The Daily Grind of San Pedro la Laguna, Lago de Atitlan

Alas! the crushing monotony of a daily routine.... check out ours

6.30 a.m Arise and have warm if not hot shower

7.00a.m. Eat porridge and a huge bowl of melon, watermelon and banana

7.30 a.m.Leave for our classes at Casa Rosario, our spanish school. This is what we see on our way to school:

8.00-10.00 a.m. One to one Spanish tuition with Jose (Lizzie) and Concepcion (Jos) in the garden of the school that looks something like this:

10.00 a.m. Break to eat either watermelon, pineapple or guacamole

10.30 - 12 noon Second half of Spanish lesson. This is Chepe, Lizzie's teacher, at the top of the 'Indio Nariz' mountain that he took us up:

12 noon Return to our temporary home with the Bixchul family for lunch

1p.m. approx Return to Casa Rosario to lounge in hammocks on beach overlooking lake. Gaze dreamily at the 3 volcanoes surrounding the lake, watch reeds wave gently in breeze, gasp at startling blue of water, see lanchas skidding across the water or kayakers slowly paddling, watch shadows change on mountains across the bay as sun moves through sky, doze, read.

2.30p.m. approx Scramble over rocks to best swimming place. Enter cool refreshing water. Swim leisurely.

3.00 p.m. Either, laze on rock to dry off whilst doing Spanish homework
Or, scramble back over rocks, trying to avoid catching the eye of various naked people lounging, swimming or washing in the lake and continue to the school garden to complete homework.

5.00p.m. Walk slowly back home. On the way stop for coffee and cake at small cafe. Maybe read a little more.

6.30 p.m. Eat dinner of tortillas, eggs, beans, various veg, often avocado etc. Sit around with Bixchuls and try out our Spanish on them.

Later Something along the lines of- Head down to one of the bars by the dock, drink two litros de Gallo and play cards, watch bonfires across the bay, discuss rainbows with 11yr old Meyra, say no gracias to many pieces of delicious looking cake because we are too damned stuffed from the 3 octagonal meals already eaten...

10.00 - 10.30 pm Retire to bed