Hey whoever reads this thing,
It's Nuri now, blogging from Guatemala City.
WHAT?! I thought Erika was traveling in Guatemala and Nuri was working at the job that he has!!!
Calm down, there's no need for Caps Lock. But I did not think I was going to end up here. Here's the deal:
Erika had to go to the hospital when her ear infection got really, really, really painful. Apparently the first night of excruciating pain without adequate painkillers was a nightmare, and it's been getting gradually but not immediately better since then. Major, major, major props to our hero Yonit, who helped Erika through the first and subsequent nights/days of pain, and got her into what we have since found out is arguably the best hospital in Central America. Yonit slept on a couch in the hallway of the hospital for like 2 nights, and with her mix of street-smarts and medicine-smarts was probably the best possible person to have been here with Erika. Total all-star.
But Yonit had to go back to the US yesterday (Thursday), and I was chosen by the Erika's Well-Being Committee consisting of me and Erika's parents to get myself down here to take over and make sure Erika wasn't sick, drugged up, and alone in a foreign country. That decision was made Wednesday afternoon -- by Thursday morning I was in a hospital in Guatemala City.
Here's the update you're all waiting for: Erika's still in pain, moving a little slowly, and definitely not 100%, but the doctor said we can leave the hospital so we're on our way out, armed with the appropriate anti-bacterials, painkillers, and quadruplicate bills for insurance companies and the like. We're going to try to have fun with this and stay at the fanciest hotel in Guatemala City, which will only cost ~$130 / night, which is a lot for Guatemala but not a lot from my perspective for a hotel that looks like this: http://www.caminoreal.com.gt/index_westincr.cfm.
This city is dangerous, but we may do some limited exploring by taking registered taxis and sticking to very touristy destinations as we've done in Bogota.
The doctor said Erika will be able to fly on Sunday, but we'll see... we're checking in with him tomorrow, and we'll provide more on this as it develops.
Erika has asked me to mention that she has stuff leaking out her ear, which she has to constantly dab at like a sick old person. That is all.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Trouble In Paradise
On Saturday we moved on to Lake Atitlan to meet up with John and Katie (his girlfriend). After swerving through the mountains in a mini bus without shocks we arrived in Panajachel. The minute I start walking to the boat to take us to San Marcos and our hotel Aaculaax, I get my chest grabbed by a local. What do I do? Well, I punched him in the head and gave him a few choice words.
The boat to San Marcos was frightening. It was packed with people, locals and tourists alike. The water was ridiculously choppy and we were in the front so every time we went up we smacked the water on the way down. It was the worst rollercoaster ride in the world. Like a really bad log flume.
Our hotel Aaculaax was beatiful and very luxurious for the area. There was stained class everywhere and purified water waiting for us.
Meeting up with John and Katie was fun. They had a bunch of stories to tell at dinner.
During this time I´m getting a sore throat. It wasn´t much on Saturday night, but it has evolved into one of the most painful illnesses I´ve ever had. TOTAL bummer. When my nose finally cleared, all the pressure moved to my ear. At least I´m in a beautiful and relaxing place where anti biotics are over the counter. But, how did I know which antibiotic to take? Let me get there...
This morning I woke up feeling a little better so Yonit and I continued with our plan to Paraglide. For those of you who don´t know what that is it´s basically the dumbest thing you can do next to skydiving. We were taken up a winding road to the top of a mountain, strapped into a harness with a pilot strapped in with us, and told to run off the cliff. I went first. It was a beautiful ride over the lake and the local town. The weather was perfect and the sun was shining. Then, we crashed. Yup. We crashed. Face first into the dirt. See, the wind picked up as we were about to touch down and there was no way to run with it and land smoothly. We crashed and were dragged a few feet by the parachute. Thankfully, I have no broken bones, only a few scratches that were immediately disinfected for me. BUT, what really sucked (besides the shock and terror of crashing) was that all of the bad stuff in my sinuses few up into my ear and I wasn´t able to hear and felt tremendous pain. But, we landed at one of the pilot´s houses and his wife, luckily a nurse, gave me all sorts of stuff and recommendations for how to get better. Including what antibiotic to take.
Hopefully this ear issue will go away before we head to John´s site in the mountains tomorrow.
Love,
Eri
The boat to San Marcos was frightening. It was packed with people, locals and tourists alike. The water was ridiculously choppy and we were in the front so every time we went up we smacked the water on the way down. It was the worst rollercoaster ride in the world. Like a really bad log flume.
Our hotel Aaculaax was beatiful and very luxurious for the area. There was stained class everywhere and purified water waiting for us.
Meeting up with John and Katie was fun. They had a bunch of stories to tell at dinner.
