Volcanoes, Chicken Buses, and Parades

One Sunday afternoon I became the first person in my family to climb a volcano. Due to too much running on the cobblestone-like streets, Jim did not join me and my companions because of his aching legs. The volcano I climbed is named Picaya, and although active, it erupted in the end of May and is now fairly safe while the lava builds up. I could not climb all the way to the top of the crater because that was not safe, but I was able to look down a hole and see the orange glow of lava. The rocks rocks near the stop smoked steam from the lava underneath, and my legs began sweating when I stood in the steam.

Two days ago Jim and I found out that Switchfoot was playing in Guatemala City on Tuesday night (the 14). Tuesday was a packed day for us, with building houses in the morning and classes in the afternoon, but we decided to go anyway. Our original plan to take an airport shuttle did not work out, so we decided to take a chicken bus. Our first chicken bus ride was loud, crowed, bumpy, and nerve-racking if you watched the driver driving. This, however, is typical. We took a taxi from the bus terminal to the park, scalped tickets, and then went to eat dinner. The concert was suppose to start at 8 pm, but in true Guatemalan time, it did not actually start until 9 pm. Switchfoot did not play until 10 pm because two Guatemala bands opened the concert. Fortunately, some friends from church had agreed to give us a ride back to Antigua, so we didn't have to catch another chicken bus at midnight.

Needless to say both Jim and I were exhausted after a day working, studying, and running without a stop. Today we slept in a bit and then watched the parades celebrating Guatemala's Independence Day. The September 15 here is equivalent to July 4 back in the States. The schools in Antigua form their students into marching bands and this morning nothing could be heard except brass instruments, drums, and bells. Food vendors abounded in the park too, so Jim and I ate a lunch of tortillas, meat, avocado, and Guatemalan sauces. We also each ate a roasted potato with black beans inside.