Letter to myself:

Dear Philippa,

If in the future you ever decide to climb the highest mountain in Central America, or any mountain in that case; please, please, please, DO NOT go out the entire week before you go. You will regret it.

Good luck with this challenge,

Yourself.

DIGRESSION:

Last week was a HOT MESS. It was great fun and a lot of work, as we all headed back to the Peace Corps office near Antigua for Reconnect, celebrating our 3rd month in site and our 6th month in country. We all stayed at a really cheap hostel called 58B (it's actually just the address, the hostel itself doesn't really have a name) and had a great time. However, we also worked really hard as we had more training and spanish class. We did however party just as hard as we worked, as it's very rare that our entire training group is together. Anyway - I headed home on Saturday (not feeling 100% - and the LONG, BUMPY camioneta ride did not help - it takes about 6 or 7 hours to get home from Antigua).

Anyway I get home, totally exhausted - pick up my kitten from Ferney's, make some food, pack for sunday, chat with the family and pass out.

On Sunday I was up at 5 AM - grab my bag and head out to catch the bus, still feeling a bit off (I'm def. not 18 anymore). We make it to San Marcos (after a short stop in Xela for food and supplies) and prepare to hike Tajumulco, the highest mountain in Central America.

This is us at the bottom, before the pain.



We had big packs, as it gets really, really cold at the top and I was therefore exhausted and winded after about five minutes of walking. As it's an old volcano, so it is all uphill. ALL OF IT.

We walk for about 4-5 hours (I'm about to die) before we get to base-camp. We set up the tents, make a fire, eat some food and pass out.

Monday morning we wake up at 4 AM, and with flashlights in hand head up to the peak in time for sunrise. At this point I'm exhausted and sore from the day before, and thinking what on God's green earth, could be worth this amount of pain.

Then we get to the top and see this:





And I think...oh, wow, this was WAY worth it, and although I'm still in a bit of pain, I feel like this:



It was a GREAT hike, painful, long, but great, and here's a group shot of us all at the top, because we made it!!