Sulfur and Roosters

Before I was overcome with tummy troubles, I was feeling up to going on a school trip to some local hot springs, Las Fuentes Georginas. They're about a 45min to hour's drive south west of Xela, I want to say, up at some elevation higher than the city after going through farm country. They're thermal hot springs, rich in sulfur and other minerals and heated by volcanic activity. It's a delightful spot. It was very foggy/misty when we were there as the mountain top was in the clouds. The mist gave the whole place a rather mystical feel to it. There was a nice stone path leading a short distance to the pools, surrounded by lush vegetation. Some plants with leaves that resembled squash or pumpkin leaves lined the pathway - except that these leaves were huge - easily a square meter each, if not a bit bigger.

There were three pools at the end of the trail we walked up, two around 95 degrees F or so and another that was much hotter - 112-120 I'd guess. I couldn't stand in that one longer than a few moments. There were spigots, though, directing water from the super hot pool into the others, and I found that the mix was exactly the temperature I wanted. The little oasis was set in on the top of where water was trickling down the mountainside and cutting a gorge into the landscape. a stream wandered it's way through the rock down below. All around us was forest and vegetation. I floated on my back for a few minutes staring up at the overcast, misty sky, the opening ringed in trees.

In addition to the three pools there was a bathhouse, a little gazebo lookout over the valley/gorge below, and when you first walked up to the pools a bar that looked like it had just tucked itself into the rock and had always been there. After our tranquil and relaxing soak we all had a nice refreshing Gallo (Spanish for Rooster, which is the company logo - it's the most widely distributed local Guatemalan beer). Aside from the twisty-curvy mountain road drive, it was a most pleasant way to spend an afternoon.