28 April 2003
"mean people suck"
Because this is MY website, I feel I can talk badly (or, at times, sweetly) about anything I want. This is only to save you from making the same mistakes I have....
Upon arrival to Antigua, Jen and I knew it would be quite the challenge to find a spanish school, as there are nearly 100 to choose from. We walked around the town and asked different students where they studied and how they liked it. We went with the school, Cabaguil (thanks Bylgja!). They gave us a slight discount because we were two. Jen´s teacher was Raphael, mine was Mary. The second day we were in Antigua, we moved in with a family and started classes. Sounds good, right?
I completed my 4 weeks of classes, Jen completed 2 (remember, she went back to Mexico with Renee). After 4 weeks, Jen and I decided to leave for Honduras and perhaps return for one more week of classes during Semana Santa.
This is where the troubles began....
2 days before departure, one of the secretaries in the office claimed that I had only paid for 3 weeks of classes and that I owed them $100 more. I have been paying every single solitary Thursday from week 1...and she knew this...but neither of us had the reciept to prove it. Which leads me to some VERY important travel advice....ALWAYS ask for and keep reciepts of any kind throughout your travels! The other secretary was calling me, coming to my house and blaming me for screwing up. How dare anyone question my integrity! They stated I would need to pay them $50 and they would pay the other $50. I was not about to pay for a mistake that they had made.
Jen and I were going to leave some belongings at the school instead of hauling it all to Utila with us, but because of this situation, we decided it would be best to carry our things with us. We were both expecting packages from home...mine included 12 rolls of film and Jen´s has her new VISA card and some perscriptions. We told the school we would be returning in 2 weeks for another week of classes and that we were both expecting packages. They promised a reservation with our same family and to just let them know when we´d return.
2 weeks later, I called the school from Honduras to let them know we´d be returning that night and needed to confirm that we had a place to stay. This secretary told us our original family´s home was full, but gave us another address. We arrived back in Antigua and went to the address they provided for us. It was 11:30 PM. We had been on a bus for nearly 9 hours. We were dirty, hungry, and tired. We knocked and knocked...no one answered. We luckily found a hostal.
The next morning, we went to the school. My package was there. Jen´s was not.
Now here Jen and I patiently sit in Antigua, waiting....AND waiting for a package from Jen´s mom. Jen´s card expires in 3 days and we were to leave El Salvador last Thursday. We still have 2 countries to visit in, now, 13 days.
Today Jen and Renee decided to go directly to the post office to see if they had any record of this package. Apparently this package WAS delivered and signed for by this certain secretary on April 20th!!! 8 days ago. 8 days we have paid for a hostal, and waited. 8 days that we have gone into the school and specifically asked if this package had arrived. 8 days of this secretary lying to us!
The fishy thing is, this secretary thinks I am Jen...and that Jen is me. So perhaps she has been keeping this package ransom because of a mistake she made with my money. Renee let her know that tomorrow we will be talking to the director of the school and if necessary, the police. I will be sure to keep you posted (that is, if you have read this far and care to find out...I know, BORING blog today)
Bottom Line...if you plan to study school in Antigua, avoid Cabaguil. I loved my teacher, but unfortunetly the administration is dishonest.
MOVING FORWARD
My dear friends from Iceland left for home this morning. Bylgja, Arnol, and Heidrun....I miss you already! Let me know when you make it home alive!!! This has got to be one of the worst parts of travelling. Meeting wonderful people and knowing you may never see them again.
El Salvador tomorrow?
Because this is MY website, I feel I can talk badly (or, at times, sweetly) about anything I want. This is only to save you from making the same mistakes I have....
Upon arrival to Antigua, Jen and I knew it would be quite the challenge to find a spanish school, as there are nearly 100 to choose from. We walked around the town and asked different students where they studied and how they liked it. We went with the school, Cabaguil (thanks Bylgja!). They gave us a slight discount because we were two. Jen´s teacher was Raphael, mine was Mary. The second day we were in Antigua, we moved in with a family and started classes. Sounds good, right?
