And I´m off...

So I guess I´ve been hinting at it for awhile, but too much time in one place is wearing on me a bit. I had gotten so accustomed to the traveling lifestyle, that it was actually a bit strange for me to be parked in the same place every night for 2 weeks. So I announced my plans to my family on Sunday when I came back. I got a shave and a haircut. I even cut my toenails (too much info, yea?). Yesterday I went to the knock off market in the adjacent part of the city and I snagged a couple of jerseys and soccer T shirts at bargain basement prices... now I gotta go home and pack and hope it all fits in the bag... if you´d seen my bag when I left you´d know this is a serious concern. My host family gave me a T shirt from the señor´s work. He works for the ministry of public health here in Xela and it´s a sweet shirt, for sure. Last night I made my family guacamole (good idea, Lindsay)... Miguel was so sad I was leaving he didn´t eat any of his mom´s dinner, only my guacamole- as if he wanted to savor my presence for one last time. He was crying too... it was kinda sad but really cute at the same time. Now I´m going to head back home, pack up, and wish my family goodbye and good luck. My señora uses email (to keep in touch with all her boyfrriends, she says in front of her husband). Hopefully we will keep in touch. As for the tentative plan- 2 nights in Antigua (quite close to Guatemala City, back southeast of here), and then between 2-4 nights in Monterrico and on the southwest coast of Guatemala near the El Salvador border. Adjacent to the black beaches of Monterrico is a turtle reserve and I´m going to inquire about volunteering there while I´m down there. So this may be my last entry for a couple of days. I hear everything in Antigua is quite expensive, although the town is said to have much more charm than here. If I can continue to post photos and entries on here for .50 cents and hour, you´ll hear from me... otherwise stay tuned for news from El Salvador. I should be there by the start of next week. ¡¡¡¡Hasta Luego!!!!