tour – Snapping The Globe

Adventures in New Mexico Part 6-Carlsbad, But All’s Good

Heading so far south into New Mexico had me wondering if we had made the right decision going so far out of our way. But, I was told we couldn’t miss one of the state’s natural wonders…

Carlsbad Caverns.

As we headed farther south, we noticed fields of oil wells pumping out their liquid gold, so it was no surprise upon our arrival that many of the hotels, ours included, catered to long-term guests in the petroleum industry. This meant, however, that we were able to secure a larger room with a kitchen and an early breakfast in the morning as many of these workers make these hotels their home away from home.

Since Carlsbad Caverns was located about 20 miles southwest of the city center, we were packed up and grabbing a bite to eat with the oil field workers so that we could make our arrival before the opening of the Visitor’s Center. Even though it wasn’t yet the height of tourist season, we anticipated a large number of visitors and wanted to be one of the first in line since we had only half a day to experience the caverns and then make it to our next destination, over three hours away.

Winding our way up to the Visitor’s Center, we secured a parking spot and found ourselves fifth in line. As anticipated, by the time the doors were unlocked, a line snaked to the parking lot behind us. Using our America the Beautiful Pass for admission, we also signed up and paid for the ranger-led tour of the King’s Palace, a part of the caverns off limits except when accompanied by park personnel. We also opted to hike to the cavern entrance instead of taking the elevators. At the time, I really did not have an opinion about either, however, being accompanied by my son, he insisted that we hike, a decision I would later appreciate.

Since we were told we were unable to enter the cavern for another half hour, we spent some time inspecting the museum exhibits. As the appointed time neared, we all gathered near the door, expecting a ranger to come over and unlock it or have it magically swing open. When this didn’t happen, we all paced and glanced at our watches, thinking that our precious time in the cavern was dwindling. Eventually, my son tried the door, finding it unlocked! Yes, we were unable to go to the cavern until 0830, however, we all could have walked the trail to the starting point! What do they say about sheep and the cliff?

When we reached the gathering point, a ranger greeted us and gave us some important information about our trek. From here, we would walk to the cavern entrance a short distance away and after our visit, we could either hike back out or take the elevator back to the Visitor’s Center.

And so it began.

As we started our walk, we soon saw the giant, dark, gaping maw that was the access to the caverns. Much larger than I ever anticipated, I watched the bats circling near and from the entrance as we walked back and forth along the hairpin trail into the abyss. One thing we had learned from the ranger was that during the evening, the park hosts its nightly Bat Program which allows visitors to experience the wonder of thousands of bats flying out of the cavern and into the night sky (April to October) from the amphitheater at sunset. With regret, we wished that we had known of this event so that we could have journeyed here the night before. On this day, however, we would have to be content to watch the bats flying to and fro above our heads.

Cold and damp, we were glad that we had opted to don pants and pullovers and of course sneakers for the loose gravel and dirt path. Into the darkness, we proceeded, following the 1.25 mile Natural Entrance Trail and the occasional sign directing us to specific items to note. Extremely steep, we lost about 750 feet…equivalent to walking up or down a 75-story building…for about an hour.

As we made our way, we reflected on the fact that this was what sixteen-year old Jim White first experienced in 1898 when he stumbled upon one of the largest cave systems in the world, Carlsbad Caverns. Here, while we had explicitly placed lighting, well-maintained trails and a cafeteria a short distance away, he had explored with homemade torches, string to find his way back, food and water.

Little by little, he and a friend mapped the enormous caving system, naming each of the areas with monikers of what it reminded him of. Whale’s Mouth, with its draperies and flowstone, The Green Lake Room for its, yes, green lake, The Lion’s Tail for its stalactite and popcorn and the Temple of the Sun with its tall columns, stalactites and stalagmites.

Finally, we approached the Big Room. Glancing at our watches, we had a decision to make…head left toward the cafeteria to await our tour of the King’s Palace or keep going a short distance and then return the way we had come at our tour’s appointed time. Opting for the second choice, we continued through the impressive large limestone chamber, which is almost 4,000 feet long, 625 feet wide and 255 feet tall at its highest point. The fifth largest chamber in North America, it is also the twenty-eighth largest in the world. Following the snaking loop trail, we skirted thousands of rock formations, delicate sculptures, columns, cave bacon and popcorn, tubes, spires, fossils, ribbons, drapes, curtains, stalagmites, helictites, stalactites, totem poles, flowstone, soda straws and more all in the 357,469 square feet of the Big Room. As mesmerized as we were, we had to turn back to meet our guide, however, we knew that we would come this way again, shortly.

Gathering in the cafeteria area (which was not in operation at the time), we joined about thirty other visitors and our ranger for what was to be a one and a half hour, 1 mile guided tour through four highly decorated cave chambers into the deepest portion of the cavern…830 feet beneath the earth’s surface.

Following our ranger down an 80 foot descent, we marveled at the details and rooms for which Jim White had named the King’s Palace for its opulence. Listening to stories about the cave’s geology and early explorer’s experiences, we made our way through the first of the four chambers known as the scenic rooms, which contains a spectacular large castle-like formation in the center of the 100-foot tall expanse.

Continuing on to the Papoose Room, located between the King’s Palace and the Queen’s Chamber, we entered a small room which was similar in context to the King’s Palace. Hundreds of impressive stalactites clung from the ceiling and stalagmites sprouted from the ground.

Next was the Queen’s Chamber, considered the most beautiful of the four scenic caves, with its highlight being the 40-foot tall floor to ceiling drapery column and the delicate formations resembling lace and filigree.

Finally, we headed back through the King’s Chamber on our way to the final chamber in the assemblage, the Green Lake Room, passing the Bashful Elephant, which indeed, does appear to be a small elephant viewed from its rear. The Green Lake Room is the uppermost of the four rooms and named after the deep, malachite colored lake in the corner of the room. An interesting tale was related by our guide about how in the 1940s, the military, using the caverns as an emergency fallout shelter, used the lake to look for ripples caused by an atomic bomb test miles away. As none ever appeared, it was believed that Green Lake Room could be a viable shelter in case of a nuclear attack.

Finally, after hearing many tales of Jim White’s explorations, we were all seated on a bench. Our ranger asked us to completely turn off our cellphones and then he proceeded to shut off all lights in the chamber. At this moment, you realize that you have never experienced total darkness, even when you thought you had…at night…in your bedroom. This was something different…until I moved my arm and my Apple Watch gave the area around us a greenish glow, flashing 11:25. Embarrassed for ruining the moment, I quickly removed my watch and placed it under my leg! However, for the mistake, it did give us a small glimpse of how Jim White might have viewed the space with a single candle.

