Photo of Volcanic Ash clean-up

This black ash covers all roof tops, parked cars and streets. It is not as easy to move as snow and you can't make 'snow angels' in this stuff.

Trouble in Guatemala

Hello

Just wanted to let all of you know that we were in parts of Guatemala that is now having fun with the volcano we climbed during our first visit and the tropical storm is playing havoc on parts of the country that we moved around in. We were only in the airport in Guatemala City but we lived in Ciudad Viaja (aka 'the old city) where they are coping with lots and lots of water and mud. In Xela we walked the streets that were really underwater and now know exactly why all of the sidewalks are at least a foot above the street. There are a couple of tiny bridges that are for foot traffic to cross flooded streets. It is the rainy season there now so the ground is saturated and the sewer system is not doing so hot. The volcano has the people there using shovels to clean off the spewed rock and ash from the volcano. There have been many deaths already with both events so please keep these people in your thoughts and prayers.