Onto the second country!

We took a 15 dollar bus ride from Santa Ana, El Salvador to Guatemala City. It was a three hour ride but with traffic it ended up taking close to four. The ride was filled with beautiful scenery. I had my music and journal to keep me occupied. From Guatemala city we took a 45 minute bus ride to Antigua. The driving here is pretty unreal. Buses have no shame here and will go down streets you don't even think it is possible for them to fit but they somehow make it work! its crazy! 


My dad is my perfect travel partner. We are both so easy going and go with the flow individuals. We just laugh to each other about all the craziness we have experienced. We are having a better time then we could have ever imagined. These last few days have been filled with so much excitement and new experiences. I have yet to stop smiling! :)


Once in Antigua we met up with our next couch surfer who was Greg who owns a bagel shop in the downtown area.

Antigua, Guatemala -- Definitely in my top 5 favorite places I have ever been.

Greg's house blew me away it was a 5 bedroom, 4 bath, yoga/meditation room, office, sauna, heavenly place! It is like we are at a spa -- it is so beautiful/serene! The old president of Guatemala (who is now the Mayor of Antigua) lives around the corner from him if that gives you any idea of how incredible of an area he lives in. 

The sauna--neatest sauna I've ever been in.

Yoga/meditation room

Greg and my Dad

First night in Antigua-- enjoyed wine and movie night

Our first night we just enjoyed wine and movies in his Moroccan themed room. Tom we watched Horrible Bosses since I knew you were watching it without me at home. It was an okay movie.. The beginning was funny but then it kinda dragged on. However, the night was very relaxing and fun. The conversation was nonstop and so stimulating! I loved it!

Our second day was one of the best days I have ever had-- so I will go into a play by play of all that we did. We started our morning at The Bagel Barn, which Greg owns. It was a delicious breakfast followed by shopping in the downtown shops and local vendors. I got a bunch of great gifts for friends back home! I was trying to get a lot of stuff that I can send back with my Mom and Taylor when we see them in Belize. 

After shopping we went to some of the different hotels and enjoyed the architecture of all the buildings. We had lunch on the hill at an amazing restaurant that overlooks all of Antigua. Antigua is a 10 by 10 little town filled with life and color.

Okay I will finish on our day later because now we are off to Lake Atitlan! :)

To finish about our day in Antigua-- Our lunch on the hill included, pizza, burgers, and salads. It was delicious food and an outstanding view. 

When we got back to Greg’s we decided to light up the sauna/steam room. It looks like a little oven but it is actually quite spacious inside and so relaxing. It was like being at a spa. Greg cut up aloe leaves to use during our third round in the steam room because it makes the skin extremely soft as well as helps get rid of scars. Greg is a very spiritual, intellectual guy. The sauna/steam room was so nice. I loved it and couldn’t of been more pleased with our stay. 

After we had a homemade dinner and watched another movie. Greg was an extra in Black Hawk Down so we made him show us the scene. It was cool because he told us a lot of background on the movie. I look forward to the day I go back to Antigua. It will definitely be in the near future. I really do love it there and three days was not enough. 

Overlooking Antigua

pupusas-- tortilla with bean and cheese inside.

Our first couchsurfing experience

We have finally experienced our first stay at someones house and it was a GREAT experience. Not only did we get to see multiple sights in one day but the family was extremely hospitable and we could not of asked for a better experience.

We arrived in Santa Ana and were shown around by Christopher (Andres dad) while Andres was at soccer practice. He spoke little English but communicated well. He took us all around Santa Ana. We were able to  see all the sights we had hoped to while we were in Santa Ana.

My Dad getting his sandals shined

We went to Lago De Coatepeque which is a beautiful lake. We had cervezas and enjoyed the view both overlooking the lake and then down on the lake as well.

Christopher and my Dad at Lago De Coatepeque

After we went to the Mayan ruins. It was interesting to see all they had dug up from the site.

Mayan Ruins

After the ruins we enjoyed Yucas which is a traditional El Salvadorian dish. It wasn't my favorite thing but I'm sure if I lived here and ate it more I would like it.


At night we went to dinner with the whole family and enjoyed pupusas at an authentic El Salvadorian restaurant. They were really good. It was Andre's mom- Silvia's birthday. Their family was very welcoming and it felt like we had known them but longer then just a day. The brother Luis, Andres and sister Griselda all spoke great English which was very nice.