Making our way back to the tour starting point, we then resumed our explorations of the Great Room back from the spot we had left earlier. There was much to see including the Stone Lily Pads, table-like shelf stone formations at the edge of a now dry pool, the Silent Bell, the Crystal Spring Dome which is the largest active stalagmite in the cavern and having a bell-like appearance, the Rock of Ages, a huge column, the Chinese Theater, which contains beautiful columns stalactites and stalagmites and the Dolls Theater, a recessed area with soda straws and small columns.

All in all, our trek throughout the three miles of rooms and passageways of the main cavern took us much longer than expected. The sheer size of the cavern was unlike anything we had ever experienced and it was mind blowing that there are still parts undiscovered and more than 27 miles of passages are not open to the public! There were times when my mind began to wander, thinking that if an earthquake would suddenly happen in this area while we were so far below ground…I had to redirect my thoughts because, well, I just couldn’t fathom the consequences!

Finishing our circuit, we found ourselves back at the elevators and waited patiently for our return to the Visitor’s Center and civilization!

With our tour of what some call “one of the seven wonders of the world”, we headed back to Carlsbad in anticipation of the next leg of our journey.

Returning north, we headed toward Artesia where we took a westerly turn. A short time after our turn onto Route 82, I spotted an enormous sculpture resembling an oil rig. Anxious to get to our destination, but also curious about what it was, I made a U-turn and parked. While the city also boasts one of the best collections of bronze sculptures in the area and a diverse public mural program which celebrate its rich history, this major piece of sculptural work is the one to see if you only have time to devote to a single piece. The Derrick Floor, is dedicated “to the men and women who take risks and do the work to find, produce and refine New Mexico oil and gas.” The drilling rig is a 34-foot high cast with a four man crew created in 125 percent life size scale and sits in a pool of cascading water. It was designed by Vic Payne and dedicated in April of 2004.

My curiosity sated, we headed back to the road and continued our journey west through Lincoln National Forest toward Alamogordo and White Sands. Though most of our journey in New Mexico had been through dry, scrubby barren land, we welcomed the change of scenery as the landscape changed to a lush mountainous and forested region. Though there wasn’t much to see, besides a couple of shops and not many places to stop (plan your bathroom breaks accordingly), we finally emerged on the far side to some amazing mountainous overlooks in Cloudcroft. Happy for the opportunity to stretch our legs we pulled over to take a few photos.

Alamogordo welcomed us with a hot dry wind. As we glanced out toward the area where White Sands National Park was located, we could see a haze in the air and I wondered if conditions would make our planned excursion the next day a no-go. But first, in order for that excursion to take place, we had one thing to do.

Find some snow saucers and ski wax!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Carlsbad Caverns

https://www.nps.gov/cave/index.htm
Address: 3225 National Parks Highway, Carlsbad , New Mexico 88220
Hours: Visitor’s Center, 0800-1700, daily. Last cavern entrance ticket sold, 1415. Last cavern entrance, 1430. Elevator into the cavern, 0830-1430. Last elevator out of the cavern, 1645. Hike into the cavern, 0830-1430, Last time to hike out of the cavern, 1530 (complete hike out by 1630). National park closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Free entry for America the Beautiful Pass and other passes (see website for more information).
Admission: Adults (16 years and older), $15.00, Children (under 16 years), free.

Artesia Bronze Sculptures

https://www.artesiamainstreet.com/history-in-bronze
Address: West Main Sreet, Artesia, New Mexico 88210
Hours: 24 hours, daily
Admission: free

Tour de Bonton

Amsterdam is known throughout the world for its Red Light District.

Throngs of visitors head to this area of the city for various reasons. Some are curious and want to discreetly gaze at the sex workers posing in the windows wondering what brought them to this profession. Some want to “engage” with these workers and still others want to have a few cocktails and visit the sex shows or sex shops.

Many years ago, my friend and I visited Red Light Secrets, the museum about prostitution. Located in a building that was once a brothel, the museum’s mission is to educate and demystify its guests about sex work in Amsterdam. (Check it out here: https://snappingtheglobe.com/?p=1266). It was an interesting and informative stop with a fun bit of posing in the museum’s own upstairs “window”.

Recently, on a trip to Amsterdam, I was perusing the internet, searching for something interesting to fill my afternoon. Something called Tour de Bonton caught my eye. Advertised as an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of one of the most famous high-end strip and sex clubs of Amsterdam, it claimed to answer any of “your burning questions” about how things work at this particular club. At first glance, it seemed similar to the Red Light Secrets museum, but not located in the Red Light District.

Yes, I had lots of burning questions! I needed to do this tour!

After a quick metro ride from Central Station, during which I purchased my on-line ticket for three-thirty, I arrived about forty minutes early to find the door locked. Assuming that I needed to return closer to the entry time, I headed to the Irish pub around the corner to have a small pint which I assumed would help me to overcome my hesitancy of arriving alone.

At the appointed time, I returned to find the door open and a young lady seated behind a desk, just inside the opening. Showing her my on-line ticket, I was instructed to ascend the narrow staircase to the next floor where I discovered a well-appointed bar area. Two small platforms with stripper poles were located in the center and surrounded by lush, red-velvet banquettes. The walls were covered in a rich, teal and gold wallpaper, the ceiling in an etched copper tin and the floor in a herringbone patterned wood. It was not the typical, grungy strip club you would normally envision and seated in the banquettes were two couples and three older English ladies on holiday. Not the lot you would normally expect to find in a grungy strip club…but of course, they were also there for the tour as the club doesn’t actually open for regular business until 9:00pm.

After a few minutes of waiting, the lady who had greeted us downstairs came in to take our drink orders, which were included with the purchase price…I guess it helps to loosen up the tour-goers, but I wish I had realized this before I paid a visit to the Irish pub!

Taking a seat in front of the bar, Felicia, proceeded to explain how things work in the club. Girls, are paid per dance on the poles as well as for lap dances and engage customers as they congregate in the bar area. We spotted the champagne bottles lining the bar and she related how lucrative the selling of one of these bottles, preferably the most expensive (bottles range from $160-$2500), is for their pay. Finally, she went on the the part that most of us were interested in, the VIP rooms upstairs.