I completed my 4 weeks of classes, Jen completed 2 (remember, she went back to Mexico with Renee). After 4 weeks, Jen and I decided to leave for Honduras and perhaps return for one more week of classes during Semana Santa.
This is where the troubles began....
2 days before departure, one of the secretaries in the office claimed that I had only paid for 3 weeks of classes and that I owed them $100 more. I have been paying every single solitary Thursday from week 1...and she knew this...but neither of us had the reciept to prove it. Which leads me to some VERY important travel advice....ALWAYS ask for and keep reciepts of any kind throughout your travels! The other secretary was calling me, coming to my house and blaming me for screwing up. How dare anyone question my integrity! They stated I would need to pay them $50 and they would pay the other $50. I was not about to pay for a mistake that they had made.
Jen and I were going to leave some belongings at the school instead of hauling it all to Utila with us, but because of this situation, we decided it would be best to carry our things with us. We were both expecting packages from home...mine included 12 rolls of film and Jen´s has her new VISA card and some perscriptions. We told the school we would be returning in 2 weeks for another week of classes and that we were both expecting packages. They promised a reservation with our same family and to just let them know when we´d return.
2 weeks later, I called the school from Honduras to let them know we´d be returning that night and needed to confirm that we had a place to stay. This secretary told us our original family´s home was full, but gave us another address. We arrived back in Antigua and went to the address they provided for us. It was 11:30 PM. We had been on a bus for nearly 9 hours. We were dirty, hungry, and tired. We knocked and knocked...no one answered. We luckily found a hostal.
The next morning, we went to the school. My package was there. Jen´s was not.
Now here Jen and I patiently sit in Antigua, waiting....AND waiting for a package from Jen´s mom. Jen´s card expires in 3 days and we were to leave El Salvador last Thursday. We still have 2 countries to visit in, now, 13 days.
Today Jen and Renee decided to go directly to the post office to see if they had any record of this package. Apparently this package WAS delivered and signed for by this certain secretary on April 20th!!! 8 days ago. 8 days we have paid for a hostal, and waited. 8 days that we have gone into the school and specifically asked if this package had arrived. 8 days of this secretary lying to us!
The fishy thing is, this secretary thinks I am Jen...and that Jen is me. So perhaps she has been keeping this package ransom because of a mistake she made with my money. Renee let her know that tomorrow we will be talking to the director of the school and if necessary, the police. I will be sure to keep you posted (that is, if you have read this far and care to find out...I know, BORING blog today)
Bottom Line...if you plan to study school in Antigua, avoid Cabaguil. I loved my teacher, but unfortunetly the administration is dishonest.
MOVING FORWARD
My dear friends from Iceland left for home this morning. Bylgja, Arnol, and Heidrun....I miss you already! Let me know when you make it home alive!!! This has got to be one of the worst parts of travelling. Meeting wonderful people and knowing you may never see them again.
El Salvador tomorrow?
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27 April 2003
"Parrothead Alert"
THIS is what I missed last night....
I am INSANELY jealous because I know some of you were there...and I want a FULL report.
Perhaps when I return I can talk you into a roadtrip???
(If you want to make me REALLY happy, record Leno for me tomorrow night...he´ll be on...)
THIS is what I missed last night....
I am INSANELY jealous because I know some of you were there...and I want a FULL report.
Perhaps when I return I can talk you into a roadtrip???
(If you want to make me REALLY happy, record Leno for me tomorrow night...he´ll be on...)
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25 April 2003
"Good News!!!"
Renee has made a surprise visit to Antigua! (for those of you who don't know...that is Jen's boyfriend) And what did he bring with him? A DIGITAL CAMERA for us to use for the rest of our trip! You know what this means....many more photos and much more excitement to islandindigo.com. Thanks bro! It is great to see you again...even though we did tell you we were leaving Guatemala yesterday!
