Sunrise on Volcan San Pedro, sounds like a good idea, was a good idea but at 1:15am it wasn't as good. We left with our guide nicolas at 2am with head tourches to start the walk from town. San pedro is just on the side of the volcano with one small flatter area for the market. Along a road or two, pissing off a few dogs, one following us for a while and people letting off the 'bombas' at 2am... And many times later while people would be asleep.
Onto small dirt tracks which politely could be explained as stairs. It was like this by head touch for over 3.5 hours. Had about 3 stops for 1 minute and 1 stop for a banana and water. It was really hard work, a few times when you have to question what the hell you are doing at 4 or 5 in the morning. The top made it all worth it. Just Sarah and I on the top with our guide making a little fire. At over 3000m, it was -2*C to -5*C the guide explained. Just as the sun rose, 2 more people arrived. Photos and panorama hopefully uploads.

The walk down was crushing. We came down most of the way, and then detoured for an hour on slippery slopes that were not actual paths. Sarah and I were both ready to walk on the roads and give the knees a bit of a break. We ended up to the west of the city and not the north. It has spelt out the plans for hikes.

Got home at around 11am, shadows of our former selves. This is the start of our last day in San Pedro.
Ran a few errands, had our last lunch and dinner with the family.... It was church night so we didn't even see most of the family. I know I'll miss them, they were a weird bunch at the start but when we had time with people alone they opened up more and attempted conversation. The mother rosa and vilma got a big smile when we came in to the kitchen happy, the eldest son (and husband of vilma) was an amazingly patient guy who always had time for us. The three middle girls were great at time and moody at others and the youngest, billy (12 I think) was like all kids in home stays and was great to attempt conversations with.

The loud kitten that never shuts up during meal times won't really be missed, but the fights it had with oso were really funny. I think oso ( the tiny puppy, jack russel cross maybe) will be most missed. That little guy could make you laugh yourself silly. He couldn't even run on the tiles with the backed flying out, picking fights he could never win and just a general adorable puppy.

We met up with a few friends at Buddha bar for a liter or 2 of beer, mojitos and a brownies. A mate Ian who in earlier pictures had dreadlocks and a massive beard ( no haircut in 2years since leaving the US army!!), cut them out and shaved. Could not recognise him for a good ten minutes. Most people had finished lessons along with us. Ian and Leslie (US) had 4 weeks, shanty (French Canadian) and Mel had a few. Other friends had already left.

The morning bus trip we met the bus in a car park... I nut missing and a small amount of break fluid sprayed through the inside of the wheel... Could be a problem under pressure in a hilly environment if it was to get bigger. I would not want to go down into San Pedro in that bus. Just over half way the familiar beeping sound from my first car 'free-bé' came on when we were breaking. That car I had to top it up ever 20kms, almost cost more for brakes as it did for petrol. We made it safely in Guatemalan style; after stopping to run errands for the driver and his favourite food places on the way, just for him and the guide.

Andrew