After a steep climb to the top floor for a quick tour to each of these uniquely decorated rooms (plus the dressing room), she explained how these VIP rooms are “rented” to the customers for a half hour or hour’s time, for $300 or $500 respectively. This is for the room only…any other interactions with the girls in these rooms are extra and at the discretion of the girl. The burning question for me, however, was how these customers made it up (and back down) the steep, narrow staircase, after a few drinks, to begin with???!!!

A bit of quick addition led me to believe that after the $50 entrance fee per person, one would definitely expect to spend A LOT of money in a night’s time! Which led to another burning question…are many of these customers on expense accounts?

Felicia was an open book and answered all of our questions without any inhibition. She was funny and interesting and had some amazing stories! I won’t reveal her secrets…its up to you to visit for yourself and discover what makes this place so exclusive in a city full of sex.

Were all of my burning questions answered? You bet!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Tour de Bonton

https://tourdebonton.com/
Address: Stadhouderskade 64, Amsterdam, NL
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 1230-1930. Last tour starts at 1830 and tours last approximately 1 hour.
Admission: At the door, €21.00 per person, Online €19.50 per person.
Getting There: Metro 52 to Vijzelgracht (exit Vijzelgracht), Tram 1, 7, 19 (stop Vijzelgracht), Tram 24 (stop Marie Heinekenplein)

Baobabs, Bats, Birds and Boats

Three whole days in Senegal!

That much time in Senegal nowadays is a rarity for me and I was excited for the possibilities it held. Until…we found out that my company had changed our hotel at the last minute due to a problem with our regular one. The one we were being moved to was in the middle of nowhere! Nothing to do but hang at the overly crowded pool and stare out of my dusty window at the highway.

Thank goodness, I have a good friend who operates his own tour company, The Motherland Experience! After contacting Mass Kane, my friend Amy and I quizzed him for some different tour ideas since we both have done quite a lot within the country.

We perused a few different options that he presented and finally decided on the Saloum Delta. Located on the southwestern coast of Senegal, this is the area where the Saloum river meets the Atlantic Ocean. What interested us most was that we were told that if we made it there on time, we might be able to participate in the drum mass at the Catholic church. Now that was something I was wanting to see…and hear!

Leaving early in the morning, we began the long drive, past the resort town of Saly toward Fatick. In Mbour, we stopped quickly so that we could get a glimpse of the Grand Mosquee de Gandigal-Est. Though we could not get closer than the front gates, past the tall palms that line the front walkway we could see that it was a stunning piece of architecture with its twin minarets reaching skyward. A little further, we drove down a narrow dirt road to check out the Catholic Church’s steeple towering over the trees. Attracting a great deal of attention, a group of young girls came over to say hello. Wanting to practice their English, they giggled and asked me my name and insisted we all take a picture together!

*Catholic Church and local school girls*

Continuing on our way, we reached Fatick, where witnessing large crowds walking through the muddy streets and congregating in a large field, we learned that the community was hosting a festival. While I am sure that it would have been interesting to take part, we had a destination in mind, so after stopping to watch a few minutes of a wrestling match in the field, we headed out.

A short time later, we pulled over again.

Now, there are baobab trees everywhere in western Africa and I have seen some gigantic ones during my times there, but the tree located here? It was one of the largest baobab trees I had ever seen. Mass wanted us to see this magnificent beauty so we all jumped out and began to take pictures. On one side of the tree, we noticed a hole…the entrance to the inside of the tree! Many of the baobab trees are hollow and as they are considered sacred, they are often used for burials of the village elders, but we were invited to climb inside as it was empty. Well, I am not one to pass up a challenge, so I readied myself, hike up a leg and attempted to follow the directions of the Senegalese men offering to help me inside. It is was not the most elegant of entrances and I actually got stuck for a moment, but finally after wiggling a bit, I made it in!

Very dark and damp, it seemed more like a cave and realizing that I was feeling drops of what felt like water, I looked up. Well, what do you normally find in caves? Bats! Hundreds of bats were circling above me and were attached to the inside of the tree. And that water? Well, you know…not water.

Getting out of there as fast as I could, I prayed that I didn’t contract any airborne illnesses from the bats and headed over to the nearby stalls to check out some of the local crafts for sale.

Finally, we were on our way once again and after a few short miles, we arrived at the Somone Lagoon. Herding us down to the boats, Mass greeted the boatman and we were on our way through the Saloum Delta.

The delta is the perfect place to see a variety of wildlife and birds among the mangrove trees. We glided through the calm waters admiring nearby houses and wharfs. As the boat eventually slowed, we pulled up to a small beach onto Morloth Island. On the shore was a small hotel with woven hammocks swinging in the breeze under a grass hut. This looked like a place I could hang out for a couple of days!

Quickly guided to the rear of the structure, we were loaded onto a horse-drawn cart with a few other visitors. Heading out, we bumped along the dirt road until we reached a small, quaint village.

The narrow road, lined by high walls, protected the cinderblock structures behind them and after a short ride, we were pulling into the main part of the village. A white, weathered gazebo stood in the center, obviously the place for village gatherings and we spotted a minaret towering above the village mosque. Children walked together in groups and many local artisans attempted to attract our attention to sell us their wares. A little ways up the road, we were shown the marriage trees. These trees had grown adjacent to each other and intertwined. With their tall roots extending from their bases, it was a great spot for photos.

A short walk led us to the Catholic church, Missionaire Du Sacre Coeur. This is the scene of the famous drum mass that we had heard of, but sadly, we learned that we were too late. The Sunday services were complete and with it the sounds of the local instruments. Disappointed, we stepped through the doors of the church, admired the stark simplicity of the interior with its pointed arches, heavy wooden pews and small stained glass windows which encircled the worship space. Designed for a smaller congregation, it was intimate and even more of a disappointment that we did not get to participate in the Sunday services.

Setting out to make the return trip, we first stopped at a large, covered pavilion; the craft market. Unlike any craft market I had ever experienced, these ladies were intent on each vendor getting a crack at selling their wares. While, I like to peruse all commodities in a normal market for the best selection, we were each greeted by a village woman and ushered over to a chair. The woman then proceeded to show me what she had. Only. I wasn’t allowed to look at what was being offered to anyone beside me or anywhere else in the pavilion. Since I have been to Africa so often and have so many mementos, it would take something extremely unique to have me open my wallet…and on this day, I saw nothing of the sort. Leaving with my merchant a bit unhappy, I decided to concentrate on the the musicians who filled the afternoon with song. Though we didn’t get to partake in the drum mass, here we listened to the beats of the local soul and watched one woman bust out her moves! She definitely had the rhythm!

