Hiking Pacaya Volcano in Guatemala

Located 90 minutes drive time from Antigua, Guatemala, Pacaya Volcano is a great day trip for those seeking adventure!  Our driver picked us up at 6:00am so we’d get an early start for the three hour hike.  I had watched a video of someone hiking it and roasting a marshmallow over the flowing red lava, so my anticipation level was high!  When we arrived, our guide explained that after Pacaya erupted in 2010, there hasn’t been a river of red lava (darn!), but it turned out to be a great hike with beautiful weather and scenery!

You can see the steam behind me in this photo…

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The two hour mostly uphill hike began on a short paved path…

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We took a few minutes break on this overlook…

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The view of another volcano was breathtaking!

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As we approached the top, the landscape appeared almost alien…

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Another group taking a rest…

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Reaching the site where the other group was proved to be a cross between slip n slide and surfing…

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Finding your Creativity in Antigua

When I’m traveling through beautiful Cities like Antigua, Guatemala, I feel more creative…able to spot the perfect photographic opportunity!  Like this antique car appearing on the street at just the right moment.  The driver even honked his funny horn to give us a thrill.

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Or when your friend is standing in front of a building and it seems right.

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The moment in the kitchen of the Airbnb you’re staying at and the empty bottles outside the window are distorted in that creative way…

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And the restaurant you decide to dine at with Tripadvisor’s help is owned by a painter and writer!

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Antigua, Guatemala…the City of cobblestones and magical beauty

The streets of Antigua, Guatemala are paved with beautiful cobblestones and most of the buildings are one-story high.  After checking into our Airbnb, my group and I left to wander the magical City!

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Everywhere we went, there was something colorful and beautiful to view!

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Why you should visit the village of Santiago at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala!

The Village of Santiago at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala is the most culturally authentic of the villages I visited during my three day stay at the lake.  Peering down at these women doing their laundry in the lake, makes you grateful for washing machines!

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This elderly lady demonstrated how she wrapped her headpiece into a hat!

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Viola!  One of the ladies I brought on the trip (Jing…from China) posed for a strikingly vibrant photo with her!

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Visiting the Villages of San Juan and San Pedro, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Each village along the shore of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala has its own special essence.  The village of San Juan has lots of shops with homemade items and a variety of restaurants to choose from.  This lovely young girl with her cute baby allowed me to take their photo…

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Once you’ve reached San Juan via boat, there are plenty of Tuk Tuks to shuttle you around the village inexpensively.  For 10 Guatemalan Quetzals (about $1.30) you can take one to the village of San Pedro.

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Visiting the Village of Santa Cruz at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

The Village of Santa Cruz at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala is quiet and has much less tourism than the other villages nestled along the shore of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.  There are a few restaurants near the boat dock and if you walk up a rather steep hill into town, you’ll get a feel for the villagers’ daily life.

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Many Guatemalans prefer not to have their photo taken, so I either ask or sneak one in.  This pretty girl agreed to have her photo taken.

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The view once you’ve almost reached the top is fabulous!

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As soon as we walked into the main square, we were excited to see a game of soccer being played by the local children!

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These two cuties wanted me to take their photo again and again, in a variety of “funny” poses.

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Arriving to Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

The small group of three people I am taking through Central America and I arrived to Lake Atitlan on Thursday, February 18th in the early evening.  The Airbnb I had reserved for us was stunning!  The gardens were overflowing with lush colorful blooms and the interior was filled with interesting decor!

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The view from the wrap-around porch was phenomenal!  You can see one of the volcanoes in the horizon…

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Upon our initial arrival to a village at Lake Atitlan on a shuttle from the airport in Guatemala City, we were required to take a 15 minute boat ride to the village we were staying at.  Throughout the stay, to visit a village we took a boat.  They looked like this…

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Last Day on Grand Cayman

Our week on Grand Cayman Island couldn’t have been better!  In addition to the typical beach activities of relaxing by the pool and walking along the beach, we attempted Stand Up Paddle boarding, went sailing on a catamaran to Stingray City (definitely a highlight), visited the lush Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, listened to live music at Camana Bay, dined out at numerous restaurants including Sunshine Grill, Da Fish Shack, Agave Grill, attended a wild game themed dinner with our friends at their friends’ house, and had a tour of the island by our friends!  For our last day on Grand Cayman, our friends took us to The National Gallery of Grand Cayman to see the outdoor sculptures and back to Camana Bay to the observation deck (which was closed on our previous visit).

This gazing ball at The National Gallery of Grand Cayman reflects the beautiful sky and me…

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We also took a swim at the pool and I ran for my camera when this bright green Iguana made an appearance!

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Learning Stand Up Paddle board

Learning to Stand Up Paddle Board can be challenging, especially if you’re using an inflatable board and you’re in the ocean with rocking waves!  Our friend Deanna is an avid Stand Up Paddle Boarder and gave us a few pointers before we hopped on.  Her boyfriend Wayne (also our friend/like family) took photos and movies of our session and I couldn’t help but post the funniest one of my husband about ready to fall forward…

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Because he’s taller (6’4″) and heavier than I am, he had more difficulty standing up.

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We were a bit worried about falling onto the sharp coral in shallow areas.  Here’s hubby falling…

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My feet are in position as far apart as possible as instructed by Deanna…

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For my first attempt, I was very pleased to have gotten up a few times and paddled!

