Some of my fondest childhood memories stem from exploring the area surrounding the great Lake Atitlan. I can clearly remember walking by the lake’s edge, admiring the beauty, while collecting as much dried lava rock as I could to bring back to my friends. Such an image is hard to forget, but exploring the area through Google maps really triggered my memory and reminded me of the little details that made Atitlan such a beautiful and peaceful space.
Entering the first image of Atitlan on Google maps triggers a sense of greatness. The map displays the large lake with penetrating blue waters surrounded by mountain covered land. Across this general picture lie small square icons that can be clicked to enlarge a photograph taken at that position in Atitlan.
Embracing the exploration encouraged by the map, I clicked on an image in the center of the lake. What followed was the most breathtaking image of the lake and its surroundings. This water, rippling with motion, is outlined by the three volcanoes, several other mountains, and luminous sun beams. Closer to the camera peaks branches and leaves from the tops of trees. This greenery ensures that the vegetated land is not left forgotten.
The next icon I clicked brought me to an image I had never before witnessed; the view from above the clouds. The many times I have been to Atitlan, never had I appreciated it in this way. The clouds base the picture, replacing where we would normally expect land. Poking out from under the clouds are the tips of the three volcanos, making them appear even more grandiose than normal. Above the tips of the volcanos appear the whirling clouds floating off to the heavens.
Experiencing Atitlan digitally through Google maps was surprisingly similar to the physical experience but still lacked in several areas. The scenery was almost impressively the same but the interface lacked the experience of sound, smell, and touch. The sound of rustling waves, smell of freshly roasted corn made by the natives, and the feel of the wind and sand are the aspects that are not properly portrayed on this forum. Fortunately, Google map’s redeemed themselves by adding footage and photographs of views that most Atitlan visitors never experience. The picture of the volcanoes peaking over the clouds is incredible, yet I had never once seen this view in all my visits to Atitlan. Google maps appear to be an easy and inexpensive way to travel the world!
