Security- We have a T-Rex on the Mayan Ruins

Security - We have a T-Rex on the Ruins

Bright and early we started walking to the Copán Mayan Ruins. I did not research much of what I would be seeing on this trip so I had no idea what to expect. Entering the park we decided to pay for a guide named Tony - a man in his late 80s with an extensive knowledge on Mayan ruins. 

Walking down towards the ruins we could hear the macaws and see then flying over head. It was a spectacular sight. Just before getting to the actual ruins themselves there were around 40 macaws on branches, on the ground, and flying around. I was speechless seeing these beautiful creatures in the wild.

The ruins themself were ok at first. I was a bit disappointed not realizing the bigger ones were yet to come. The cool thing was that we were the only ones in the actual park. The biggest ruin in the area was a small pyramid that you could climb.

Perfect spot for the T-Rex photo. I nervously climbed up to the top and put the costume on. My group down below all started laughing and taking pictures. One of the guides even was taking photos and laughing with our tour guide.

All was well and I could cross off standing on Mayan ruins from the list. 

Moving further into the park I realized that the ruins got way bigger and more impressive. Excited I ran to the top of another area and proceeded to get ready to take the picture. That’s when I heard a security guard begin to whistle and clap his hands. Whoops! No big deal I put it away and walked back down. He was there waiting for me and proceeded to point at the costume, the radio, and a bunch of Spanish. 

Mai, Paul, and I tried to translate but all we could understand was that he wanted to take the costume and that security could see me on the cameras! Part of me wanted to stuff it in the bag and just walk away. He continued to insist that he had to take the costume since headquarters had seen it and no T-Rex costume were allowed. Actually none of us were even allowed to have backpacks but since we got there so early no one was working to tell us (common theme in Central America).

After some more translating, Fernando helping talk to the guard, and a bunch of awkward laughs we finally come to the agreement that they would confiscate the costume until I left the park!

The rest of the ruins were pretty amazing. The tree growing out of rubble looked almost unreal. Tony told us so much information it made my head spin. He also would get so excited to tell a funny joke but would forget halfway through. 

It was also so enjoyable to have some time in the park without a ton of people. By the time we finished and made our way out the crowds began to flock in. There were very few gringo tourists. Mostly everyone touring was from Latin America. 

Exiting the park I was able to get the T-Rex back in my possession and laugh about the fact I will probably be the only person to get away with something like that for a very long time! 

Honduras

Hola Honduras 

This morning was a 5 am departure to try to beat the traffic around Guatemala City. Today we would be crossing the border from Guatemala into Honduras and would take about 8 hours total. I slept for the first few hours and then watched through the window the rest. 

One thing I love about traveling overland is seeing life outside the cities and main spots. Stand littered the road selling fruits here and there. The occasional cow were be walking down the side of the road. Life here is most definitely more simple. 

Crossing the border was simple... maybe too simple? Passports and 20 quetzals each were collected on the bus. Fernando got off the bus and in a few minutes came back and said we were ready to go. We never had to get off, no guard ever looked at who we were, and no one stamped our passport out of Guatemala or into Honduras. After enduring hour long border patrols at time I was surprised and a little concerned. My happiness to not have to wait outweighed the concern.

We arrived to the hilly town of Copán earlier than expected. Walking around we found a delicious spot to eat lunch for a dollar each! I can not remember the name but it had the largest avocados wrapped in a tortilla with a bunch of meet. Yum!

The town itself was adorable and bright. Our hotel was situated at the top of a steep hill. Tuk Tuks zoomed up and down the cobble stone streets and men sat in parks all wearing cowboy hats. I can honestly say that Central America has not disappointed. I feel as if I am walking around in a textbook or a film. 

Nearby is a rescue bird center named Macaw mountain. Four of us got in a local tuk tuk for a 2km ride up and down the bumpy roads. Honestly, I think there is a three person safety limit but in this country anything goes when it comes to transportation. The ride was ridiculously fun. Isabela hung out of the front holding on for dear life.

Macaw mountain itself was a nice visit. They center rescues birds from owners who realize they can not take care of them or are injured. The center then works to release them in the wild. If the bird can not be rehabilitated then they keep them there to take care of for the rest of their life. I’m not going to lie I was so excited to get up close and personal with some gorgeous Macaws.

