Success!

Alright ... so I've been carrying around my camera everywhere I go more than a week just so I could snap a picture of this guy. I've seen him around town several times, but I've never been quick enough on the draw to capture him on film ... or on SD card, I suppose I should say. He hangs out in front of El Merced on Sunday mornings, and I've caught glimpses of him in the street and el mercado.

Here's why I've wanted to take a picture of this guy ... he is unequivocally the creepiest looking individual I have seen in this country or any other ...

Well, I finally got a picture of him! The picture may not fully capture his creepiness. I didn't want it to be super obvious that I was taking a picture of him, cause I was afraid he might try to eat my face if he noticed me photographing him. He's like a thick, goth Axl Rose. Lots of eyeshadow and dyed black hair. He wears a jacket with no shirt and a gold chain. And he's always got a bandana tied around his forehead.

You know that list you're making of places to look if I don't make it back to the country? Add this guy to the list of possible suspects :)

After my daily climb up cerro de la cruz, I headed to Cafe Rainbow for desayuno (breakfast). Very tasty! It seems to cater almost exclusively to gringos - I think I'll try somewhere with more local flavor (as per Gordon Ramsay's constant advice).

After church, I took my first Tuc Tuc ride! Inside was a banner that read (in Spanish) "Lord protect this Tuc Tuc and it's passengers!" Very reassuring :) It was a good time. I went to Jocotenango to the Fraternidad Naturalistica - a spa!

It was quite an experience! They set the mood by having a shotgun wielding guard open the door for you. He's extremely friendly. At the front desk, I paid for a 30 minute massage and 30 minutes in the sauna. Turns out I should've brought a change of underwear or some swim trunks. This isn't like the locker rooms in Iceland where everyone is wandering around starkers. So, I did the only thing I could do - I peeled down to my boxers and hopped in the sauna.

At first I wondered if a sauna was really necessary with the near sauna-like conditions outside. But this sauna was serious! I was sweating like crazy in a few minutes! The instructions (a series of hand drawn pictures with short captions on poster board near the sauna) suggest 10 minutes in the sauna followed by a cold shower. You repeat this several times before your message.

After sweating it out with a few dudes for about 15 minutes, it was massage time. This tiny old Guatemalan guy went to work on me. I've never had a message from a man before, but it worked out fine! It was little bit awkward at one point though ... I was lying on my face, and he scooted the boxers waaaay down to continue the message. We're talking like three quarters crack. At first, I was a little bit nervous that I might be in a situation like Roy from The IT Crowd. I know Rachael knows what I'm talking about :) But for the rest of you, here's a little clip. Also, you should watch this show - it's hilarious and it's streaming on youtube.



It turned out to be fine ... though he did leave my man hams exposed to the rest of the world for quite awhile ...

I think I may become a repeat customer at the Fraternidad Naturalistica. Anyway, I walked home relaxed and refreshed, and now here I am - in Cafe Barista blogging!

I'm beginning to wonder if Erin really is in Antigua ... I can't seem to find her. I even stopped by her hotel and they said there was no one there by that name. So Erin, if you're out there, send me an email!

Also, Dodrill, look what I found on sale! You need to buy it cause ... well, you know :)