After dinner I went out with Andres and his friend Vicente to a bar called Trenchtown. It was a rasta themed bar that was very chill and fun. There was even a fire show. The guy who did the fire show gave me a bracelet before I left. Everyone is just so nice here. I have gotten bracelets from every place I have been so far. I will have quite the collection when I return home.

Andres, Vicente and I at Trenchtown  

It was sad leaving Andres family because we felt so comfortable and welcomed but I look forward to the next house we are going. 

We made it

We have arrived!! We almost missed our second flight because we were both sleeping..Thankfully Sarah was texting me and the noise woke me up. We were 10 mins away from missing it!! So thank you Sarah!

We got picked up by Carol's brother Nielson and future son in law. Right away the communication barrier was a little difficult but all apart of the experience. The people who used to own El Portel downtown Pleasanton- Carol and Mike - its Carol's brother who we are staying with our first two nights in El Salvador.

We drove straight to the beach from the airport. It was about an hour drive. On the way we stopped on the side of the road and got coconut water right from a cocnut with a straw. It was very refreshing. Seeing my Dad in the ocean yesterday was like a kid on Christmas morning. He was having the time of his life. Which is all I can really ask for of this trip. For us to let go and just have the best time we possibly can.


After our swim in the ocean (which is so warm and nice) we ate at a place on the beach. Our first meal was chicken (pollo) which was really good. I am documenting all my food by pictures so those are to come.



Right away several things jumped out at me making me realize I'm not in the States anymore..

1. All the animals on the side of the road- goats, dogs, cows, horses, etc.. But unlike ours these animals are skinny and you can see their ribs.
2. Two young boys walking down the road both holding machetes
3. Everywhere we go the security holds riffles. Which if you know me is my BIGGEST fear. And my dad goes and asks if they have real bullets in the gun. I constantly have a pit in the bottom of my stomach when I'm around them but Nielson was telling us "No guns, no respect."  So its just something I'll have to deal with.

Our first night here we stayed at one of the Mayors vacation houses. It is so cool! Its on a mountain and the views are amazing! I'll be adding pictures when I can. Nielson knows the Mayor and he said we could stay there a few nights. Right when you walk in its a huge bar and big flat screen. There is no running water in the house but it is still nice. It sits on a lot of property and there are hammocks everywhere. Its a pretty sweet deal to me. This country is so pretty and lush and green! :)

The bar at the house... 118 bottles of alcohol

These are the pets the Mayor had at his casa...

 An Alligator

A raccoon 

Way of life here does not look anything like it does at home. I'm enjoying being in the rural aeas but still somehow lucking out with the place we're staying.

For our first shower we were taken to a river with a small bucket to use. The water was stagnant and we both faked washing and opted out for staying dirty until we arrived in Santa Ana.

Okay I have a lot of pictures to come to show what I'm saying. I love this blog because I always journal whenever I go out of the country and now I get to share it as I go.

Adios!

Today is the DAY!

The day is finally here! I can't believe how long I have waited for this trip to happen! :) We depart tonight on a redeye flight to Atlanta then tomorrow fly into San Salvador! We arrive at noon and will have a friend of ours waiting at the airport for us.


Thank you everyone who came to the going away party on Saturday! It was so much fun and so nice to see everyone before we go! We will definitely have to have a coming home one as well! ;) Here are a few pictures from the party!

The traveling partners! We're ready! ;)

Now time to finish packing and get a few errands done before we leave! I'm thankful its a night flight tonight because I definitely have a lot more to get done before we go. Also I am excited to say my next post will be from El Salvador! Hasta luego!

So now that we are leaving for the airport in the next hour my nerves about everything are finally setting in.. I'm anxious, nervous, excited and ready to be there. Thank you Steph and Sarah for all of your help packing today! They didn't think I did a good job so they redid it all and were definitely right! :) You guys are amazing!! I know its only two months but I will definitely be missing my routine life and everyone in it!

 Here we are with all our gear

Let the adventure begin! :) 

5 days till we depart!

I cannot believe we leave in FIVE days!! I feel like this trip has been in the making for over a year and the fact that its almost here is a little unreal! I am looking so forward to arriving and starting it all! I think what I am most excited for is all the food we get to eat! Thats one of my favorite parts of traveling! The different foods in the different countries! I will be taking lots of pictures of the dishes we eat so I will have plenty of those to share! :) I am also looking forward to meeting the people we are staying with! Everyone just seems so awesome and excited for us to come! It is going to be such a one of a kind experience! 

