Hi everyone! Thanks for your lovely messages. Its so nice hearing from everyone at home. Been at an amazing lake for the last few days-the views are incredible. Lago de Atitlan is a crater of a collapsed volcano with volcanoes surrounding the lake. I really enjoyed the lake with heaps of partying at night and spending the days chilling taking in the spectacular views. Charlotte Tracy was right tho' I only needed a few days here as my clean living ways don't really fit with lake life! Also at the lake I bought some earrings which were 60p and defo would have been 8pounds in Topshop! Also bought some leather bracelets which I'm wearing Sienna Miller style round the top of my arm. So don't fret I don't have any hippie beads yet! I really got my Spanish tested on Monday as I ended up getting a boat on the lake full of Spanish teachers from a local school. As I was the only 'gringo' everyone wanted to talk to me in Spanish and find out all about England. Ohh yeah - forgot to mention that one of the first questions EVERYONE asks is 'are you Catholic?'. Obviously I disappoint them every time! It is also really tricky explaining in Spanish what the 'Church of England' is and even harder to describe the Reformation! On Tuesday I headed off alone to Guate's second biggest town called Xela (pronounced Sheyla). Spent the first day just exploring the town, but on Weds I decided to make Dad proud and cycle to a town called Zenil - 6k from Xela, and then onto some thermal springs -Fuentes Georginas another 8k from Zenil. What a mistake! First I went to hire the bike and the guy in the shop was sooooooo enthusiastic that I am English he wouldn't let me get the bike until I'd answered all his questions about England - this took an hour. By now my early morning start was beginning to be a lunch start. Then he drew me a really sketchy map emphasising everywhere I shouldn't go but not really explaining where I should go - consequently I got lost before I even left Xela. Then the 'gentle hill' he described is actually a main road up a real steep mountain. Within the first 40 mins I was really thinking of ditching the bike - swearing and a few tears were involved. But the story does have a happy ending. Just as I was about to catch the bus I turned the corner and saw an incredible valley with Zenil nestled far below. Thankfully it was downhill all the way and although the thermal springs were really cold, the trip was well worth it. Zenil was definitely the highlight as a couple from the village were getting married and I was invited to watch, which was a brilliant opportunity. Obviously I got the bus back to Xela. Tuesday night I was all set to leave Xela Weds morning but a whole group of us in the hostel headed out to a Salsa club Tues eve and consequently I was far too tired to leave this morning! I was so impressed with the salsa last night, that I've persuaded a few of my friends to go to a salsa class at 6pm tonight - can't wait. Have been speaking lots of Spanish in Xela. For example I sat next to an American guy on the bus and we only spoke in Spanish, I asked directions from an English girl (I can tell cos she was head to toe in topshop) and she only answered in Spanish. My stay in Xela has really been much more of Guatemalan experience than when I was in Antigua. After Xela I'm heading to Coban for the weekend and then on Monday I'm heading north to see the Tikal ruins in the jungle. After which I am heading over to Belize. Belize is totally unplanned, but after seeing Jo,s photos I can't wait to spend 2 days on a tropical beach-yay! Also the boat trip from Belize back into Guate to Livingston is supposed to be great. Am working on uploading my pics Love you all Lindsxxx