My first Journey in San Bartolome' Milpas Altas

So I've been bombarded by a steady load of Spanish language work, Peace Corps training, and journeys around the surrounding towns of San Bartolome. So apparently a rift must have opened the cosmos at just the right time, because I now have a little time on this wonderful Saturday afternoon to make this post that I've been trying to put up for weeks. Without further ado...

My journey began by trekking slowly up a dirt road on the outskirts of town with my almost everyone from my host family...


As we began the hike I could tell it would be a rough time for my host-sister Ulissa who was wearing dress shoes... ouch!

In front of her is Eddie her husband, and the adorable Diego riding on his back.









This is one of the first close up views I was able to get of the highlands.

Milpas Altas (tall cornstocks) are partly what our town was named after.




A friend of my host brother was my guide through most of the hike as we were much faster than everyone else.

And we made it to the top!
On one side of the mountain:

A stunning view of my small pueblo below

On the other side...wow
Volcan de Agua,

and... Volcan de Fuego in the same view (but my camera couldn't capture all of it).


























My host-parents finally made it.

Don Cezar (pictured here) moves throught the mountain like he owns it. And he actually does know this place like the back of his hand. He also owns a small farm near the base of the mountain with a few cows, pigs, and roosters.

On the way back:

Even though it's the dry season, the forests on the mountain are still a luscious bright green, filled with life including Jack, our friends husky and our personal scout for the trail.









Looking back - I had to duck my head several times to make it through the briars and twigs guarding the entrance to the backside of our mountain.









Almost home... we catch a glimpse of a windmill currently in use to grind corn into meal for the town.

Back home again, I looked up from my house to see where I had just been. This country is amazing!