Helo Everyone, 

Sat on another bus, this time bound for Copan - Honduras, yeah that is right I'm heading back there, I will explain all in this blog.

However first things first, other activities have been had before now.  I visited Tikal, a large set of famous ruins in Guatemala.  I wasn't overly enthusiastic about going as I have seen so many ruins on this trip thus far, however it is one of those must see sites while you are in Guatemala, so it had to be ticked off the list.

Putting my initial reservations aside I was really impressed with the site.  It was vast and probably one of the best sites I have seen in Central America.

I stayed in Flores, a place situated about an hours drive from the site.  There isn't a whole lot happening in Flores itself, however the hostel that I stayed in was pretty cool.  It was called Los Amigos and was pretty popular.  It was packed out, served some good food and had a cool atmosphere, with people playing their guitars and singing.

I was only there for a couple of nights, before shooting off to Lanquin, where I planned to visit Semuc Champey and the caves.  I was hanging around with a mixed group whilst I stayed at Los Amigos, a couple of Canadian guys, one from America and 2 German girls.  They had all been travelling together for a while but were all cool.

During my stay at Los Amigos I also met a couple of really nice Swedish girls, Sandra and Angelika who decided to join me on my trip across to Lanquin, which was a days drive away.  We stayed at a hostel called El Retiro, recommended in the Lonely Planet book.  It was probably the most beautiful place I have stayed, accommodation wise.  It comprises of a series of cabins (dorms), situated amongst the mountains, with a lovely river running right by that's cool for swimming in.

On our arrival my name was called from the bar (which is also pretty cool), it was Lee and Bill, 2 of the guys that I was with in Mexico City, which was pretty awesome.  I've never thought about them being called Lee and Bill, those names are usually coupled together back home for 2 of my good friends.  Lee had randomly contacted me on Facebook the night before saying that they were here, but that they were intending on leaving the following day for Utila, which would be the day that I would arrive, so it was a surprise to see them here.

The hostel runs massive all you can eat buffets which were really nice.  Lee, Bill, the group that they had been travelling with and myself enjoyed the food and drinking games ensued.; it was a nice night and cool to catch up with them.

They left the following morning and Sandra, Angelika and myself went to visit Semuc Champey and the caves.  We met a cool pair of Australians called Bryn and Charlie, who we spent the day with.  It was a really nice place situated in the hills.  We started off by exploring an awesome network of caves by candle light.  We were swimming through sections and climbing waterfalls, it was great fun.  Following a couple of hours in the caves we went on a little trek to see Semuc Champey.

In order to see the wonder that is Semuc Champey in it's entirety, we needed to walk half an hour to a vantage point.  It was a bit of a climb, but well worth it, the view was amazing.  The pictures are unfortunately on the SD card with the missing access file so I will have to post them on Facebook when I get back.  But check out pictures of the place online, it is stunning.  It is basically a load of beautiful lagoons, one after another on numerous levels.  We spent a few hours swimming and messing around there before heading back to the hostel.  The lagoons also have the little fish that clean all of the dead skin from your feet, like the lagoons I was at in Thailand, so if you stay still they will start coming and nibbling.

The days activities were followed by a steak buffet back at the hostel and a few beers.  Oh yeah there was also an Australian guy at the hostel that I met briefly in Tulum.  He gave me some advice on my gammy knee :) it's crazy how many people you bump onto along the way.

The following day Sandra, Angelika and myself headed for Antigua.  We stayed at a hostel called Hostel Hollistico, recommended by some Australians staying with us in Laquin.  The hostel doesn't appear in the Lonely Planet guide as it is fairly new, but it is really nice.  It has a roof terrace with a great view over Antigua, wifi, and a tv with a decent DVD collection.  An American guy called Chris who was on the same bus also joined us there.

That night we all headed to the Rum Bar to meet Amanda and Daniela.  We were also joined by Bryn and Charlie, who we met in Lanquin.  It was great to see Amanda and Daniela again.  Amanda was performing there that night and gave another awesome performance.

She had a flight back to Canada early the following day so unfortunately she didn't join us in Cafe No Se, another cool bar in Antigua that is usually busy.  It was Angelika's birthday the following day so at 12:00 we stepped up the drinking a notch or 2 and got pretty wasted.  Daniela was super happy to have me back in Antigua as all of the cool kids from our crew had left Antigua and she had no one to go out with.  The following night was Angelika's proper birthday night so we bought a huge bottle of rum and mixers and drank that on our roof terrace, which was cool.  It was another pretty messy night.  Last night 21st followed a similar pattern, it was ladies night in Monoloco, which is a famous night in Antigua which everyone goes to.  We know the owner, Victor who was behind the bar, so drinks were on the house for the night.

It was another messy night that was followed by an after party at one of Victors friends houses.  Another great night out in Antigua.

Megan the girl that I am meeting for Christmas sent me a message yesterday saying that she is now spending Christmas in Utila - Honduras, which is basically the other side of Central America.  I was in 2 minds whether to come as I have been with a nice group in Antigua and it would be cheaper, but Lee and Bill are in Utila as well as Megan and it is important to spend Crimbo with a cool group.

That's all for now.  If I don't get another blog in before Christmas, Merry Christmas to you all.

Xxx