For other news...last week in Guatemala was the biggest celebration of the year and we returned just in time. Semana Santa, which translates to "Holy Week" brings in TONS of tourists and locals. There were processions (and not just last week, but every weekend for the past 6 weeks...) and alfombras (colorful sawdust and/or flower carpets), and did I mention people? I have never seen Antigua like this. The park was a sellers paradise. Everything from balloons, food, and jewelry to blinky crosses, blow up toys and other flourscent unmentionables. Bands were playing all day and all night. The purpose of this celebration is to reenact the death of Christ. Good Friday was the biggest day, that is the day Christ died. People walked around the streets dressed in black carrying Christ on their shoulders. There are about 40 men or so and they trade off every few blocks. The processions last for hours. Young men carry insense and you can smell it throughout the entire city. The 'alfombras' are created all night long and destroyed in the next days procession and rebuilt again. It was a wonderful week to be in Antigua!
Monday we went with the Icelanders to Lake Atitlan (Panajachel). 3 hours and 5 chicken busses later we made it! Tuesday Jen and I took a tour around the lake and visited 3 villages; San Pedro, Santiago, and San Antonio. We did some shopping and just relaxed. The Icelanders leave on Monday and we will miss them dearly! Who knows...perhaps I may show up at one of their doors in the future?
Back in Antigua and waiting for a package from Jen's mom...then we will head to El Salvador and Nicuragua before greeting my friends on May 11th in San Jose, Costa Rica! Alya, Sommer, Laura, Amber, Becca, and Jenny will be joining us for the last leg of our trip. Can it really all be coming to an end?
Renee has made a surprise visit to Antigua! (for those of you who don't know...that is Jen's boyfriend) And what did he bring with him? A DIGITAL CAMERA for us to use for the rest of our trip! You know what this means....many more photos and much more excitement to islandindigo.com. Thanks bro! It is great to see you again...even though we did tell you we were leaving Guatemala yesterday!
For other news...last week in Guatemala was the biggest celebration of the year and we returned just in time. Semana Santa, which translates to "Holy Week" brings in TONS of tourists and locals. There were processions (and not just last week, but every weekend for the past 6 weeks...) and alfombras (colorful sawdust and/or flower carpets), and did I mention people? I have never seen Antigua like this. The park was a sellers paradise. Everything from balloons, food, and jewelry to blinky crosses, blow up toys and other flourscent unmentionables. Bands were playing all day and all night. The purpose of this celebration is to reenact the death of Christ. Good Friday was the biggest day, that is the day Christ died. People walked around the streets dressed in black carrying Christ on their shoulders. There are about 40 men or so and they trade off every few blocks. The processions last for hours. Young men carry insense and you can smell it throughout the entire city. The 'alfombras' are created all night long and destroyed in the next days procession and rebuilt again. It was a wonderful week to be in Antigua!
Monday we went with the Icelanders to Lake Atitlan (Panajachel). 3 hours and 5 chicken busses later we made it! Tuesday Jen and I took a tour around the lake and visited 3 villages; San Pedro, Santiago, and San Antonio. We did some shopping and just relaxed. The Icelanders leave on Monday and we will miss them dearly! Who knows...perhaps I may show up at one of their doors in the future?
Back in Antigua and waiting for a package from Jen's mom...then we will head to El Salvador and Nicuragua before greeting my friends on May 11th in San Jose, Costa Rica! Alya, Sommer, Laura, Amber, Becca, and Jenny will be joining us for the last leg of our trip. Can it really all be coming to an end?