During this time I´m getting a sore throat. It wasn´t much on Saturday night, but it has evolved into one of the most painful illnesses I´ve ever had. TOTAL bummer. When my nose finally cleared, all the pressure moved to my ear. At least I´m in a beautiful and relaxing place where anti biotics are over the counter. But, how did I know which antibiotic to take? Let me get there...
This morning I woke up feeling a little better so Yonit and I continued with our plan to Paraglide. For those of you who don´t know what that is it´s basically the dumbest thing you can do next to skydiving. We were taken up a winding road to the top of a mountain, strapped into a harness with a pilot strapped in with us, and told to run off the cliff. I went first. It was a beautiful ride over the lake and the local town. The weather was perfect and the sun was shining. Then, we crashed. Yup. We crashed. Face first into the dirt. See, the wind picked up as we were about to touch down and there was no way to run with it and land smoothly. We crashed and were dragged a few feet by the parachute. Thankfully, I have no broken bones, only a few scratches that were immediately disinfected for me. BUT, what really sucked (besides the shock and terror of crashing) was that all of the bad stuff in my sinuses few up into my ear and I wasn´t able to hear and felt tremendous pain. But, we landed at one of the pilot´s houses and his wife, luckily a nurse, gave me all sorts of stuff and recommendations for how to get better. Including what antibiotic to take.
Hopefully this ear issue will go away before we head to John´s site in the mountains tomorrow.
Love,
Eri
Friday, April 10, 2009
Semana Santa
Today we saw the religious processions go through the street. Before they arrive people perfect
"carpets" on the street. They use colored sands, flowers, foods and decorations to cover the ground. Then, the procession comes, first with men in purple robes to go over all of it. After a few hundred men in purple robes and clouds of incense pass, the "floats" begin- they show different stations of the cross and the apostles. There are also people dressed up as Romans that march through complete with red tufts, leather sandals and silver (painted) sheilds. Then the big one comes with a huge, flayed and crucified Jesus on top. There are about 30 men underneath holding it and a band behind. The band plays the saddest song ever totally out of tune which adds to the eery scene.
Then, the women come, veiled in black. They walk down the sides of the street in lines. Behind them follows a huge float with Mary on it, carried by 30 women. Behind them, children carry smaller effigies of various people I couldn't identify. All of which came from a central church. It was wild!
Foods I ate that are gross- boiled yuca in plastic bag with tomato paste and dried anchovies.
Food that is good- pupusa. Corn meal patty with cheese.
"carpets" on the street. They use colored sands, flowers, foods and decorations to cover the ground. Then, the procession comes, first with men in purple robes to go over all of it. After a few hundred men in purple robes and clouds of incense pass, the "floats" begin- they show different stations of the cross and the apostles. There are also people dressed up as Romans that march through complete with red tufts, leather sandals and silver (painted) sheilds. Then the big one comes with a huge, flayed and crucified Jesus on top. There are about 30 men underneath holding it and a band behind. The band plays the saddest song ever totally out of tune which adds to the eery scene.
Then, the women come, veiled in black. They walk down the sides of the street in lines. Behind them follows a huge float with Mary on it, carried by 30 women. Behind them, children carry smaller effigies of various people I couldn't identify. All of which came from a central church. It was wild!
Foods I ate that are gross- boiled yuca in plastic bag with tomato paste and dried anchovies.
Food that is good- pupusa. Corn meal patty with cheese.
Antigua Guatemala
We arrived late last night and were picked up by a shuttle from the Black Cat Hostal. I´m very happy that we arranged it because the airport is a little nuts and Antigua is a little far from Guatemala City.
When we arrived it was difficult to get into the small city because of all the crowds. People were out and about for the religious festivities so when we were all settled we took a stroll to the beautiful Parque Central. It was all lit up and the full moon was shining bright. There was a delightful foundtain in the center and tons of people were just hanging out. Then we went into the church and explored the gigantic ruins that went on and on. The archs were amazing in the moonlight. We also waited in line to see the catacombs- creepy man.
People were super emotional and I got a little emotional myself.
Today we are heading out to watch the purple robe and incense processions.
When we arrived it was difficult to get into the small city because of all the crowds. People were out and about for the religious festivities so when we were all settled we took a stroll to the beautiful Parque Central. It was all lit up and the full moon was shining bright. There was a delightful foundtain in the center and tons of people were just hanging out. Then we went into the church and explored the gigantic ruins that went on and on. The archs were amazing in the moonlight. We also waited in line to see the catacombs- creepy man.
People were super emotional and I got a little emotional myself.
Today we are heading out to watch the purple robe and incense processions.
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