Monday 28th December. 
I left for the airport at 4am on Monday morning and 3 flights later I arrived exhausted 24 hours later in Antigua, Guatemala at 10pm local time (4am UK time). I had managed to sleep the entirety of every plane journey, waking up only for meals – as a result I missed ice cream which was unfortunate.

Had a bit of a mare at the airport in that my driver wasn’t there. Fortunately a very friendly man sorted some internet for me and rang the hostel to find out where my driver had got to. Unlike many other airports I have been to, he managed to be very helpful and very friendly without being leery and making me uncomfortable. So, when he asked for a tip, I went against my normal rules of ‘anyone who asks for a tip, shouldn’t get one’ and gave him one. Hopefully he will help out the next person in an equally friendly manner!

It took an hour to get to the hostel from Guatemala City airport. Unlike the last time I was here, it wasn’t rainy and although it was dark outside I was able to look out the window and judge my driver’s driving. I would be interested to know why it is that all non-first world countries drive like maniacs. How does it work there and not at home? Crazy. Speed limits were obviously optional here.

Hostel was fine although I’d been given a top bunk which was super high from the floor. Just had to hope I didn’t need the loo in the night.

Which, of course I did. I woke at 4am and after a couple of episodes of eastenders and the Christmas special of Call the Midwife, I finally braved the stairs down to the floor which weren’t as bad as they looked – ie I survived. Back to bed for a little more sleep.

Tuesday 29th December. 

I woke up for the second time at 11:45 and figured I should probably get up. I had arranged to meet a friend for lunch at 3 (Guatemalans dine late it seems) so I still had a few hours to explore.

Lunch with Pedro was at a local restaurant which sold various different dishes from the area. I chose a 3 meat curry – chicken, beef and I think pork, accompanied with some guacamole and rice. Nom.

After a leisurely lunch we headed out to find a bar called Earth Lodge. It took a while to find as people were sending us on a wild goose chase. We finally arrived and it was certainly worth the wait. The view was spectacular.

We sat outside with our drinks and as it got dark, we could see the volcano erupting in the distance which was amazing to watch. Taking pictures of it though was almost impossible! We even felt a small earthquake as it errupted!

I found out that you could also stay there and was gutted I couldn’t as it would have been an amazing view to wake up to! We had parked the car in the car park which was only a 10 minute walk away. Unfortunately for me though the walk to the lodge had been ten minute down hill so when we left to drive back to Antigua, it was then obviously a ten minute walk uphill and the incline was insane. I would not recommend that walk to anyone. Ever. Especially after 5 glasses of wine and in flip flops. Horrific. I’d rather climb the steps in China! I almost vommed. 
The lodge was beautiful though so if I ever return, I will definitely stay there, although I will not be bringing luggage. They even had tree houses you could stay in!

After there we drove back to Antigua and spent the rest of the evening at a rooftop bar. Very enjoyable. This is what travelling is for.

Wednesday 30th December. 

Wednesday was a slow day as the wine (and the g&ts on the rooftop) began to take its toll. I could also have done with a few more hours sleep! I was meeting the rest of the group tonight for my next tour so I spent a couple of hours over lunch (chicken and chips – glorified nandos) with a few beers and then back to the hotel for a quick nap.

Thursday 31st December.

Thursday morning we were leaving for Honduras. There’s a total of 16 of us in the group, 17 with the guide, Ronny. It’s a good group with everyone being a similar age. Given that I was super unprepared for this trip, I needed to get cash out. So a couple of the others and I went to find the cash machine. At first, my card didn’t work although Tom just said the machines were temperamental so I kept trying and after a few attempts on 3-4 machines, I finally had cash. Even though we were moving onto Honduras, the cash machines in Antigua were apparently safer than those in Honduras so I got enough to last the next week or so! A few days later though, I did find $180 in an envelope which I had stashed in my bag from the China part of the trip. Great find!

It was a long drive to Copán just over the border. We had lunch at a restaurant with a pool and had to change buses as the brakes on the old bus were broken! We got to Copán late but with enough time to go to dinner and see in the New Year!

  
Friday 1st January 2016. 
The next morning I felt a little worse for wear but as there had been some devil children screaming outside the window from about half 7 in the morning, a few of us still managed to get up and explore the Mayan ruins. The Copán ruins are a UNESCO world heritage site and there was the longest hieroglyphic stairway there which was impressive. There was a lot of climbing and as I had a couple of near death experiences as I tripped over a tree root, I began to feel a little health and safety might not go amiss!