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Staying young is an attitude!  Keep trying new things and life is always an adventure!  I read something recently that resonated, “To have joy in your life, view everything as if it’s the first time you’re seeing it or the last time”.

Camana Bay on Grand Cayman

Camana Bay on Grand Cayman offers shopping, dining, and lively entertainment.  My friend who lives on the island had plans to attend a film premiere which was part of the Poinciana Festival, so we took the opportunity to wander around the area.  I was pleasantly surprised to see this cute palm tree filled mini island.

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Colorful smooth discs situated in front of the cinema are fun for children to climb on.  We noticed masses of long curly dreadlocks of green hanging from a tree.

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Our friends remarked how uncrowded the area was, probably due to the overcast skies and earlier storm.

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Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park at Grand Cayman

Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park in Grand Cayman is a photographer’s paradise!  Strolling along its meandering paths you’ll discover beautiful Cayman Blue-throated Anoles…

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a tranquil pond filled with flowering water lilies…

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a baby blue wooden bridge…

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brightly colored potted flowers beneath vibrant wooden trellises…

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Winding paths bordered with exotic plants…

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Stingray City!

The best time to visit Stingray City at Grand Cayman Island is in the early morning, before the cruise ship crowds arrive and before the Stingrays have been hand fed from everyone later in the day!  We chose Red Sail Sports to boat out to the area that’s called Stingray City.  Although the catamaran could hold 70, there were only 12 people on board so we were free to spread out and relax.  Leaving at 7:30am, the sun was low in the sky…

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Upon arrival at 8:30am, my husband and I were the first off the boat.  There were only two other small boats there before us.  We were instructed to get low in the water and reach our arms out wide to embrace these amazing sea creatures…

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I was so excited to have this experience and enjoyed feeling their smooth undersides.  The underlying sense of danger made me feel alive!

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Escaping the Cold at Grand Cayman

Grand Cayman Island is a warm and lovely place to escape the cold!  My husband and I have friends that live there (“friends in all the right places”) and are visiting them for the week.  They took us for a tour of the island on Monday.  Although it’s quite small, 20 miles long x 4 miles wide, it takes a while to travel from spot to spot.  My husband was a bit unnerved with driving on the “wrong” side of the road.  Our friends both work, so we’ve spent time at the dazzling blue beach in front of their condo and the sparkling clear pool during their absence.

We took a six-mile hike along seven mile beach and saw a variety of birds…

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The resident rooster at their condo…

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The beach seems to stretch forever…

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2015 in Review

Looking back at my photographs from 2015, the year was filled with fun, family, friends, and travel!  In the Spring, I drove to Amish country in northern Ohio from Cincinnati and had a wonderful day taking photographs of the lovely countryside!

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In August, my annual girls’ weekend at Put-in-Bay, Ohio was so much fun!  Last year we had a blast there and decided to return.

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My travel business “Travel Spirit Meetup” is growing with over 300 members and in September I took six people to the Mediterranean coast where we hiked along the Lycian Way trail and explored the cute villages.  Our second stop to Istanbul exceeded all expectations!  Turkish people are so friendly!

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The view from our hike along the Lycian Way near Fethiye, Turkey…

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I also spent an amazing week in Ireland and Scotland!  Edinburgh, Scotland‘s architecture and history can’t be beat!

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The ha’ penny bridge in Dublin, Ireland

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Ringing in the New Year, two girlfriends and I spent a week in the Cape Coral/Ft. Myers, Florida area.

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Continuing to work as a photographer for Cincinnati Refined, I had 36 photography assignments and wrote nine travel articles.  One of the assignments was for the ReelAbilities Film Festival and was excited to photograph Marlee Matlin, Nick Clooney, and his wife.

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Laurie Holden from the Walking Dead at King’s Island, Ohio…

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The Prohibition Party…

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The Urban Trials held at Yeatman’s Cove, Cincinnati…

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and the Thanksgiving Day 10k race…to name a few.

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I photographed a friend’s birthday party for one of her daughters through my photography business “Sherry Lachelle Photography“.

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My first outdoor wedding…

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Senior Portraits…

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Spending time with family was special!  For one of our family get-togethers, my husband and I took our son and his girlfriend to the Museum Center in Cincinnati and we spent an afternoon along the Ohio River.

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Our extended family Christmas:  My brother (2nd from left), his wife in front of him, my husband (next to me…but you can’t see his face), my brother’s ex-wife on the left and her husband behind her, her brother on the far right, my niece and nephew, and a high school exchange student from Norway.

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I prepared lots of recipes this year and enjoyed hiking, biking, trail jogging, yoga, and boating!  I attended lots of parties, big and small.

Some of my favorite books this year:  The Storyteller, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, A House in the Sky, I know why the Caged Bird Sings, The Goldfinch, Calling me Home, The House Girl, The Enchanted, The Nightingale, Little Bee, The Time Keeper, Secrets of a Charmed Life, and Grandma Gatewood’s Walk.

I can’t wait to see what 2016 brings!  Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and thank you so much for your support! xoxoxo

~Sherry

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I found some inspirational quotes for all women and especially young women!

“You are more powerful than you know; you are beautiful just as you are.” ~ Melissa Etheridge

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“Forget about the fast lane. If you really want to fly, just harness your power to your passion” ~ Oprah Winfrey

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“Do you want to meet the love of your life? Look in the mirror.” ~ Byron Katie

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“I can’t think of any better representation of beauty than someone who is unafraid to be herself.” ~ Emma Stone Continue reading