One of the things I did during my week in Guatemala was a semi-challenging three-hour hike across the mountains back to our yoga retreat center. It was just the right amount of challenging, with a few steep climbs. The hardest parts for me personally were the heat and sun, but I was okay, and it wasn't as hard as I thought it might be. It was really fun to have the lake and volcanoes in view and to know that the path we were walking was an ancient one.
This was a big map of Lake Atitlan and its surrounding volcanoes, mountains, and towns. The lake was formed by volcanoes and is known as one of the world's energy vortexes. 
Pictures I took at various points during the hike:
Kids on a roof, no big deal!
There were spots along the hike that felt like they could have fit right into the Book of Mormon. There are members who believe that the waters of Mormon where Alma baptized many people might have been located here at Lake Atitlan. It doesn't really matter where it was, just that it happened, but it's fun to look at geography and history and speculate.
An upward path
Here I am looking out at the volcano.
If you look closely, you'll see one of the cooling methods I used on the hike. I got the idea from my compatriot Nancy, who was also on the hike and became one of my role models for how to age awesomely. Along the way when we were in a little town, I bought a cold water bottle and stuck it in the back waistband of my pants and it kept my lower back and butt cool for most of the rest of the time. Kind of silly, but that along with pouring water down my shirt in the front and back worked well at keeping me cool! (I don't sweat very much so I have to be careful in intense heat and sun or I might pass out!)
Our guide Alex "taking a nap" along the way. 😄
Alex was so fun and he had a great personality! He found out that I was LDS during the hike and talked in front of everyone about how the missionaries are in one of the nearby villages and everyone loves them because they're so fun and kind and accepting of Catholic beliefs and the people. He was being a great missionary and he didn't even know it! It was really nice to hear all of that. I'd wondered if there were any missionaries around the lake. I would have loved to serve a mission here.
Some good/cheesy/silly group shots along the way...
Beginning of the hike. My pants looked kind of dorky. 😆
This one's my favorite.
We made it back to the retreat center! It was good to get back and eat a delicious lunch and rest for the afternoon!
It was a good hike with just the right amount of challenge to it. I enjoyed it!