That evening we took a packed van ride about 45 minutes outside of the city into the jungle to a hot spring place. As we got further in I noticed less and less houses and more and more plants. Once we arrived we had to walk across a bride and through a tunnel. Then we got to the different types of springs. The higher up you go the hotter they get. The highest pool was so hot that you would get burned by touching it. 

We relaxed for ever in the pools! I loved sitting under a waterfall that massages your neck. The sun set and the jungle came alive with colored lamps. 

After that the locals cooked us a delicious barbecue. During dinner a chicken sat in a fence nearby trying to jump off. It became a joke because Robert from Finland wanted him to jump off so bad and even cheered him on. In the end he actually made the chicken get off the fence.

Tomorrow we will be seeing the ruins and I hope to get a T-Rex picture!

Joining the Group

After a long day of shopping and touring Hannah and I decided to chill out at the hostel before I needed to head out. To be honest I was nervous and regretting my decision to not take the route of just hostels instead I booked a “tour”. Since I only had a limited number of days I found a company that would book your transport and hotels for you while still having complete freedom. So I’m not exactly sure tour is the correct term. Basically I wouldn’t have to figure out the details but wouldn’t be stuck on a fully guided tour. We would still be taking local transport and doing all the typical backpacking stuff. I was excited yet nervous to meet the group. 

*I can fast forward and say I’m loving the people. I’m currently thinking back and writing this blog entry from El Salvador while laying in hammocks with my new friends Casie and Mai!

I grabbed my backpack and peacock Domingo and headed to the hotel where the group was meeting. It was getting dark and I wanted to get there before the sun went down. Once at El Carmen Hotel I noticed there was no group. The hotel staff said there was another group but they were not back and he believed they were traveling north and not to Honduras. I checked my documents and realized the hotel was actually at the opposite end of the city at El Carmen Suites! Whoops! I grabbed my stuff and took off.

When I got to the new hotel the group was there and cheered as I walked in 40 minutes late. The group is made up of 11 really well travelled people. Mostly everyone has been to 30+ countries and even a guy who has been to over 100! We kind of joked that you would have to be well travelled to want to come to these countries. With everything lately on the news dealing with caravans, gangs, civil unrest, and murders it makes is a little less travelled. But I’ll get into that more later.

That night we enjoyed a birthday celebration for Isabel, my new roommate, at a super cool restaurant. Walking in it looked like a library. Our leads Fernando and even gotten it decorated for her.

A group of us stayed out late while other watched from the rooftop lava flow and explode out of a nearby volcano! Early in the day I had seen the smoke coming out and asked a local if it was from volcanic activity. The local responded so casually that it was. For me it seemed like the coolest thing in the world but to them it is just everyday normal life!

Welcome to Guatemala

Welcome to Guatemala!

Needless to say once the plane landed and I made it to the shuttle everything was great. All of my worries and fears went way.

The airport itself was an adventure. Going through customs you have to fill out a for, and step up to a button. Once instructed, you press the button and it will turn green or red to decide whether they check your bags or not. Mine turned green! Later on I did find out from another travel that hers turned red. Whenever she went to have her bags scanned the security watching the monitor never looks up at the monitor at all and just waved her on.

Exiting the airport I was surrounded by a packed room filled with families waiting for their loved ones. People were holding flowers, toys, and balloons to greet their arrival. It was a pretty happy site. While waiting for the shuttle I went to a little cafe and ordered some French fries and a cappuccino but somehow ended up with some nachos instead. 

The shuttle from Guatemala City to Antigua was pretty uneventful. Minus the bus running into one of those yellow barrier poles. 

Tropicana Hostel was a paradise for backpackers and pretty centrally located. Relaxing by the pool I met Hannah and a few others. Since it as the Fourth of July they were having a trivia night on the roof top. The views of the city were fantastic. The mix of colorful building, lush plants, old buildings, and volcano backdrops make this city stunning. Our team one trivia and we spent the night exploring some of the Guatemalan nightlife.

The next morning Hannah and I had breakfast at "Y tu pina tambien" and highly recommend it to any traveler. The adorable shop served super fresh smoothies and food. The French toast was to die for.

We wanted to see a lot of the city so of course the first stop we made was the market. Antigua's market is a shoppers paradise. They sell everything you could ever need. One of my favorites were the men walking around carrying hundreds of phone charger cords.

They also have an artisans market filled with brightly color Guatemalan crafts. Here is where I fell in love with Domingo the Peacock and decided it would be a great idea to have to lug him around.