Hopping back onto our cart, we were driven back to our starting point so that we could take our boat back across the delta. Here, we would have a delicious lunch to ready us for the long drive back to Dakar.

Although a long day, the trip to the Saloum delta was filled with the colorful sights and sounds of western Africa, along the way and at our destination. Definitely an experience I won’t ever forget!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

The Motherland Experience

http://themotherlandexperiencetraveltours.com
Telephone: +221 77 295 24 24
Owner: Mass Kane
Email: Kanemass@hotmail.com

A Royal Residence

Within a mile from Madrid’s Plaza Espana stand many notable architectural masterpieces.

These include the notable Royal Palace of Madrid, home to the Kings of Spain from Charles III to Alfonso XIII, a popular tourist venue in the Spanish capital.

If your interests, however, lie in the palaces where the lesser members of royalty reside(d), you can also find the Palace of the Duke of Infatado and the Liria Palace in the area.

The Liria Palace, located only a few blocks from my hotel, caught my attention as it was described not only as the residence of the Duke of Alba but also as an art museum.

Heading there in the late afternoon for its reopening at four o’clock, I paid my admission and joined three others to receive our audio guides and join our host. Dismayed to see a sign stating that photos were not allowed except of the exterior, I vowed to be as sneaky as I could to capture at least a few things on film.

Although not being allowed to capture the beauty of this royal residence was disappointing enough, I soon discovered that although my audio guide was in my native tongue, the tour guide would only be speaking Spanish! Well, I haven’t been studying the language for the past year and a half for nothing!

Making our way to the front of the neoclassical palace and entering through the front double doors, we began to watch a short film on the palace’s history. Again…in Spanish, but my studies are paying off because I understood a great deal.

After the film’s completion, we followed our guide up the magnificent staircase to the second level and paused to listen to the narration describing each of the artistic pieces that graced the landings and nooks and crannies.

Following our guide, we then made our way from room to room on the ground and first floors, analyzing each’s unique features and artwork, gleaning what we could from the additional narratives that our guide contributed.

An art museum? Yes, but more of an extensive art collection set in an exquisite home. Hundreds of paintings filed the walls, highlighting intricate architectural features, and many personal photographs were displayed on desks and mantles. Of particular interest was the library, home to more than 18,000 prints, including the first edition of Don Quixote and the largest collection of handwritten manuscripts from Christopher Columbus.

The Liria palace was built in 1770 by architect Ventura Rodriguez and commissioned by James Fitz-James Stewart, the third Duke of Berwick and Duke of Liria. Over the years, the palace survived fire, losing part of its archives and the Spanish Civil War, where part of its façade was demolished. It was passed on to the House of Alba in the early 19th century and was the location where the last empress consort of the French, Eugenie de Montijo, spent her remaining days.

Today, the palace is the residence of Carlos Fitz-James Stewart, son of the 18th Duchess of Alba, and is open to the public to display its remarkable private collection of European art, including painting by Goya and Rembrandt, engravings by Durer and Van Dyck, marble and bronze sculptures from the Roman Empire to the neoclassical period as well as ceramics, armor, weapons, tapestries and empire style furniture.

While the palace is an interesting stop on Madrid’s list of countless attractions, I think it is one for those solely interested in art and the palace’s historical value. For me, the entrance fee was a bit steep, however, it was an attraction that I could squeeze in during the afternoon on my short visit. For those interested in hitting the city’s highlights, the Royal Palace is a short distance away and the city’s prestigious Museo Nacional del Prado may be the starting point for visitors whose interests lie in art. All in all, the tour was extremely informative and gave me a different insight to the residences of Spain’s royal families and for that, it was much appreciated.

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Liria Palace

https://www.palaciodeliria.com/
Address: Calle de la Princesa, 20 28008
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, mornings, 1015, 1045, 1115, 1145, 1215, 1245. Afternoons, closed. Thursday and Friday, mornings, 1015, 1045, 1115, 1145, 1215, 1245. Afternoons, 1615, 1645, 1715, 1745, 1815, 1845. Saturday and Sunday, mornings, 945 1015, 1045, 1115, 1145, 1215, 1245. Afternoons, 1545, 1615, 1645, 1715, 1745, 1815. Closed on January 1, 5 and 6 and December 24, 25 and 31.
Admission: €15.00
Getting There: Metro, Plaza de España (L2, L3, L10), Ventura Rodríguez (L3). Bus, 001, 002, 1, 2, 44, 62, 74, 133, 138, C1, C2

El Diario de Guatemala OCHO

DIA OCHO

My second day at school was going to be the deciding factor of whether or not I was going to make it in the Spanish language educational system of Antigua!
Day two at my other school was when the frustration began to set in, so I was nervous for my class.

Although we began going over some of the irregular verbs, I felt like Patricia never got frustrated with my lack of understanding. It didn’t help that while we were going over my lessons that I received a text from my tour company informing me that my flights for my tour to Tikal could not be booked for Saturday. I was so distracted, trying to think of how to fix this problem, that I wasn’t really paying attention to my Spanish lesson and I think my teacher could see this. It was with great relief when class was finished. But don’t think this got me off the hook…Patricia gave me a great deal of homework!

After class, I ran over to the tour agency to speak with Claudia about the alternatives for my Tikal trip. I had already extended my stay at my Airbnb to accommodate this trip so there wasn’t an option to just not go. In the end, we settled on my tour to Tikal for Sunday. It is going to be a very long day with pick up around 3 AM and return to Antigua around 9 PM. Since I am leaving the next morning to go back to Guatemala City to catch my flight to the United States, I am sure that I’m going to be extremely exhausted, however, I feel as though I must absolutely visit this Mayan wonder!

That taken care of, I made note of the good weather and decided to finally go to my favorite ruins, Convento Santa Clara. I truly think this is one of the most beautiful in the city! Since it was a weekday, I found the place to be mostly empty and the best part was that there were no young lovers hiding in dark corners!

