Wow long time since I did a blog!!

Well after we did the ruins at Tikal in Guatemala, which were fascinating and very picturesque, we went down to a place called Semuc Champey in the middle of the country. We stayed in the middle of the mountains for a few days, our hostel was so relaxing next to a river u could swim in, had a great bar and the rooms were in huts on stilts! Met some awesome people there including a group of Americans, one of which, a Texan, was hilarious! The main attraction is a limestone bridge, which has about 5 clear freshwater pools on top of it, cascading into one another. Waterfalls too! A very beautiful place. We also went caving, holding a wax candle above out heads for light, even when swimming and climbing waterfalls! Health and safety was non existent haha!

We then made our way down to Antigua, which is a lovely colonial city near Guatemala City. A very pretty place with old churches, and it's got a massive volcano towering over it! Lots of nice restaurants and shops. It's even got a McDonalds, so we had a few! We then made our way to Lake Atitlan, where we stayed a few days, visiting a huge busy market town called Chichicastenegro. Got a few souvenirs there!

After visiting the lake, we came back to Antigua and had a pretty wild night out there. The next day wasnt spent doing much! Have met some great people along the way though. We then got long bus ride to the border with Honduras, where we crossing in to a town called Copan Ruinas. There we walked round the huge Mayan ruins, where there is a stairway up one of the temples covered in a heiroglyphic history of the city. Very impressive! All in the jungle too so I definitely felt like Indiana Jones!

We then moved on quickly, as the town kept having random powercuts which lasted ages! Arrived in La Ceiba for the night where we got the ferry over to Utila, one of the Bay Islands. It is like paradise here! Clear waters, barrier reef just off the beaches. We decided to go do the Padi open water diving course with a company recommended to us called Captain Morgans. Unlike the rest of the companies, their accommodation is off the main island on some keys called Jewel Key. No Mosquitos or sand flies here and it's cooler. Less busy, and closer to the better dive sites! It really is stunning here, we had already done 3 dives and they have been awesome! Seen some barracuda, lots of multicoloured fish and some lion fish too! Thinking about doing the advance course whilst I am here too! We shall see.

Paul