agua caliente

Going to the hot springs yesterday was a nice surprise. Only one other student and I expressed interest in an afternoon fieldtrip. So, the director at our language school communicated with another local language school to combine students into one vehicle. As it turned out, we traipsed off to Fuentes Georginas (savvy folks can find photos on the web) and I enjoyed being warm, actually hot, for the first time since I arrived. It was lovely and I would have walked down the trail and back for more soaking. However, the van was leaving for a round-about route back to town. We stopped at a women's weaving cooperative. I was not prepared for shopping and I do not want to buy textiles that I have to carry with me for the next three weeks.
The countryside is very picturesque. Steep hills all around are farmed by indigenous cooperatives, young and old working side by side to harvest beets, onions, potatoes, carrots, lettuce, and other vegetables. Almolonga seems to be some sort of vegetable capital of Central America.
On Saturday I will say goodbye to my Xela family and go to San Pedro La Laguna. I am looking forward to living far from the huge city.
Tomorrow my language teacher and I will walk around the city. We are visiting the sister of a friend and I am passing along children's vitamins that I carried from the states. My friend's daughter can use them with her clients in a clinic in Honduras. In the evening, teachers and students are meeting for supper at a Chinese restaurant.
My Spanish language is progressing. I understand more each day.