After my visit to the convent, I decided to go to the Artisans market. It was a bit tough finding what I really wanted and negotiating in Spanish, but I found a few gifts that worked. Once done, I was making my way back to my apartment, passing under Santa Catalina Arch, when I noticed a store on my right just past one of my favorite restaurants, Frida’s. This store, Nim Po’t, was like the Artisan’s Superstore. Almost everything that I had just seen at the Artisan’s Market was in this store…plus some! (And they take credit cards!). I made mental notes on everything I wanted to purchase and when I arrived at my apartment, I wrote out my shopping list so that when I returned, I wouldn’t forget anything.

So, as I was making this shopping list, I was realizing that I was doing everything possible, to avoid my homework…thinking about going to eat out…thinking about editing pictures…thinking about calling home…you name it…I thought about doing it. Finally, I pulled out my work and took a look. It was much tougher than I thought. So, what does one do when you don’t understand your Spanish homework? You send a copy of it to your Spanish-speaking friends and have them do it for you! Well not really do it for you…but tell you some of the answers so you could see if you got them correct.

You know, everyone needs a helping hand or two every now and then!

What I learned today: the Spanish verb, “mandar”, which means to send and “a tiempo” which means on time. Next time I send my passport information to the tour agency in a timelier manner.

Photo of the day: Convento Santa Clara

Check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Convento Santa Clara

Address: Sur at 6 Calle Oriente 2, Antigua, GT 03001
Hours: 0900-1700, daily
Admission: Q40

Nim Po’t

https://www.nimpotexport.com/
Address: 5ta. Avenida Norte 29, Antigua Guatemala
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 1000-1900, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 0900-2000.

Not-So-Virtual Whiskey

One of the things that Covid has taught us is that cocktails are always welcome, no matter what is going on in the world.

Beer, wine and spirits have helped people pass their time during their lockdowns, especially during virtual happy hours.

Beer, wine and spirits have helped people to forget about their troubles.

Beer, wine and spirits sales are through the roof!

Recently, I was thinking of things to do and while I have taken part in many a virtual happy hour, I was ready to get out of the house and see something different. Perusing the internet one day, I came across a local distillery that offers tours…maybe Google pointed me in that direction since I had been placing an order with a local beer and wine store and they thought I was the perfect candidate…but even though I prefer beer and would rather go to a craft brewery, I thought it would be fun and educational.

The A. Smith Bowman Distillery, located in Fredericksburg, Virginia, got its start in Fairfax County in 1927 as a dairy and granary. A. Smith Bowman realized that his fields were producing an abundance of grain and did not want to see it go to waste. In 1934, he built a distillery with the help of his two sons and their first product, “Virginia Gentleman” was well received. His distilling business was born.

Until the 1950’s, Mr. Bowman was the sole producer of legal whiskey in Virginia and he has since shifted gears, moving to Fredericksburg and producing handcrafted small batches and experimental editions.

Now, I will admit, I am not partial to whiskey, but taking part in a free tour concluding with free samples sounded like a great way to get myself out of the house. Enticing two of my friends to make the forty-five minute trip was easy and we signed up for a morning tour, discovering when we arrived that we were the only participants for that particular time slot. Perfect for social distancing!

Our guide led us through the great room, maintaining our six feet, showing us Mr. Bowman’s original desk, and explaining the different varieties produced in the distillery. The production room was quite interesting with the Vendome Copper & Brass Works stills, quiet for the time being which made it easy to learn from our guide how each plays a part in making the spirits. We walked through the assembly line area which was also taking a break, however, I think it would be quite interesting to see it at work. Most captivating, however, was the storage facility filled with thousands of barrels. There, we were shown the numbering system which allows team members to pull the barrels that have been properly aged and are ready for distribution.

Finally, taken back to the great room, we headed to the bar where we were allowed to pick four products to sample, including bourbon, vodka, gin and rum. There were some that were more pleasing to each of our palates, however, it was easy to discern why the A. Smith Bowman Distillery has won the awards of “World’s Best Bourbon” at the World Whiskies Awards in both 2016 and 2017 among many others.

As we finished our tasting, we were able to browse the gift shop area where various goods such as bourbon-inspired drinkware, apparel, coffee, soaps, salsa, barbeque, steak and chocolate sauces…and of course, spirits…are available for purchase.

The distillery sits on impeccable grounds, bordered by Deep Run creek and there are many historical sites in Fredericksburg to visit once your tour has been completed.

The A. Smith Bowman Distillery tour was an extremely interesting way to spend an hour or so and we learned a great deal about something none of us were familiar with. Plus, we got to sample some award winning spirits and walked away with some of our Christmas shopping completed. Much better than virtual happy hour!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

A. Smith Bowman Distillery

https://asmithbowman.com/
Address: 1 Bowman Dr, Fredericksburg, VA 22408
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 1000-1700, Sunday, 1200-1700
Admission and Tours: free

Cuba Cruising, Chevy Style

There was one thing I wanted to do in Cuba.

Ride in one of the beautifully restored classic automobiles.

Since my Airbnb hosts had sent a classic car to retrieve me from the airport, that request was already fulfilled.

Okay…kind of.

Though I had seen a bit of the city from this old Ford on my way to the Airbnb, it wasn’t quite what I had envisioned. I pictured myself perched in a convertible, taking in the sunshine and the major sites of the city.

Having heard of Strawberry Tours, I decided to book their Vintage Car Tour. Reading up on the nature of their tour, I learned that I could book one seat in the car for $29 or the entire car for $99. Well, since I’m not a fan of sharing space with others (those who may or may not get in the way of my photo opportunities), I decided that the entire car was worth the splurge!

My second day in Havana started with a hearty breakfast at my Airbnb. Though it was not included in the nightly rate, I decided that it would be a great way to experience some local culture and cuisine and requested that it be ready for me before I ventured out. It was a delicious spread consisting of eggs, toast and lots of fresh fruit, preparing me for a long day of sightseeing!

The meeting point was only three blocks away and I paced back and forth, hoping that I had indeed gotten the location right.

A few minutes later, a beautiful, red convertible Chevrolet pulled up. My guide and driver both introduced themselves and invited me to walk around, inspect and take as many pictures of this classic beauty as I could manage. It was quite evident that they were pleased with my admiration of the car and that I was to be their only client (something that probably made their job a lot easier) for the tour.

Jumping into the back seat, we set off, driving the narrow streets as Eduardo, my tour guide, began to give me his introductory remarks and Luis, navigated.

Our first stop was the Fabrica de Tabaco Partagas, so that I could see one of the trademarks of Cuba…cigars. Though I think that this location was once an actual Factory, it is more of a store and an opportunity to purchase some souvenir cheroots. Not much of a smoker, I admired the sights and of course, smells, before we set off for different parts of the city.