On the way back to the hotel, we saw some macaws which were amazing. They are so colourful (and so loud!)

The evening was spent at the Luna Jaguar hot springs. To get there we had to drive an hour and a half in the back of a pick up truck. Unfortunately I was on the end and got majorly squished every time the truck braked! It was a very scenic drive though so totally worth it!

The springs were amazing (and, unlike the ones in Japan, we didn’t have to be naked (and they also weren’t as ridiculously hot!). The pool we were in was bath temperature and was so relaxing. As we had opted for a bbq for dinner, we also had some nachos and some delicious cheesy dip. Sitting in hot springs with rum and coke and nachos, was the perfect way to spend an evening!

Dinner was also super tasty although it did start to rain slightly which, although fine for food as we were under cover, it did not bode well for the drive back and as it got worse, we were soaked!! Bed couldn’t come soon enough!

Saturday 2nd January. 

Unfortunately the morning after, we were up at 5am for a crazy long travel day to Roatan, an island in the Caribbean. Four hours on a bus to then change to get on another bus for four hours. The first bus wasn’t too bad as we all managed to get seats but as more people got on and had to stand, they looked uncomfortable standing on a coach in that heat! I was sat next to my room buddy, Tess, and we decided to offer part of our chair to one of the small kids who were forced to stand. Although it was a nice thing to do, it did result in is being horrifically uncomfortable for an hour or so! Not enough space for two adults and a small child on those seats!

At the change over, we ran into the mall there to use the toilet. It was interesting to see the number of armed security patrolling the place – wasn’t sure whether to be concerned or not!

The next bus was much more roomy but after a couple of hours, the journey slowed substantially as the driver had to get out to poor water over the engine every so often to cool it down. Eventually after some other toying with the engine, we got off the bus and got taxis to the ferry terminal.

The ferry was an hour and a half and although miraculously I wasn’t, a number of people were ill. The staff were very good though and seemed to have a sixth sense for it and cleaned up things super quickly. I sat outside with a breeze and watched the sunset before I slept the rest of the journey!

After the ferry, we still had a short drive to the hotel so dinner was a quiet one with Mexican food on the beach before bed. 

Sunday 3rd January. 

Sunday morning a few of us were going snorkelling as it was the perfect day. The water was clear and the water not choppy. Very enjoyable. Other than the sunburn I ended up with!
After relaxing at a bar in West Bay after snorkelling and a good few margaritas later, a couple of us went to the beach after dinner at a Thai restaurant to look at the stars.

Monday 4th January. 

Monday morning was much less sunny and I wasn’t feeling fantastic – blamed on the ice in the margaritas! As a result any plans to go diving were a definite no for me which was a shame but all diving was cancelled in the end due to bad weather :(. My ears had also hurt a little when I free dived on Sunday so it was probably for the best!

Instead we went to the beach for a little while until it started to rain. And oh my did it rain. The heavens opened and we ran back to the hotel. Not wanting to waste the afternoon though, Tess, Krystal and I decided to don our rain gear and umbrellas and head to the butterfly farm which we thought looked not to far away.

On route we stopped for lunch and waited for the rain to subside. After it eased a little, we started the short walk to the butterfly farm. Half an hour later, we were still walking and the of course the rain started again. We stopped to ask for directions and we kept going. Ten minutes later, with wet rubbed feet from flipflops and a lack of confidence in directions, we gave up and got a taxi back to the hotel. At least we tried.

Krystal went to her room for a nap before dinner and Tess and I headed back to our room. Tess took the time to read while I took the first shower. Just as I was enjoying my shower and washing out the conditioner, Tess started banging on the door telling me to get out the shower. Wondering what was wrong, I turned off the shower and grabbed my towel. I came out to find water pouring from the ceiling and the floor flooded. Fortunately Tess had been able to move my clothes out the way so little got wet but it was definitely time for a new room!

Our new room was a floor up so to save dragging my back pack up, I left my big bag in Ellie and Gregs room and took an overnight bag up. What a nightmare.

A few of us went to dinner at an Argentinian restaurant which was good. I had a Caribbean salad and shared a bottle of Malbec. Delish.

As we left the restaurant, we found that again, it was pouring down with rain. This time we had no rain gear and no umbrellas so we ran to the bar, aptly named Booty Bar. I was soaked through. Yak. And I did not dry so I partied soaked to the bone. Nice. Tequila made it better though. 

Tuesday morning we were off to Nicaragua for some more lagoons and volcanos! Bring on the sunshine!