By Kathy Furtado

I visited Guatemala on invitation from my brother and spent several nights at a place called Panahatchel or Gringotenago, as the locals called it. Lake Atitlan is there, surrounded by the most awesome trio of active volcanoes. I spent one evening trying to translate Terminator 2 to a dozen village children and it was so funny with me saying "Arnold dice que 'Yo me revolver,' I'll be back." Definitely a highlight of my whole Central America experience!

Guatemala was incredibly beautiful, as well as the Ruinas de Copan in Honduras -- the remains of an ancient Mayan city called the "Paris of Central America." I met many Peace Corps volunteers on my trip and had no trouble communicating with my limited Spanish. Costs are incredibly inexpensive and the people, with their culture a mixture of Christianity and Voodoo, are friendly. I also went to a pristine caye or small island in Belize and found the beach full of sand fleas and huge conch shells. The Caribbean is like swimming in a fish tank! I highly recommend the trip as a woman who traveled solo! Bon voyage!