Heading away from Old Havana, we drove through Chinatown, feeling the wind in my hair and thinking how fortunate I was to be able to experience this old city in this manner. Not really sure of the landmarks we were going to visit, I was surprised when we pulled into the parking lot at the Plaza de la Revolución.

The Plaza de la Revolución is huge…72,000 square meters and the thirty-first largest city square in the world. At first, I thought we had just pulled into a parking lot because there were so many cars, however, in fact it becomes a parking lot for the many tours that frequent the area and our beautiful Ford captured the attention of many other visitors. What caught my attention, however, was the tall tower and statue which pay tribute to Jose Marti and on the other side of the square, the buildings of the Ministry of Interior and Communications. These buildings are the real highlights of the plaza with the giant matching steel facades which display the most important heroes of the Cuban Revolution, Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos.

Originally called the Plaza Cívica (Civic Square) after its construction in 1959, it was later renamed after the revolution, as this was the location where many political rallies took place with political figures, including Fidel Castro, addressed the crowds. Years later, two of the most important religious figures of the world, sermonized the predominately Cuban Catholic population from this same location…Pope John Paul II in 1998 and Pope Francis in 2015.

Other important buildings are located here, including the National Library and the Palace of the Revolution, the seat of the Cuban government and Communist Party. Since our time was limited, we were unable to check out these landmarks at closer range, however, I do suggest taking the time to visit and inspect the monument in this important location.

Moving on, we drove through neighborhoods boasting cemeteries, restaurants and homes, finally making our way into a remarkable green space…the Parque Almendares, also known as the Havana Forest. After pulling into a parking lot adjacent to a small snack bar, the first thing that caught my eye was a beautiful, red Model T Ford parked in the rear. An elderly man sat in the front seat and a small sign posted on the front window advised that photos were not free. I gladly gave him a few dollars so that I could photograph this lovingly-preserved antique. As I told him that I was photographing the car for my father-in-law, a collector (who was also in possession of one), he became very excited and wanted to show me every well-tuned detail, including the engine, the spare tires, axles and rumbleseat! He even insisted that I sit in the car so that I could have a photograph for my father-in-law.

Saying our goodbyes, I walked around this area of the park, near the river. Eduardo informed me that on some days, you can witness those who participate in the Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria making animal sacrifices on the banks of the Rio Almendares. Thankfully, this was not one of those days!

As we returned to the parking lot, I learned what to expect at every parking lot we would come to. The owners of the dazzling cars that had brought other visitors, had their hoods open so that they, and anyone else who wanted to take a look, could! Of course I made my way around my favorites!

Heading out of the park, we drove toward the coast and along the famed Malecón, the broad esplanade and seawall that stretches for five miles along the azure waters of the Caribbean. It is a spectacular and popular destination in Havana and a spot to see fishermen casting their lines and families and friends taking leisurely strolls.

As I enjoyed the sunshine, blue skies and spirited Spanish music being played on the radio, I relished the scenery. There are a number of important monuments along the way, including those of General Maximo Gomez, Antonio Maceo, General Calixto Garcia and the Monuments to the Victims of the USS Maine as well as many buildings of interest, such as the United States Embassy and the spectacular Cuban National Hotel, set high on a cliff.

Transiting the Tunel de La Habana, we drove to the Castillo De Los Tres Reyes Del Morro, one of the symbols of Havana. It is a landmark that is most visited by both tourists and locals and has appeared in many movies over the years. As we stood near the entrance, Eduardo gave me a brief history of this stunning fortress, but again, time was limited and there was no chance to check out its interiors.

Hopping back into our candy-apple hued Chevy, we made our way past another fortress, Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabana, where historic cannons are fired nightly and the Museo Historico Militar Exhibition. We drove slowly past the assortment of military equipment on display from the Cuban Missile Crisis and I made a mental note that this might be a place that I would like to return.

Pulling into a small parking lot and spotting something towering at the end of a pathway, I realized that we were going to visit Havana’s version of the Christ statue, El Cristo de La Habana. Having visited many other Christ statues in the world, I was excited to see the scale of this one up close.

During the turbulent 1950’s, president Fulgencio Batista commissioned a colossal statue of Christ, hoping to gain support of the predominately Christian population. Sculpted by Jilma Madera, a well-known Cuban artist, it was a simple piece, made in Italy, carved from Carrara marble and blessed by Pope Pius XII. Even though the monument was designed with the best intentions, bad luck followed its inauguration. Fidel Castro conquered Havana and took control of the country, religion was made illegal and the military zone near the statue was placed under strict control, leaving the grand statue to be forgotten for more than thirty years.

In the 1990’s, the government reopened the site, so that the Christ statue might look down onto the port of Havana and the citizens and tourists could enjoy its beauty. In addition to admiring the statue, it is the perfect spot to take in the incredible views of the city and the port. Though not as large as the one in Rio, I thought that this Christ had a more delicate and graceful appearance.

We returned to our car, checking out a few others in the parking lot, as this was now a thing! It was time, however, to return to the point where we had departed from a few hours earlier, in what I had now started to think of as my Chevy. Yes indeed, I was becoming attached!

As we drove down Teniente Rey street, I sadly realized my time cruising around Havana in the Chevy was now over. My time in that Chevy, however, showed me what a fabulous city it was and even though there was so much I had seen of the city so far, there was so much still to go. Saying goodbye to Eduardo and Luis and the Chevy, I made my way to a local sanwicheria, hoping to grab a bite to eat and plan my next move!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Strawberry Tours

https://strawberrytours.com/havana/tours/vintag
e-car-tours
Address: Meeting point, Teniente Rey 360
Hours: Tours start at 0900 and 1145
Price: One seat, $29 or Full Car, $99 for 0900 tour and one seat, $34 or Full Car, $109 for 1145 tour.
Tours conducted in English and Spanish

Fabrica de Tabaco Partagas

Address: Calle Industria, Havana, Cuba
Hours: 0900-1330
Admission: 10 CUC ($10 US)

Plaza de la Revolución

Address: Avenida Paseo, La Habana, Cuba, Havana Plaza De La Revolucion
Hours: 24 hours, daily
Admission: Free

Parque de Almendares

Address: Below the bridge on Calle 23, Havana Cuba
Hours: 24 hours, daily
Admission: Free

Castillo De Los Tres Reyes Del Morro

http://www.lahabana.com/guide/castillo-de-los-tres-reyes-del-morro/
Address: La Habana del Este, Havana, Cuba
Hours: 1000-1900, daily
Admission: 4 CUC ($4.00 US)

Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabana

Address: Parque Histórico Militar Morro-Cabaña
Hours: 0800-2300, daily
Admission: 6 CUC, daytime hours, 8 CUC, nightime hours ($6.00 and $8.00 US)

Museo Historic Militar

Address: 4MW3+Q2, Havana, Cuba
Hours: Unknown
Admission: Free

El Cristo de La Habana

Address: Casa Blanca, Havana Cuba
Hours: 24 hours
Admission: Free
Getting There: Taxi (about 10 CUC) or Ferry from Terminal de Ferris, Lancha Habana-Casa Blanca. Ferry fare about .45 CUC (.45 US).

