Life at Hotle BackPackers

Hello Everyone,

I have been at Hotel Backpackers now since friday afternoon. The restaurant slash hotel supports the orphanage and is mainly ran by locals. The Hotel has internet so I have been able to keep up with all the sports. Thank god the browns finally won and Beanie is back.

Eric and Thad left yesterday to casa guatemala becaus there was not enough work for all three of us. They do not have internet access there and I have not been there and I am unable to talk with them so I do not know what it is like quite yet. The volunteers at the orphanage come to town wednesday and saturdays so I will see them then and possible go there tomorrow depending when a volunteer shows up.

It gets dark her in guatemala at 6 and light here at six. I guess that is pretty standard all year around. I wake up about six and got to sleep at like nine becaus of the sun. I live in the hotel dormitory things are slow right now so there is not that many people in the large room full of bunk beds. The room is right on the Rio Dulce (Sweet Rivver) and I get a nice breaze.

The last three days I have worked in the kitchen. My spanish has been improving quite a bit, I feel that writing english is more difficult becaus I have been speaking in spanish all day. I work with two sister Reina and Lidia. They are both in their 30s, only speak spanish, and are always telling me that I am guapo (handosme) and also always asking me to take them to the United sates. I think their might be a connection here but im not sure? Either way it makes me feel good and they have helped me wiht my spanish.

The kitchen is awsome because it is full of charachter. The entire hotel is on the water. The kitchen has a large tree in the middle of it and around the tree is used for a sorta closet. There are a couple holes in the floor where the ladies drop a line and fish for blue gill and I think I saw the catch a catfish one time also. Today they were cooking the fish in the kitchen but I think the usually take them home and cook. Everyone talks about local production, i don´t think you can get any more local than that.

After work I have no schedule. Yesterday I went into town. I walked through the market and I would walk out of a store with freezers and fridges full of meat and then next to that is some one cooking on a barrle with a wood fire. It was quite an amazing mix. Other than that afte work I just practice my spanish with the workers.

Well Im going to have to dinner with another volunteer and we are going to only speak spanish. So I better go. I will try to write soon.

Buenas Noches.

Guatemala Arrivla

We made it to Guatemala City a live and well.

The city is not that big and is a cleaner city all except the exahuast from the city traffic is terrible. Are hotel is nice but small and it is directly under the airport, kind of noisy. We had dinner today and walked a round the city and we were constanly reminded how poor we are at spanish. The best is when trying to ask for peanutbutter at a market and the lady bringing a Coke. However, I must say that everyone was very helpful and kind.

Well I am off to study up!
Buenas Noches

The East Coast

I am not really big on this blogging. However. I think there might be a few of you interested in what is going on so I have created a blog. I wanted to thank everyone that Helped me on my East coast tour.
A tour that included Massachusetts. While visiting this great state I took in a Sox game, ate the best pizza on the east coast, and hiked the beautiful Masschusetts country side.

New York City was my next stop on my trip. During my stay in NYC I went to the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), took in a play, was thrilled by the Natural History Museum, took in time square and central park, and finally discovered that New Yorkers never know where the Fuck they are going.

Next stop was Washington D.C. the Nations Capital. Here I went the Natural History Museum, Air and Space museum, and the Native American Museum. I also went and saw a lot of the sites including Lincolns, Korea, Vietnam, the Washington Monument, the White House.

Then therer was Charlotte. A city of very attractive women and what seemed not much else so I partied. Good Times. If you visit this great city avoid Dave Cramer. (i hate that son of a bitch)

My final stop is here in Myrtle Beach. This has been a weird stop and I think it is because I am ready to go on my trip to Guatemala. I have not done much except lots of lounging.

A little advice.
- Go to a Red Sox game
- Check out Western Massachusetts
- Get pizza at Hillside Pizza
- Check out MOMA and Natural History Museum in NYC
- Go to the Air and Space Museum in DC
- Lincolns memorial is amazing
- Check the Chinese busses out when traveling from NYC and Boston anywhere
- Go to the top of the Empire State Building


I think looking at my pics is probably better than reading. I think most people prefer that so here is a link

http://picasaweb.google.com/colekauffman/TheBeautifulWestCoast#



Ok. Good Bye and Good Night!! Im off to Guatemala tomorrow. Hope to keep everyone posted!!!