I’m writing this post from Goa as I take a break from the ‘real’ India and take advantage of some beach time to collect my thoughts about my experience so far. I’ve had some real ups and downs since my last post, but as always when you’re travelling, you can never be too sure how [...]
Editor’s note: Roots and Wings volunteer Harriette is currently traveling through India. This is the second in a series of posts about her experiences and observations about the cultural differences between Latin America, India, and England. After four weeks in India and only managing to upload one post so far, I wish I could post [...]
The first time I left my home country, I was 19 years old. For me, 19 years seemed an eternity to wait before finally experiencing the thrill of international travel. Ever since childhood, the idea of other countries, cultures, and languages completely fascinated me. I dreamt of the day when I would experience a foreign [...]
The five of us piled into the tatty jeep with our drenched rucksacks piled on top of us and we sat soaked to the bone all the way to the hostel. We had turned up at one of the more common hostels in the area only to find out that they had overbooked, and after [...]
International travel has always been one of the most inspirational and important parts of my life as a student, and now as a professional in international development. Miriam Beard, the daughter of an American suffragette, once said that “travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and [...]
September 15th, 2011 marked the 190th anniversary of Central American Independence. In small town Honduras, we prepared diligently to be the best school in the parade. We packed in as much work, money and as many hours for a simple parade than we have for anything else since I have been here. Everyone played a [...]
The Roots & Wings Blog regularly features wonderful travel advice for those who want to experience more than the beaches and resorts Latin America has to offer. Now adventurous travelers can embark on a personalized Guatemalan travel experience led by RWI. Travelers who want to step off the beaten path or who are interested in [...]
According to Parkswatch, Guatemala is considered as the fifth biodiversity hot spot in the world. Biodiversity refers to the variation of life forms in a given ecosystem. It is a measure of the overall health of an ecosystem, and is in part a function of climate. As a measure of the scale of biodiversity on [...]
Iximche is a not-so-ancient Maya archeological site, the ruins—stone temples, ball courts, and open plazas—of a city dating back to the 1460s. It’s a local spot for Guatemalans in Tecpán and a short detour for travelers moving between Guatemala City and Lago Atitlán. There’s a reasonable entrance fee for non-locals, about $6, or, if the [...]
I woke up around 7:30 not remembering where I was. Having traveled a lot the past month, I haven’t slept in the same bed for more than 3 days consecutively. After I got my bearings, I got dressed and looked outside to see a beautiful, temperate day. It was a perfect morning to hike. I [...]
In Antigua, I convinced myself I was an advanced mountain biker and took an intense morning trip through Outdoor Excursions to “bomb down Volcan Agua.” Of course, I have ridden a bike plenty, but never down almost vertical trails on the side of a volcano. Needless to say, there was a learning curve. The most [...]
I always thought crossing borders in Central America was easy, just a quick wave, maybe a handshake, and you’d be on your way. This time around, Nicaragua and Costa Rica were a little more involved. I had to exit the bus, grab my bag from the compartment and have it searched. Then, I had to [...]
There are countless reasons to visit Guatemala, which is often marketed as “The Soul of the Earth.” I’m not much for taglines, especially for describing a country, but as you walk the Mayan pyramids or take a hike around the volcanoes of Lake Atitlan, you can almost feel the Earth breathing beneath your feet. [...]
“I don’t buy the whole altruism thing. I think at the heart of altruism is a selfish deed. You know, and that’s fine. . . I want to reach people. Can’t it come out of a place of personal curiosity? A desire to locate myself in the world and also have some utility?” —Tim Hetherington [...]
Quetzaltenango is the second largest city in Guatemala, after the capital, Guatemala City. It is situated high in the mountainous western highlands, and, unlike the jungles of the Petén, is fairly temperate year-round, if quite rainy during the rainy season. The people call the city “Xela” (short for the indigenous name Xelaju) and even the [...]