Happy Trails

There are fifty states in the United States and I had visited 49.

Yes, I had traveled to every state in our country…except Alaska!

Of course, I have watched many shows which chronicle life in Alaska, gold prospecting in Alaska, fishing in Alaska, house hunting in Alaska, just to name a few! I am sure you have seen them all as well, however, as these shows have made me sometimes feel like I have been there, travel to this amazing state had somehow escaped me!

Until now.

With some luck, I found myself in the position to be able to assist in transporting some military troops to Alaska where they would continue their journey onward to an overseas base. Realizing that I would have a bit of time in Anchorage, I immediately made plans to rent a car and analyzed a map of the area, determined to figure out how much I could squeeze in. As the date of departure neared, however, I realized that the weather was not going to cooperate. High winds were moving in and heavy snow was in the forecast. The weather was definitely going to hinder my plans and I wasn’t optimistic about driving on icy roads.

Thinking about one of the items on my bucket list, dog sledding, I began some investigation on whether I might be able to schedule this activity despite the weather. A little legwork revealed a kennel, about ninety minutes away, that provided transportation. Being able to accomplish something that I had always wanted to do and not having to drive in conditions that were pretty foreign to me would be a win-win.

Our journey to the most northern part of our country was long but uneventful and we arrived at our hotel in the early part of the next morning. After speaking with my coworkers, I had found that most of them also sought to mark dog sledding off of their bucketlists. Discussing it at length and making a few phone calls, we found that when pooling our resources, we could rent a four-wheel drive vehicle which would make it safer for us all to travel together and make the trip to Big Lake, Alaska. The bonus plan was that there was one in our group more familiar with driving in the snow…so I did not have to navigate the treacherous roadways!

After much needed sleep, we picked up our Suburban, loaded everyone up and followed the GPS route to Big Lake, via Wasilla. The roads were somewhat treacherous and I was truly glad that it was not me behind the wheel. Following a quick lunch in Wasilla and some poses alongside a big wooden moose, we found ourselves driving down heavily snow covered roads through the woods, spotting a real moose emerging from the woods, along the way.

The Happy Trails Kennel was nestled down a long and winding drive and we must have seemed like a bunch of crazy women, busting in, shaking snow from our boots, talking incessantly and eager to get the adventure started.

The owner, Martin Buser, an Alaska transplant, originally hailing from Switzerland, greeted us warmly. Little did we realize at that moment, that we were in the presence of Alaskan dog sledding royalty! Martin is currently the musher with the most consecutive Iditarod finishes and a four-time Iditarod champion, preparing at that time for the start of his next race a month later.

We were introduced to his wonderful wife, Kathy and another Iditerod musher, DeeDee Jonrowe, who had agreed to take part of our group out with her dog team. After finalizing our payments and outfitting all of us in our snow gear, we ushered outside to meet the dogs and learn a little about the sport of dog sledding.

Divided into two groups, four with Martin and three with Dee Dee, we headed out into the wilderness, following some previously plowed trails which headed out over the lake. I was with Dee Dee, perched precariously behind her on the rails of her dogsled, trying to capture the beauty of the landscape around us on my camera, while she told us about her family, how she found her way to Alaska and about her Iditarod career, which consists of sixteen top ten finishes and a second place finish that was the fastest Iditarod time ever recorded at that point. Its hard to describe how serene it is gliding through an all-white landscape with not a building or soul in sight for miles around! So hard to describe, in fact, that I had to facetime all three of my boys so that they could see what I was seeing while it was occurring!

Our journey lasted about forty-five minutes and my legs were burning from trying to balance on the sled. I will admit, however, I fell off once, so as much as I loved the outing, it was nice when it came to an end and were able to go out to the kennels to play with the puppies and the mature dogs!

Doffing our snow gear back inside the toasty building, we purchased some souvenirs, grabbed a coffee and watched a film, highlighting Martin’s illustrious career. It was fun to see that Mike Rowe of the television show Dirty Jobs had visited and filmed a segment at the kennels. Though we didn’t have to pick up dog poop like Mike, we could see that he enjoyed his visit as much as all of us!

As the sky was starting to darken and we began the journey back to our hotel, it was with excitement for what we had experienced and sadness for it to be over with too soon! Flipping on the radio, we almost expected to hear Roy Rogers singing the kennel’s theme song, Happy Trails, but alas, it was only the GPS, telling us to turn left, back to Wasila and Anchorage!

As our tires left markings in the snow all the way home, we indeed, left some happy trails!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

And check out these videos of our adventure!

Happy Trails Kennel

http://buserdog.com/
Address: 19391 West Lakes Blvd, Big Lake, Alaska USA 99652
Hours: Winter dog sled tours, 1000 and 1400. From May until September, kennel tours available at 2:00 P.M. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, additional fee involved
Admission: $149 per person. Kennel tour, adults, $49, children under 12, $22.
Getting There: North on Hwy 1 (Glenn Highway). Hwy 1 turns into Hwy 3 (Parks Highway). Go through Wasilla, turn left on Big Lake road at mile 52. Go 3 ¼ miles on Big Lake road turn right on Beaver Lake Road. Go 1 mile, turn left onto West Lakes Boulevard (long name, short sign “W. Lks. Blvd”). Go 4 ½ miles to our driveway on right. Look for tripod with sign.

Martin Busar

https://iditarod.com/race/2019/mushers/96-Martin-Buser/

Dee Dee Jonrowe

http://www.deedeejonrowe.com/

The Real Ponies of OBX

There are approximately 60,000 free-roaming horses in the United States and Canada.