Antigua is known for a picturesque spot where an arch stands between colorful building with a volcano in the back. Obviously this was the perfect spot for a Dino picture!!!

I truly can say I loved everything about Antigua!

The Emotions of Travel

**I am writing this while I am on the flight to Guatemala. I wrote it to give my friends and family some insight to feelings and emotions I go through leading up to a trip. It also serves to help my sort through my own feelings as my anxiety builds to reach my destination. Also, please note that I very rarely read back through what I wrote. Due to this I ask that you please forgive the many typos you will come across in this blog.

Every year I go through some of the same feelings leading up to travel:
Excitement, Stress, Excitement, Doubt, Sadness, Fear, Happiness, and Confidence

Step 1 Excitement - I always get an initial excitement that takes over my entire life once I decide on a travel destination. I am not talking about the feeling of pressing that book button on the computer but rather the beginning moment when you realize the specific destination of where you want to plan your trip.

Each year a different area of the world seemed to reach out and call name. As corny as that sounds I truly mean it. For years I had no desire to go to Africa and then one day I woke up and had a uncontrollable burning desire to go. This year that calling was Central America. A series of factors contributed to my decision including honeymoon spots Tyler would like to visit, meeting my mom and sister, and of course I would be lying if the constant mention of these countries on the news didn't heighten my desire. I tend to find myself constantly gravitating towards locations that are slammed on the news to get a better perspective.

Step 2 Stress - Next comes the stress! After being excited and scoping it all out comes the task of fitting it all together. In previous years this was less of a step as I only needed to book the flight and go with the flow once I landed. Little to no planning. However, the sections my mom and I travel on are a bit more planned out. This year that includes a portion with Tyler as well. Figuring out the perfect flights, matching up dates, making a list of things to do is all a bit of a stressful science I've come to learn.

Step 3 Excitement - Once I am booked I am back to the full throttle happy mode! Except if your name is Libby you tend to put off booking some of the flights until a week before. The it is a mix of two for months leading up. Excited about all that is booked and slightly stressed about that flight you know you need to book but never do.

Step 4 Doubt - Traveling is something I am beyond passionate about. Seeing each country in real life has given me a different perspective on each of those countries. I find that so many people filter in information from the news and allow it to create a reality that does not exist. And I do not blame people for thinking that way. If I never had the experiences that I am fortunate to have I would probably feel the same. I still sometimes do!

Year after year there are many people who comment how where I am going is unsafe. How I am going to die. They tell me racial slurs about the people of the country.  Negatives upon negatives. Why would I leave the US? Are you crazy? Why would you go there it is all trash. You are going to get shot, kidnapped, bombed. You name it someone has said it to me most likely.

These perceptions are instilled in our heads by the media.

If you have never gone backpacking or travelled to many countries then chances are it's a bit harder to understand. Its hard to explain that everything we see on the news is not the entire reality.

Do these negative things happen all over the world? Yes. Do tourists sometimes die while traveling? Yes. Are places in poverty? Yes. Crime? Yes. But these things go on every single day in the United States and in our own cities. In actuality they happen much less to tourists visiting other countries than when living in their own city.

The best way it was ever described to me was by a lovely girl in Santorini, Greece. She had told us all about a trip she had booked to the United States but had decided to cancel it due to all of the shootings. Here I was listening to someone say they were too scared to travel to the United States due to news coverage. Truthful I feel extremely safe in my daily life and to hear someone would be too scared to visit my country made me sad. But in reality it makes perfect sense. And if I sit down and think only of the negative, of the news reports, and forget about the fact that every day life goes on and on all over the world it is easy to get caught up in the fear.

I try to tell people that and explain it. Some people get it and some don't. That's ok!
However, in the end the constant remarks do eventually spur a little doubt in my head.

Step 5 Sadness- Leaving home is exciting but it is always a bit sad. As the doubt begins to flicker it sparks the sadness that I get knowing I am leaving my friends, family, and now husband. Recently getting married make it just that much harder. Luckily I have been able to combat that feeling a bit knowing I will get to be on my honeymoon with Tyler for over two weeks of travel this year!

