Its all fun and games till the waves get big

We have found a great spot here at Playa Mizata in El Salvador. The people here are super friendly, bringing many local treats fresh from the forest (mangoes and coconuts) and from the ocean (oysters and lobster!). Perhaps most important, they included us in the tubing extravaganza!!!!!!! Who
needs a boat!!!

IT WAS SO FUN!

Abandon Ship!

Slammed.

The crashes were so fun!!!

We had tons of fun and everyone came out of the water smiling. Today however, was a little different story. Shona was the first one out and had a little chill time before the waves showed up.

Shona catching a small one early in the morning.

As the morning went on the waves got way bigger, and our excitement grew tremendously. If you look closely, I think you can see Shona's board as she was tubed out. Trust me, she's in there.

 

Unfortunately, she didn't come outta that one unscathed. The fin of her board caught her on the shin pretty good.

Kelly McB, you're lucky yours was only a little one compared to this one.......

Project number one of the day. Fix up Shona.

We both agreed that the steri-strips would do after some careful consideration about pulling out the needle and thread.......

We did get it looking quite good and in fact got the skin back together quite securely. No worries moms.... After a little break it was on to project #2 of the day...... Fixing the board.

Shona and the surfboard repaired, it was a very exciting day to say the least!!!!

El Salvador

So after a heavy week of some intense spanish lessons, we headed back

to Antigua just in time for Kahung's birthday. Celebrated in true

hispanic style, the pinata was the main even!!

The little guys always seem to score the loot!

Some hormigas (ants) decided to take a free ride from the beach to the 

mountains in Kumu. Unfortunately for them, it was a very costly trip....

El Impossible" National Park was our first stop in El Salvador. The 

name was more suitable than you could ever imagine. Let's just say we 

didn't get too far once inside the gate.

Filling our propane from a smaller tank with no more pressure than in smaller tank than ours? Anyone? Anyone?

In convoy Bella (van) Sarah and Marc, on our way to the Playa 

Mizata..... quite the little surfer's paradise.... In town today to 

restock and then back for some more great surf!

On our quest for fish and a sweet sunset

Testing out Andrew's spear to try and get some dinner.

Shona really likes her shoes.

The attempt for fish was a little weak due to very strong currents.

Enjoying the view in style

Not a bad spot to say "see ya" to the day.

Guatemala Pictures

A few pictures from the last week in Guatemala!

The mercado right at the Mexico/Guatemala... Maybe not the best idea to cross on Market day! Ooops!

Public transport in Guatemala... Known locally as chicken busses. To drive this bus I think you must be registered as clinically insane with an intense need for speed.

In Panajachel for New Years Eve

People watching while eating dinner. Kids everywhere were playing with fireworks and they didn't stop for about two days. It sounded like a war zone the entire night!

One of the three volcanoes surrounding Lake Atitlan

Indigenous woman hanging out at the Lake

We met up with our friends Kahung, Mel and Dante for afternoon in Antigua before heading to school in Montericco and surprised Dante with a late Christmas present. He was so stoked!

 Arriving in Montericco on a weekend during the Christmas holidays was a tad overwhelming... luckily the crowds cleared out on Monday and we were able to study in relative peace... minus the roosters crowing and the dogs barking

Bliss

Roxana, the daughter of Andrew's homestay family. 

Hanging out at Dansu Gelato watching a whale shark just off the beach while the sunset. Amaing

Andrew and Jorge intensely studying 

Allison and I with our homestay family. Annavela and Pablo... and terri the cute little puppy

School for a week was intense! But I can think of worse places to learn!

Back in Antigua we are spending the weekend with Dante, Mel and Kahung before we part ways tomorrow as we are El Salvador bound!

New Year, New Country, New Language

The last week has been a bit of a trip and we have been pretty busy so it has been a struggle to find time to upload pictures and to write!
We drove into Guatemala on New years eve morning. That was excitement in itself. We only learned that day that it was market day at the border and most people are warned not to cross because it is so crazy... crazy may be an understatement, but we managed to get through all the paperwork in just under an hour so i guess it wasnt too bad.

