A tough day! Check out the video!

Yesterday was an R&R day and the choice was between hot springs or a coffee plantation. The Fuerta Georginas Hot Springs won.

Following lunch off Xela plaza we took the bus for the hour long journey to the centre. We passed through a number of Mayan villages, typical of those we have seen on all our journeys, lots of concrete and corrugated iron. Many, many little breeze block shops, hardly bigger than a bus shelter selling the same crisps and coke. Outside sit traditionally dressed mothers and their children selling crafts or vegetables. Stray dogs everywhere.

We pass into the countryside. The views, as always, are spectacular, but spoilt by the fly tippers who choose any bend on the narrow roads to send a disgusting scar down the mountain.

We passed through the clouds and wound up a narrow road until we reached a cluster of low buildings at the front of the centre. The setting for the springs were amazing. The main pool sits at the base of a sheer rockface covered in trees and ferns. When you get in, the water is sooooooo hot. It takes a little while to get used to it and its makes your skin tingle. The hardiest amongst us waded right up to the spring itself. At this point the water is about as hot as can be tolerated, but it is not possible to put your hand into the cascading water for more than a few seconds.

Some brave souls managed to stand a few seconds under the freezing shower before opening their pores once again in either the main pool or one of the cooler subsiduaries.

As it was getting late we decided to eat there. Most of us had steaks and we allowed the group one bottle of beer each, (it was an R&R day after all.)

The journey back was rather disconcerting as the clouds had closed in around us and in the twilight gloom it was difficult to see the road ahead, but we had a ´conductor´aboard who helped the driver negotiate the more difficult corners and guided us past vehicles heading in the opposite direction.

Early night as we had a 4am wake up call to look forward to.