Step 6 Fear- I would be lying if total fear does not set in right before leaving. All of a sudden all the negatives people said seem like a possibility. All the excitement is gone. Every plane is going to crash. Terrified to step off the plane alone and find a taxi. Every taxi driver is a sex trafficker. How will I make friends? Head spinning this is how I leave for a trip. So why go? Because I know I have to. I have to push self and continue to grow and learn about the world. Fear is temporary and I must overcome that to get to the goal.

Step 7/8 Happiness/Confidence- I haven't reached that point yet since I am currently on the flight but I know the feeling. It will happen within my 24 hours of reaching my first destination. The happiness of travel will take over and my confidence in how I travel will return. The familiar feel of meeting people in hostel, confidence as I negotiate Tuk Tuk prices, and the dirt and grim of living out of a back pack will return. In that moment I will smile as I know I am back home on the road.

Please do not mistake my views on world travel for ignorant bliss. I'm fully aware there are dangers in travel. But I recognize that much of the fear we possess is unwarranted in many cases. Travel safe and aware always. But fear only the things that need it and don't waste your energy on the other false fears,

First Grade in 360

I am thrilled to announce the newest technological addition to our classroom! With the help of Donorschoose our room has received a 360 camera! I am really looking forward to being able to share our learning experiences with the community. These experiences will range from everyday activities, fields trips, and even my summer travels. This summer I look forward to creating virtual reality experiences that my students will be able to experience as if they were there with me. The camera is simple to use and will allow us to capture some of those special moments. Students were excited to try it out when it came. Here is a snapshot of our room in Tiny Planet Mode!

The Whirling Dervishes - Post Dervish Therapy

The Whirling Dervishes - Post Dervish Therapy

(Jumping ahead a few days)

It was hard finding out that our balloon ride in Cappadocia was canceled. It was one of the main reasons we came to visit the area. Every day hundreds of balloons take flight through the Rose Valley at sunrise. The result is a beautiful skyline dotted with beautiful colors over a golden rose landscape. However, for us that picture would not come true. Our flight had been cancelled due to wind. Many travels were in the same boat.

After the tour we came back to the cave hotel (yes we got to sleep in a cave) and decided we would relax and get caught up on some much needed sleep. Speaking with the front desk he suggested an alternative to bed, the famous Whirling Dervish Show. This show however would be better than any other one offered in Turkey because it was performed in an old caravanserai (trading market during the Silk Road time period) and was the most authentic.

Excited we booked the tickets and decided to enjoy our evening with a new plan! The taxi took us about 25 minutes outside of the city and pulled up to the building. Nothing else was around. The caravanserai was a beautiful stone building that reminded me of those I saw all over Uzbekistan. We walked in to our seats. It turns out it would be a very intimate performance with only 7 others enjoying the show.

The lights went out and the show began. Eight men walked in dressed in all black with light brown tall hats sitting upon their heads (Symbolic of tombstones for their egos). Silence. One began to chant a soothing and mystical song that echoed off the tall caravanserai ceilings. At first the song he sang was comforting and beautiful. That changed as the song continued on for more than 20 minutes and began to resemble more of a wailing Child. I would be lying if I said we didn't doze off a little.

I decided to use this time to read the brochure explaining what Whirling Dervishes were. In my mind they were a performance act that performed a dance in older times, a sort of show. Boy was I wrong! It turns out The Whirling Dervishes were much more symbolic and spiritual. This was a ceremony we were watching, not a show. To sum it up they connect the fact that life is a constant revolution and use it to cleanse themselves. Everything revolves and in turn they revolve in a sort of ritual as well with a hand upwards to receive gifts from God and the other hand down to the earth. They always revolve in the same directions tilted slightly over their heart.

The ceremony continued passing through different stages such as flute playing, the dervishes being reborn, a master reciting parts of the Quran, and some other things I still can't wrap my head around. I suggest doing a nice little Google search to read more and see some videos.

When the ceremony was over I looked towards my mom. She tried to stifle her laughter as she expressed her opinion on the show. Trying to be respectful she whispered her opinion while I recorded her and tears of laughter snuck out. It may have been the lack of sleep for days that caused the reaction or the fact we went into the ceremony thinking it was an entertaining show. Either way it was definitely a night we will never forget. Even writing about the "what in the world did we just watch" show has me cracking up once more.

Arriving back at the town we went out to eat and bought a local bottle of wine to commemorate our "special" evening. Let's just say we had a fun night shopping after that. My mom referred to the dinner and shopping as Post Dervish Therapy.