We spent New Years on the shores of Lake Atitlan, surrounded by towering volcanoes and watching fireworks go off all around the perimeter of the lake at midnight. we danced in the new year to a wicked reggae band and discussed all the highs and lows of 2010. We aknowledged the fact that 2010 was a HUGE year for both of us, and are truly looking forward to all that 2011 has to offer.
We made a quick pitstop in Antigua where we ran into our friends Kahung, Mel and Dante, made some plans to see them again this weekend and drove to the coast where we are spending a week in school. Spanish school. We are on day three of 5 and I think my brain is close to bursting. However the 4 hours a day are very intense and I think I is really going to help us in the future. Andrew has a pretty good grasp of languages, so he is picking it up a bit faster than I am, but I have to say that I am impressing myself for the most part, even though I have the most strict teacher! While Andrew and Jorge are laughing and discussing babes losing bikinis on the beach, Rosa is correcting my every mistake and loading me up with pages of homework every night!!! All i can hope is that it pays off! Montericco (the town we are staying in) us very hot and very chill. They are really proud of thier rare four eyed fish that live in the canal behind the town. Also of thier jesus lizards who can run on water.
Checking my email today was a huge mix of feelings as I discovered that our good friends Ally and Andrew are getting married!! (CONGRATS) And also was informed of Kelly McBrooms terrible crash. Our hearts go out to Kelly, we wish her the best of best of luck and we hope that all the surgeries go well and we can see or talk to her soon!
Sorry for the lack of photos but hopefully the next post will have more.
I hope everyone rang in the new year with a few adult beverages and lots of laughter!
Hasta Luego

Oaxaca City

We have spent the last three nights in the city of Oaxaca in Oaxaca state. It is a beautiful town nestled in a valley surrounded by lush mountains. The main tourist attraction here is Monte Alban. The first urban style dwelling in all of America! Talk about historic! It was really amazing to walk around the ruins and imagine what life would have been like in 500 B.C.!! I definitely had a hard time imagining it. Our visit here was a little longer than expected as we had some minor van problems. At first we believed our fuel filter was all bunged up, but after changing it we discovered that it was not the problem after all. After a stressful day of googling and troubleshooting we were still clueless as to the next action to take.

We finally resorted to taking Kumu to a mechanic near our campground. Andrew and the mechanic took the van for a drive to show him what the problem was. Right away he seemed to know how to fix it, so we left the van with him for a couple hours while we explored the extensive markets in the city.

When we returned to pick up the van the receptionist informed us the mechanic had left for the day and we couldnt talk to him. That aroused our suspicions as the receptionist asked how we would like to pay. When the bill came to only 46 dollars canadian and the woman informed us that everything was bueno, we figured how bad can it be? When we started Kumu up she purred like a kitten, better than she has sounded for a few thousand miles! Hooray for Mexican skill. We have yet to take her on a long drive but today is the day! 

Never the less we are looking forward to moving on and hope to be in Guatemala in a few days! Yahoooo!

Andrew changing the fuel filter in the Auto parts Parking lot

Monte Alban

Seeking some shade from the fierce sun.

Chilling on the Mayan steps

Monte Alban

While waiting for the van we stumbled across a skating rink!! in Mexico!!! amazing!! It was highly entertaining and we watched for over an hour as people tried our Canada's favorite sport

I love this picture. Skating with a palm tree in the background while the medics waiting patiently for the carnage to eventually occur.

Good times in the mercados

An Oaxacan specialty: Roasted, seasoned grasshoppers.

Mmmm grasshoppers

The meat section of the mercado. Everyone selling the exact same thing. Maybe if they spread out a bit they would have better luck? Who knows?

Old school weaving in the Artesanias Mercado.