There I was, standing at the top. I made it. The view was breathtaking. Wow.

              I’ve been to Guate so many times that I’ve lost count. It’s honestly like a second home to me. I’d already climbed Pacaya once before, six years ago, but I was about to do it again. It had been so long that I’d pretty much forgotten what it was like. Pacaya is one of the many, many volcanoes in Guatemala, but it’s also one of the very few active ones there. I never thought I’d be climbing it a second time, but there I was, about to do it again. The climb up, although difficult, was so beautiful. The green trees, the singing birds, even the stray dogs that went up with us, just made the whole experience so fun and incredible.

              The ground was uneven and had a lot of sand and dirt, so we had to be careful not to trip. There was a decent number of people in our group. I went with my parents, aunt, uncle, three of my cousins, my friend and her mom, who came with us on spring break. It was a hot day, and the sun beaming down on us the whole time didn’t help. I didn’t realize how difficult the climb would be. We had a few stops to look at the scenery or if we just needed a break. The guides brought a few horses in case someone couldn’t walk all the way. I was so exhausted when we made it to the top. But the view was so worth it.

              It’s very calming and relaxing up there. I was petting one of the horses as I looked at the city. I’ll always remember this part because the horse hugged me back, if that makes sense. The city stretched out as far as I could see; the tops of the trees looked like a sea of green, the volcano just behind me. It’s like I was looking down at the earth from outer space. There’s really nothing like it. I felt so far away from the world, but so close at the same time. But it wasn’t over yet.

              We went down into the lava fields where all the lava rocks were. The hill was very steep, and it was very easy to slip. But the lava rocks were so unique, each one different from the other. Some were big, like boulders, big enough to stand on, and some were small enough to hold. The smell of the lava rocks was one I’d never smelled before. A metallic scent of ash mixed with a fresh, earthy smell. I took a few lava rocks with me just like last time. I’m pretty sure the guide saw me, but I don’t think he cared. This was one of my favorite moments. There were holes in the lava fields that produced enough steam and heat to roast marshmallows. That is a memory from both experiences that I will never forget.

              The hike back down to the car was very laid-back. We stopped a few times to look at the view. There was a stray dog that walked back down with us. She was white with small brown spots. My friend, Reagan, and I named her Speckles. It was so fun.

              I didn’t expect to climb Pacaya, and I certainly didn’t expect to climb it a second time. I know that if I ever go back, it will be just as amazing, if not more amazing than before. So, who knows, maybe I’ll climb it again.