Going back home, at the airport in Houston, USA - 19 April 2007

After almost three weeks in Belize, Honduras and Guatemala I flew back from Guatemala City to Houston and from Houston (USA) on to Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and then by train back home. Here you see me in the underground inter-terminal passenger train, going to my departure terminal at George Bush International Airport in Houston.


To see where this photo was taken exactly, have a look at the interactive map and zoom in and out for a better overview.

In the inter-terminal passenger train at George Bush Intercontinental Airport

At the window of the inter-terminal passenger train at George Bush Intercontinental Airport

Boat trip around Lago de Atítlan, Guatemala - 16 April 2007

After visiting Chichicastenango for it's Maya market on Sunday, the previous day, I continued my trip to Panajachel at the shores of Lago de Atítlan. Lago de Atítlan is a large lake in a volcanic crater, surrounded by three volcano's. Especially in the morning the view is beautiful. Tranquil blue water, blue skies and the volcano's as a gentle shadow at the horizons. On Monday I rented a boat for a trip around Lago de Atítlan. I went from Panajachel to Santiago Atítlan, where I met Maya god Maximón. Then on to San Antonio Palopo for looking at how the coulourful cloths the Maya's are wearing traditionally are made. And on to Santa Catarina Palopo for just a bit of looking around. It's a different world out there!

To see where this photo was taken exactly, have a look at the interactive map and zoom in and out for a better overview.

Map of the boat trip around Lago de Atítlan

Legend:
Red = travel by bus
Green = travel by boat
Pink = travel by plane
Yellow = Daytrip / excursion (by bus or car)
Yellow with green dotting = Daytrip / excursion by boat

Sailing towards Santiago Atítlan 1

Here I am sitting in the boat.

Sailing towards Santiago Atítlan 2

You can see one volcano in the background.

At a loom for weaving Maya fabrics in San Antonio Palopo

In San Antonio Palopo I went with a lady to her house. Of course she wore the traditional selfmade colourful clothes. She showed me around in her little house, showing the loom she uses for weaving and all the fabrics she made. It was great to see all of that! I love those colours. Each little town around Lago de Atítlan has its own pattern of fabrics.

Kissed by a beautiful model at a wedding - Antigua, Guatemala - 14 April 2007

Sometimes I just get lucky.

Kissed by a beautiful model - Youssouf at a wedding - Antigua, Guatemala - 14 April 2007.

I was invited to attend a wedding in Antigua. At the end of the party, after some severe dancing, I ran into this girl. This pretty girl turned out to be a Guatemalan model. And she kissed me! I'm still blushing my horns off when I think of it...

To see where this photo was taken exactly, have a look at the interactive map and zoom in and out for a better overview.

Video of Youssouf with lava at the Volcano Pacaya, Guatemala - 13 April 2007

I also shot a short video of myself with the glowing lava at the volcano.
Have a look and enjoy it!

Lava at the Pacaya Volcano, Guatemala - 13 April 2007

The trip continued.. A lot of lava to see and feel. Imagine the heat when you're really close. Or when you just missed one sip of breath when your lungs are filled with volcanic gasses.

To see where these photo's were taken exactly, have a look at the interactive map and zoom in and out for a better overview.

Vulcanic rocks 1

This was where the lava flow stopped. The grass still present. The rocks are solid and cold now.

Vulcanic rocks 2

This was where the lava flow stopped. The grass still present. The rocks are solid and cold now.

Lava up close

We were walking up the volcano to the lava flows. You think the volcanic rock you are walking on is safe and cold.. But suddenly at 5 meters, some dust and rock slid down and you could see the hot melted rock glowing under it. This photo has been taken at 3 meters (10 feet) from the glowing lava.

Lava up ahead- Youssouf at the Pacaya Volcano, Guatemala - 13 April 2007.

You can see the lava coming down up ahead. But right next to me, on the right, there is a ditch with flowing lava as well.. Awesome!

A ditch of lava - Youssouf at the Pacaya Volcano, Guatemala - 13 April 2007.

This is as close as you can get. I felt like being toasted on a barbeque. The distance was 4 or 5 meters (14 feet) and it was hot.. Luckily my fleece did not get scorched, I did smell some burning rubber from the hot rocks below our feet. It wasn't me. You can't see it, but this lava is still moving and very much alive.

In Antigua and at the Volcano Pacaya, Guatemala - 13 April 2007

April 12th I took the long bus trip from Copán in Honduras to Antigua in Guatemala. Quite a different climate and culture. Antigua is a colonial city and looks more like the colonial buildings in Madrid than to the rest of Guatemala. Lovely town and not as hot as Copán (moderate temperature).

After a nice and well deserved breakfast, I went for a daytrip up the Volcano Pacaya. It's still active and there's still lava coming out. This is one of the most thrilling experiences you can have. You can almost feel the fibers in your fleece starting to melt. The landscape is filled with fractal shaped black rock. Almost a moon landscape. The sight (and feel) of the glowing lava is something to never forget.

To see where these photo's were taken exactly, have a look at the interactive map and zoom in and out for a better overview.

Breakfast at Fernando's Kaffee

The previous day I had a long bus journey from Copán in Honduras to Antigua in Guatemala. So I thought I deserved a nice breakfast. Fernando's Kaffee in Antigua is a great place for breakfast. Good atmosphere and excellent liquados (fruit shakes). Don't forget to take the panqueques con Nutella, chocolate & banana pancakes!

Map of the daytrip from Antigua to the volcano Pacaya

Legend:
Red = travel by bus
Green = travel by boat
Pink = travel by plane
Yellow = Daytrip / excursion (by bus or car)
Yellow with green dotting = Daytrip / excursion by boat

Sitting at some volcanic rock

After climbing the Volcano Pacaya for an hour or 2, we encountered the first parts of the where the volcanic rock had flown. Almost fractally sharp, black rock. Strange stuff. Look at the structure of the rock.

Lava coming down the volcano

This was the first peak we had at the top of the vulcano. You could see the smoke coming out and the hot lava coming down. An out of this world sight!