Pacaya, Guatemala
November 23rd, 2007
Woke up ridiculously early to climb Pacaya yesterday.
It was a day-long affair that would’ve been far less painful had I not been hungover and running on 3 hours of sleep.
As I lamented having drank that last cuba libre, I remember looking up, seeing the smoldering volcano in front of me, and completely forgetting everything.
Pacaya is still active. Still seeping lava, lighting up the evenings with its shows. Still, they let us walk right up to the lava.
I mean right up to it. We were only yards away from the sloth-like flow of molten lava. Beneath that mound behind us there was bright orange lava that would peek out every so often to remind us of why it felt like we were walking across Hades.
It was hot and dusty. There was no sure footing when you walked on the crater. We used walking sticks to check the rocks before we stepped on them, to make sure we wouldn’t fall. Those rocks are like glass and will riddle your hands with tiny cuts. Oh, and it was damn hot, too. The heat radiated through our shoes and up our jeans. Every so often, you would get a blast of heat that made it almost difficult to breathe. Something tells me this wasn’t all totally safe. Safety, schmafety - those kinds of rules are far more lax out here in Guatemala.
It was totally worth the early wake-up call, the myriad of blisters on our feet, and the sore legs. It was worth all that and more for the chance to feel like you were on the edge of the world for a while.
Hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving!
Antigua, Guatemala
November 21st, 2007
After a long nap, I got myself showered and took a long walk around the town.
Had lunch with friends - homemade sangria and discussions about the current state of affairs in the US.
Had an hour-long massage, came out smelling like cloves and cinnamon and everything delicious. I feel like a million Quetzales.
Dead sheep as art
November 13th, 2007
I was still feeling like poop this morning, so I decided to do something about it. I went to class, drank gallons of hot tea, and then headed out to Park Ave to see the latest Hirst installation at Lever House.
First of all, let me tell you how much I adore installation art. There’s something about walking through a piece of art, of standing in front of something and realizing that you’re actually surrounded by it on all sides. And Hirst? He’s a sick, sick genius who doesn’t skimp on the details.
The exhibit is free at the Lever House until February. If you have a few minutes, stop by and at least check out “The Virgin Mother” out front. Beautiful.
But, inside…ooh, inside the lobby you get thrust into this crazy world where sheep carcasses floating in formaldehyde are fed through tubes and sit in suspended animation during a lecture. Seriously.
Then, there’s the shark at the back of the classroom. Go…take a big whiff. You’ll know what I mean if you go.
The exhibit is fabulous in all its excesses. What’s up with the glasses of water? And that one empty one? Or the ash trays? And the dunce chair? People, it’s FREE. Yeah, it’s gory and kinda disturbing, but that’s the point, no? To make you uncomfortable by taking you out of what you know. By making you see things in a different light.
If nothing else, it gives you a chance to think, “Well, things could be worse. I could be that side of beef on display.”
I never learn my lesson
November 1st, 2007
I signed up for NaBloPoMo, again. I enjoyed it last year. Honest. But, this year, I’m thinking that this may not be the best idea. I walk this fine line between how much of myself to put on this blog, and realizing that this is for ME, so screw it, you know?
Anyways, I’m also going away for five days during Thanksgiving (to Guatemala!!) As I typed that, my face nearly broke off from the humongous grin that stretched across it. I cannot wait to get the hell outta here and see my friends, lay in a hammock all morning reading Neruda while sipping coffee, and climbing volcanoes to watch the sunset in the afternoons. Did I mention I also have papers and mid-terms and thesis statements and graduate program applications and…yeah, this is going to be fun.
Last night, as we were making our way home from our yearly candy-begging expedition, I looked up and saw this:
It was cotton candy in the sky.
Tomorrow, an FO. The days following that…um, dunno.
Full circle
September 25th, 2007
Both of us, around 12 months.
Both of us, around 12 on Friday.
