetery and observed the differences in the structure and rituals of their cemetery compared ones we are used to seeing.  The Guatemalan cemetery was much more colorful and elaborate.   

 

After freshening up after our long day, we headed out to a fancy banquet dinner hosted by members of the team that have put together our trip.  Cassie, Alex, Matt, and Zach bravely tasted some spicy jalapeno peppers and hysterically suffered the consequences.  This concluded our last night in Quetzaltenango, and we’re all looking forward to visiting the Mayan ruins tomorrow on our way to San Lucas Toliman.

-Alexa and Christina