Hello from Guatemala! This is another update from Susannah and Scott
We have made the move from Mexico to Guatemala this
past week. We arrived
in Palenque, Mexico on the 6th of February and found
ourselves in the
jungle. Lush greenery, and humidity. Found a hotel
with window screens and
ceiling fans. The beds only have a sheet, no need
for blankets here! We
woke up early to see the sun rise on Palenque, Ruins
of a Mayan
civilization covered in jungle. We were some of the
first people there and
explored the ruins, and nearby waterfalls. Such a
beaUtiful secluded spot.
Birds in the trees, and vines so thick you could
swing like tarzan. By noon
we were hot and tired and found a hippe vegetarian
resturant for lunch.
After a large meal naps were in order. The next
morning we boarded a bus at
6 am in the pouring rain to arrive at the border to
Guatemala 4 hours
later. At the border we quickly spent our last peso
coins buying treats and
boarded a "lancha" a long flat boat about 5 feet
wide. We hiked down to the
water with our backpacks on and rode the boat about
45 minutes. The border
crossing to Guatemala was easy, 5 dollars in
whatever money you have to
enter. We paid with dollars, pesos, and quetzals,
thanks to Edgar and Mike!
Then another bus onto to Flores.
Flores is a quiet little island town that is a
jumping off point for Tikal.
We woke up the next morning and took a bus to the
Mayan ruins of Tikal. A
very beautiful place set in the jungle. We hiked and
explored and laughed
when we found out that the most famous leader's name
was Lord Chocolate.
What a fabulous name to have! That night we caught a
9 pm bus to Guatemala
City, but not before eating at a roadside stand that
served grilled
chicken. The stand was about 3 feet from the road
with traffic wizzing by
at about 40 mph. We decided it was the first meal we
had ever eaten that
close to the highway. We slept well but were
awakened at 4 am arriving in
the capital. We then boarded the local "chicken bus"
to arrive in
Panajacel. The chicken bus is the local bus which is
actually an old school
bus from the states. They put so many people on it
there are 4 people in
each seat and then more in the aisles. It was wild,
I think we were all
glad to be tired because somehow we all dozed off a
bit with the heads of
strangers on our shoulders.
We arrived in Panajacel on the edge of Lake Atitlan.
A huge blue green
volcanic lake. A quick boatride brought us to Santa
Cruz, our home for the
past few days. A relaxing location on the side of
the lake. There are two
hotels - both without electricity - sitting at the
base of the hills right
on the clear turquoise water. Our view across the
lake is of two 3000 meter
volcanoes. Every night we eat a family style dinner
with the other
travellers soup to cake.
Next we head to the famous market town of
Chichicastenango. It is one of
the largest indigenous markets in Central America.
People travel from all
over to sell their crafts, clothing and foods at the
market. We are all
looking to get a good deal on something to bring
back home.
Hearing reports of cold weather across the states
and thinking of all of
you!
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