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Wanderlust

Semuc Champey & The Inbetween

GUATEMALA | Thursday, 1 May 2014 | Views [256] | Scholarship Entry

The path was rough and we were surrounded by the Central American jungle. We could hear animals all around, the sun beamed through the lush greenery and everything looked like it had been sprinkled with fairy dust. Guatemala was glowing, and it was magic.

I'll never forget the day that we were going to Semuc Champey. I had no idea what that was but everybody was raving about it. Who was I to say no?

We jumped into the back of a pick up truck and began our drive down the narrow rocky dirt 'road' to the famous natural playground. When we arrived, wow. It was stunning. Jungle, waterfalls, giant swings into the lake. Our guide instructed to 'get undressed', so we stripped to our bathing suits and followed our trusty guide up to the beginning of a cave (I can't remember his name exactly, but we'll call him Jose). He then painted our faces like soldiers and motioned for us to follow him. I glanced over at Dave who winked back as reassurance.

"Sure!" I thought. Why not follow a stranger into a cave full of water and complete darkness? Doesn't seem crazy at all.

Shoulder deep in water and with one candle each to light up the few centimeters of water in front of us, Jose was laughing hysterically like a psychopath to intensify the atmosphere - like it needed to be. We came to a huge opening that had a vicious waterfall racing from the top.

Climbing up, the water almost ripping off my bikini. I held on tight to the wet rocks around me and reached the top where I couldn't see a thing. Jose was yelling so we could hear him over the water "this way!"

I followed the voices and bumped into trusty Jose who was motioning for me to slide through a tiny hole in the rocks. Without considering the severity of this going horribly wrong, I did as he said and positioned my body very awkwardly and he shoved me down through this hole/mini water slide. I couldn't see, then I was underwater and still couldn't see and couldn't breath and didn't know where the surface was. I felt arms reaching for me and I clung for dear life. Not even realizing that I had my arms and legs wrapped around whoever it was that I felt like had literally just saved my life.

It was Dave, I still thank him for saving me. Though I may have overreacted.

Once everybody was through and had come to their senses, we swam to the exit. Everyone laughing and talking about how great it was.

Now which activity to do next? Tubing, giant swing into the lake, or jumping from the bridge?

That's another story.

Tags: 2014 Travel Writing Scholarship - Euro Roadtrip

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