When my friend Sarah saw what I had packed her reaction was "NO WAY MEG- you need to pack more!!" haha! It was a reaction I expected because I really am not packing a lot for the 8 weeks I'll be there but I will manage. The lighter my backpack the better -- we will be moving around a lot! One thing though I am not trying to win any beauty pageant when I'm there and how I look is the least of my worries. I'll be rocking a ponytail and comfortable traveling clothes. However, I can't lie.. I do have Taylor bringing me some dresses and shoes for when they meet us in Belize! :) That part of the trip will be the vacation part --the rest will be pure adventure.

Here is a preview of what I have packed-

One thing I didn't limit is bathing suits. I plan to spend majority of my time on the BEACH! Wether it be surfing, laying out, reading or exploring -- I want to be in a suit in the sunshine! I can't wait to be tan again! :) 

7 days till we leave!

Today is exciting because I just bought a bike off craigslist in Costa Rica! We will be staying in Coco- Costa Rica for a week and found an awesome bike to get while we are there. When we leave we plan on leaving the bike with the family that is hosting us. It is a way for us to thank them and we're leaving it behind for other couch-surfers that stay with them to use. 


Here is the bike-

Pretty cool huh! :) Only about 40 more days until I can actually ride it! 

As it gets closer to the trip I need to send out final emails to all of people we are staying with again to confirm our stay and remind them we are coming! We have heard some surfers say they have been cancelled on right before which worrys me a little but I know that in the end there will always be a hostel to stay in if necessary. Part of the adventure is going with the flow and not letting simple complications throw us off. 


I have planned out all 51 days of our trip. However, I am keeping an open mind to it all though and in fact would be very surprised if everything worked out exactly as planned. I think the plan will continue to get better once we are there and living the adventure.


 These random cold spells were going through is making me that much more excited to put my feet in the sand and have sunshine beaming down on me! I can't wait! I feel so blessed and lucky to be able to share this trip with my dad. We are both so passionate about traveling and the fact that we get to do this together will be a cool bonding experience for us. I like that I really get to know my parents. Not just have them as a parent but a good friend who I can tell you everything about. Hearing my dads stories from when he was my age and his life makes me realize how similar we are! 


Here is a map of what our adventure looks like- I'm kinda a big planner if you can't tell and even though I'm going to need to go with the flow-- I like to have the sense for what to expect and a guide! 

12 days away!

So I am having another night where I can't sleep because I am too excited/anxious for my adventure to start! I thought since I couldn't sleep I would explain my trip a little and also use this as my guide for what else I need to accomplish between now and my departure! :D

We are doing the majority of our trip through couch-surfing. What is couch-surfing you ask? Well its a travelers dream. Its a website for passionate travelers around the world to open up there houses for individuals traveling through the area. Not only is it free to stay but it makes the experience of traveling so much better then just going and staying at a hotel. I get to fully immerse myself in the culture and see how people who live their on a daily basis go about their lives. Pretty cool right? Its a win win to me!

Since learning about couch-surfing in March my dad created and account and has opened our house up for people to stay a night or two. We have an extra bedroom so they aren't really sleeping on a couch. Which is also cool about our trip because the places we have set up are pretty legit. One man lives in a 3 bedroom house and has queen size beds in each room. I'm looking forward to our time here - if you can't tell! All of the couch surfers we have hosted at our house have worked out well. They have been unique experiences and am glad to say we do it. It spices up life a little more!

I must say though couch-surfing is not for everyone. I think it takes a certain personality to do it. All of the people we have lined up so far are the neatest individuals -- very passionate about life, traveling, meeting new people, etc. Another cool thing about it is some them work as tour guides or  in tourism and have promised to show us some cool spots -- so we are scoring big with private tours and free of cost experiences! Talk about economical traveling while still including cool excursions :).

Whelp this is my first post and I can already tell I will be using a lot of smileys. Sorry in advance if its annoying --but I can't help it. I'm just a happy person who is doing what I love and love what I'm doing. :) Another thing you will notice if you are reading my blog is that I tend to ramble a lot. Also if my grammar isn't the best I apologize but I prefer to write my thoughts as if I am talking. And since I am just typing away I am not concerned with punctuation. There those are the three warnings I will give.. Continue reading at your own risk ;)