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18 April 2003
"I´ll take you there"
Imagine yourself on an tropical island. And island in the Caribbean. And island where your days consist of diving in the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world. Deep dives, wreck dives, navigation dives, naturalist dives, drift dives, AND night dives. Seeing HUGE green morays, turtles, Butterfly fish, Queen Angel fish, Long Nose Bat fish, shrimp, crabs, lobster, and Captain Hook (the barracuda that staulked Jen and I for 45 minutes!)....etc. Lying in a hammock under a palm tree on the beach, snorkeling, siestas, fresh fish BBQ´s (gotta love Dave´s cookin´), full moons, shooting stars, being barefoot for days at a time, table dancing, ´cielo´, Salva Vidas, skinny dippin´, sunsets, friends, laughter, no cars, no telephones, no air conditioning, Baleadas, bars on docks, getting ´narked´...
An island where you go with the intention of staying for one week TOPS, and where the most heard line is ¨We are leaving tomorrow¨ and tomorrow turns out to be the next day and the next....
An island where the water works 50% of the time and the power is on the other 50%...
An island where music is always playing, people are always smiling and the sun is always shining....
That is Utila. The island where I spent 2 weeks. And island where I fell in love with diving, new friends, and life!
I wish I had the words to express how amazing this island was and the feelings I had while on it. I wish I had my digital camera to show you all the wonderful things I saw, all the fabulous friends I met, and how beautiful this island is. If I had the money and time, I´m afraid I would have never left. But sadly, Monday morning, after saying ¨We´re leaving tomorrow...¨ for the hundredth time, we really left. The magic felt on this island will never be forgotten. Oh Utila....¨sigh¨
Today Jen and I are back in Antigua enjoying the Semana Santa festivities. There is nothing like celebrating Easter in a Central American country, especially in Antigua. The streets come alive with processions, sand dust carpets, and people from all over the world. It is nice to be back...but a part of me will always be on my little island paradise.
Imagine yourself on an tropical island. And island in the Caribbean. And island where your days consist of diving in the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world. Deep dives, wreck dives, navigation dives, naturalist dives, drift dives, AND night dives. Seeing HUGE green morays, turtles, Butterfly fish, Queen Angel fish, Long Nose Bat fish, shrimp, crabs, lobster, and Captain Hook (the barracuda that staulked Jen and I for 45 minutes!)....etc. Lying in a hammock under a palm tree on the beach, snorkeling, siestas, fresh fish BBQ´s (gotta love Dave´s cookin´), full moons, shooting stars, being barefoot for days at a time, table dancing, ´cielo´, Salva Vidas, skinny dippin´, sunsets, friends, laughter, no cars, no telephones, no air conditioning, Baleadas, bars on docks, getting ´narked´...
An island where you go with the intention of staying for one week TOPS, and where the most heard line is ¨We are leaving tomorrow¨ and tomorrow turns out to be the next day and the next....
An island where the water works 50% of the time and the power is on the other 50%...
An island where music is always playing, people are always smiling and the sun is always shining....
That is Utila. The island where I spent 2 weeks. And island where I fell in love with diving, new friends, and life!
I wish I had the words to express how amazing this island was and the feelings I had while on it. I wish I had my digital camera to show you all the wonderful things I saw, all the fabulous friends I met, and how beautiful this island is. If I had the money and time, I´m afraid I would have never left. But sadly, Monday morning, after saying ¨We´re leaving tomorrow...¨ for the hundredth time, we really left. The magic felt on this island will never be forgotten. Oh Utila....¨sigh¨
Today Jen and I are back in Antigua enjoying the Semana Santa festivities. There is nothing like celebrating Easter in a Central American country, especially in Antigua. The streets come alive with processions, sand dust carpets, and people from all over the world. It is nice to be back...but a part of me will always be on my little island paradise.
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11 April 2003
"Stay Tuned..."
Jen and I are still in Utila. Just finished my Advanced Open Water course and 17th dive!
But the time has come to prepare myself to say goodbye to this wonderful island and my new friends....will update once I return to Antigua on Wednesday.
Salut!
Jen and I are still in Utila. Just finished my Advanced Open Water course and 17th dive!
But the time has come to prepare myself to say goodbye to this wonderful island and my new friends....will update once I return to Antigua on Wednesday.
Salut!
0 Comments:
