Today we left Panajachel and headed across the lake to San Pedro and for a day trip to Santiago. Once we got to San Pedro, we quickly found a hostel and headed off to find the boat that would take us on a day trip to Santiago. As soon as we disembarked from a very calm crossing, we were immediately hounded down by one of the many guides who offer to take you to see the famous Maximon...a saint for whom the people of the area have a shrine/idol of in someone's ho...

We arrived into Panajachel after a fairly painless drive from Antigua, which was a little bit like driving through a quarry but on a highway. Unfortunately we had just got off the bus and were looking for somewhere to stay (with heavy backpacks) when the heavens opened and we got absolutely soaked in a downpour. (Suzy: Mum, those trainers were worth every penny...my feet were dry after walking through river like streets!!). We opted for the first place we could ...

So guys and gals, we have come to the end of our month in Antigua...and what a month it has been!! We both agree that it has been the best month so far...despite the sweat, dirt, paint, blood, tears and starvation. We have met some amazing people (Maddy we are REALLY going to miss you!!!), made some great friends and finished building 3 houses for people that you know it is going to help enormously. We have also found the Guatemala families we have been working w...

Yesterday we started our 3rd and final house in a town called Santa Maria de Jesus. It is a much bigger town than the last one we were in and much more diverse in its wealth. The community that we are working in is mainly Mayan families, including the family we are building a house for. The speak Spanish to us and the other guys but they have their own Mayan language that they speak to each other. They tried to teach us a few words but it is incredibly hard as it...

After a very relaxing weekend of doing nothing in Antigua...(reading, wandering round shops, buying a painting, watching a film and eating a yummy bagel at the bagel barn), we started our final week of house building. We have about 8 more volunteers so to make sure all the groups were even Ian I had to change groups. We were a bit disappointed as this means we won't be working with Maddy for the final week, and we had a really good wee team! However, it's great t...