If you have the opportunity to visit one of the locations where they reside…you should take full advantage.

A couple of years ago, while visiting friends in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, I went in search of the many different horse statues that graced the barrier island.

These statues were placed throughout the different communities to commemorate the wild Spanish mustangs that roam the northern beaches of Corolla and Carova and are believed to be the descendants of shipwrecked horses from centuries prior.

This year, I went in search of the real horses.

Though you can access the northern beaches by four-wheel drive vehicles and search for these beautiful, four-legged creatures by yourself, there is always the risk of getting bogged down in the loose, deep sand. I wasn’t that brave.

For those who are not as adventurous (or do not own a four-wheel drive vehicle), there are safari-type tours that will drive you there (and back) in search of the horses and this is what I decided to do.

Leaving early in the morning, we headed out in the open-air, twelve-seat vehicle towards the end of the Ocean Trail to the North Beach Access Road where the pavement ends and the sand begins at the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge.

Not long after beginning our journey on the sandy expanse, we slowed our trek as we spotted a group of seven mustangs standing along the waterfront. Not to be intimidated by our presence, they stood in two groups, huddled against the morning breeze.

Advised that we would keep our distance, we strove to get the best photos from our viewpoint a short distance away while these creatures alternately stood together and sometimes took a rest on the sand.

After a short while, we said goodbye and moved onward in search of more, scanning the tall sand dunes that protected the beach homes that line the coast and driving inland on the many unpaved roads that harbor additional homes on the inlet.

There were many more horses to be spotted that day; two holding court atop a towering dune, a group of four grazing in a grassy field, the lone male trotting along down a sandy road, a group of three blocking our passage on Sandfiddler Road.

All in all, we spotted twenty-one mustangs during our excursion while also enjoying the amazing, beachfront homes, alluring landscapes and even a bit of history.

The Wash Woods Station provides an interesting change in the architecture along the beach and was built as a lifesaving station in 1917 to replace an outdated station (Deals Island Station #6) a few miles north. It was named for a small village located just north of the Virginia border and housed many guardsmen who kept lookout, especially during times of war when enemy ships cruised along the coast.

After the war, the need for personnel decreased until only a single caretaker remained. The station was decommissioned in late 1954 or early 1955. It served as a private vacation home for a time and then was restored in 1989. Today you can enjoy its construction from afar and occasionally even a horse on the property.

Eventually, we made our way back the way we had come, taking time to stop to enjoy the views from Penny Hill, the second largest dune in North Carolina.

Finally, our adventure was coming to a close and it was time for everyone to head back to their beach chairs and sun!

As I sat in my chair later that day, I turned my head and looked northward. I thought about the magnificent ponies that hold court not that far from where I was seated. Though they were not as colorful as the ones that I had sought out two years before, they were the true color of the landscape.

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Horse Tour Companies

Back Country Safari Tours http://www.outerbankstours.com/?utm_source=icwnet
Wild Horse Adventure Tours https://wildhorsetour.com/?utm_source=icwnet
Bob’s Wild Horse Adventure Tours https://www.outerbanks.com/bobs-off-road-wild-horse-tours.html
Corolla Adventures https://www.outerbanks.com/corolla-adventures.html
Corolla Wild Horse Tours https://www.outerbanks.com/corolla-wild-horse-tours.html
Corolla Jeep Adventure https://corollajeepadventures.com/

Loving the Lava

Bucket List item number 34…climb a volcano.

I was finally going to get my chance in Guatemala.

After our arrival, we had set up a tour to climb Pacaya. Though the tour we booked was to be conducted in Spanish, we decided that we could make it work.

Picked up from our hotel, we endured a longer than normal drive due to the heavy traffic. Arriving at the Visitors’ Center in the village of San Francisco de Sales, late in the afternoon, there were so many tour buses and hikers, we were afraid that we would lose our group. Maybe the tour being in Spanish wasn’t such a good idea after all!

After paying our park entrance fee and saying “No, gracias” fifty times when asked if I wanted to buy a hiking stick by the hordes of children hoping to make a few quetzals, our group of approximately fifteen hikers and a tour guide, finally set out on the uphill trail.

No sooner than we began the uphill climb, I began to have a bit of trouble. Now, I’m no Olympic athlete, but I do go to the gym fairly regularly. And yes, I am over the hill, but the altitude and steepness of the climb, however, was no joke. Thankfully, three young men following our group with horses, came to the rescue. You can bet I climbed up on that horse’s back quicker than you can say, “Lava”.

At every lookout point and rest area, I watched everyone sweating profusely and breathing heavy. Me? I just hopped off my horse and attempted to capture the views of the Laguna De Calderas and Mirador Majahue, neither of which we could get a good glimpse of due to the low clouds.

My ride was enjoyable and I suspected we were close to the top when the clouds descended upon us. Separated from the rest of the group, me and another horse rider, were guided up another trail to where the horses are kept and traded out.

Everything was white (and windy) and I was quite ecstatic that I had not exerted myself for no view. As I blindly ambled across the lava field, I saw the Lava Store and thought, “Well, at least I have something to take a picture of…”

Finally, hearing voices in the distance, the rest of the group made their way toward us. As if on cue, the clouds seemed to dissipate a bit and just over the ridge, we could see lava streaming down the side of the volcano!

Thinking about the earthquake a couple of nights prior, it was a bit disconcerting, yet thrilling at the same time! Were we tempting fate? What if there was another earthquake at that moment and it shifted the flow?

Possible? Maybe? But I am no seismologist! And I am definitely not a volcanologist!

Instead of worrying, I happily accepted my stick and marshmallows from my guide and made my way to the heat vents to roast my snack. Amazingly, the heat (probably enough to melt the soles of our shoes if you stood in one location long enough), was sufficient to brown and make them a gooey, bunch of goodness!

Feeling as though we had worn out our welcome, it was time to appease the volcano gods and vacate their unstable residence.

Hopping on my horse, my Guatemalan hostler led me back down the steep path to where our hike originated. Though we were far from the lava flow at this point, I have to admit, I felt as though we weren’t far enough.

Though it was thrilling to see, maybe I wasn’t quite loving the lava!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Pacaya Volcano

http://www.volcanpacaya.info/
Admission: 50Q (about $6.50 US) for park admission, not covered by tour price. Tours run approximately $7-8 US per person and often conducted in Spanish.
Getting There: Many tours are available through hotels and tour companies.