Monterrico

After a bit of a hectic week, including a bout of food poisoning for Gen, we set off to Monterrico for the past weekend. Monterrico is a beach about 2.5hours from Antigua, on Guatemala's Pacific coast. We took a shuttle from Antigua early Saturday morning, arriving in Monterrico at 10 am. We spent Saturday swimming in the bath-water-warm sea and lazing about in hammocks. After dinner at a beachfront restaurant, we went down to the beach where we lay on the warm sand and looked at the clear starry sky. We saw the most amazing shooting star - very very large and bright. Incredible!

We went to bed very early (about 8.30) after a full day of sea and sun.

The next morning, we woke early at 5.15 am to take a tour on the canals of a nature reserve to see the sunrise. We were punted along the river by our guide, who pointed out various species of egret and heron - and the famous four eyed fish which jumps along the surface of the water.

The sunrise was very beautiful - the sun was huge and very red as we saw it creep up from behind the trees.


Gen befriended one particular white egret, who she named Bernard, and felt she had a special connection with as he followed us along the river for the entire tour.
Here he is in all his glory!
Her eis our hotel - right on the beach.
The black sand (ex-volcanic rock) was super super hot, and you had to be ver yquick running from the sea to the safety of the hammocks.
Speaking of hammocks, we made good use of them over the weekend, for reading, or, more accurately, snoozing in the shade - it was very hot!

Another successful trip, and we felt ready and refreshed for another big week at school. We are looking forward in particular to the school birthday celebrations on Friday - doughnuts, piñatas, dancing and presents - expect an update on that soon!

Love to you all,
Lib and Gen
xxx