everything in this country is uphill

I don't think I've walked-nay, hiked more hills in my life than I have in my last 6 weeks in Guatemala.

Uphill to the weaving school, up and down those unnervingly high sidewalks (sometimes there are steps up to the sidewalk!), climbing volcanos on the weekends..... up, up, and up, and up! and sometimes down, though not often enough to suit me.

I'm also going to climb another volcano called Santa Maria, and camped up at the summit for a night to watch the sunrise the next day.... It's a steep 4-5 hour climb (Edit: er, 5.5 for me), but I hear watching the sunrise from the summit (nearly 2 miles above sea level and through 2 cloud plains) is worth the pain.... I sure hope so. One thing I know for certain, I'm going to have quads of steel after I leave Guatemala.

edit: picture from the summit of Santa Maria Volcano. Definitely worth the pain.