Hi all!!

Finally got to talk to Alex the other night - after my ATM card was gobbled up by the machine!  Some #$@^#&@^ tried to steal it from the machine as he put a plastic strip in the card slot, so that I couldnt get it back.  BUT, luckily, the tpur guide stayed t the ATM so no-one could steal it while I was frantically calling the bank to cancel the card, and great! Guatemala doesent have a telecomunications agreement with NZ, so cant make collect calls to the bank........ ok, had to call Alex to see if he could do it, by using a local calling card that ran out of money before I could finish the conversation with him,  ran down the street to by another card, called the bank and convinced them to call me back as the card was about to run out again..........  10 excrutiating minutes later, they called me back at the hotel.  Got the card cancelled - panic crisis over.  *whew!*

Luckily the money rate here is good - 600 Quesallies is $100NZ and can buy you a lot, so thank god for Penny who is my money machine at the moment, untill we can get to mexico where I can change US$.
Glad everything is great at home, cant wait to see you.  We’ve left the tour now, so we’re on our own. 
We’re in Antigua, and again, it a beautiful city. 
We’ve climbed an active volcano, and stood by a lava stream, Penny melted her shoes!  The rocks where pretty hot, and there where steam vents to be carefull of, so you didnt burn your legs.  My shoes (you’d be happy to hear) were fine! – Volcano Proof!
Today we went to a crater lake and visited two villages, one we had to got o cause we’d seen something on TV about a deiety that the locals worship, that is a wooden statue of an old man, with a cigar in his mouth, dressed in robes, and wears a cowboy hat. They offer him cigerettes, rum and Money and ask for miracles.  (A Money making thing Im thinking, cause thousands of people come from villages all around to do this, and the tourist come flocking to check it out)
Tomorrow we’re off to Chichicasteningo, a village that is a whole market, the best in Guarelama!  So im ready to shop shop shop!!
Then on Friday, we’re off to Guatemala city for one night, the fly to Mexico City on Sat,  One more night there, then home!!  Yip , its come that quick!!!
Dont know if I'll get on the internet before then, so I'll see you all very soon (at least after Easter)
Alise - just a wee funny I thought you'd appreciate.....  Here we where comming back from the lake today, in a wee van, and the driver put on some weird love song CD, and what should come on but Air Supply - 'Making love out of nothing at all!!!'  Had to laugh!!

Adios Amigos!  Hasta Luego!