Oct 29, 2005 06:00 PM First day in Guatemala City.
I arrived in Guate late afternoon yesterday but was so tired that after quick supper I went to bed right away. So today is the day of sightseing. I am actually positivelly suprised. According to some reports I read this place was supposed to be very ugly with nothing to do and that is why I planned only one day for my visit here. I found it very interesting, maybe because I was out of any major civilize centre for so long? Because of time restrictions I will not be able to see half the places I would like to as I am going back home on Monday and on Sunday everything is closed. The local transportation is working quite well so I get to the centre without any problem. I chose to stay in Zona 10 which is very qiet and safe. After quick breakfast in Campero (resemblance of KFC and quite expensive comparing to other options) I go the the Cathedral for Sunday mass which is great experience then I wonder around the Central Plaze for a bit admiring the Palacio Nacional de la Cultura. I decided to walk back to Zona 10 on foot which allows me to see more and I don't encounter any problem at all. I buy some CDs and DVDs along the way, come accross very nice park and make my way back to hotel.
Tomorrow it is time to go back home. There is so much more to see here and I hope I will get chance to see it someday.
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Oct 26, 2005 06:00 PM Market day in Chichicastenango.
The market is here and it is colorfull. A lot of people selling anything and everything. Prices are lower too from any previously offered so it was worth to wait. There is a lot of kids which in any Western city would be at school but here they are trying to make some money to help out their families which is pretty sad, but you can not buy everything they sell so you can not make everyone happy. After whole day of walking I decided to head back to Antigua the same day, although my previous plan was to go back on Friday but I have seen everything here already. Thinking about this possibility I left my backpack in small shoe store so I don't pay for another day of hotel. So around 5pm I am getting on a minibus which will take me directly to Antigua for $10. It is more expensive than chicken bus but there is no direct bus from Chichi to Antigua and I am afraid that by the time I get to the transfer point it will be too late. Besides, I am a bit tired and want to get there fast and hassle free.
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Oct 25, 2005 06:00 PM My spare day in Chichi.
Got up a bit later than usually as I have a lot of time on my hands and while looking for a breakfast I spoke to local guide. He offered to take me to the idol and according to the Lonely Planet going there alone is dangerous so it is quite good idea to get someone to take you there. He is asking outrageous price of 200Q for the trip at which point I turn around and start walking away. Finally we settle down on 50Q and make appointment in an hour so I can have my breakfast first. Before we get all the way up the hill we visit the mask factory with very outrageous prices which I decline knowing that there will be a lot of them on the market day. Once we get to the top of the hill I notice there is Mayan priest praying at the site with another person asking for blessings. The idol is not impressive by any means but the view of Chichi is very nice and I notice very colorfull cementery which I decide to visit when I get back. The cementary is different from any one that I have seen so far only people passing by look at me supprised. Later I read in Lonely Planet I read that going to the cementary alone is not advised because robberies , some armed have happened there before. Well luckilly nothing happen this time. The rest of the day I spend in internet cafe and just wondering the town. Couple of venders have set up already but since there are only few they want to charge very steep prices for their products trying to convince me that next day when more tourists arrive the prices will be even higher. I stick to my gut feeling and decide to wait for tomorrow.
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Oct 24, 2005 06:00 PM Getting on the way Chichicastenango.
Have heard a lot about the market day in Chichicastenango, which is supposed to be the biggest native marketplace of Native Americans. To make sure I get all the action I decided to go there a day early and get a place to sleep as they go quick according to Lonely Planet. So although it is very early in the morning I am on my way to bus stop already. The chicken bus is going up and down through the narrow mountain routes and at one time we have to bach up and then go forward again to get through a curve. Because of the recent rains the roads are damaged and quite often they are down to one line. Then it is time for bus change over and I am getting on a minibus which will take me directly to Chichicastenango for 5Q. The people on the bus are all local indians, which is why I am paying such a low fare. After I arrive in the town I get my room in Mini-Hotel Chichicasteca for 30Q. The batroom is not very impressive but the price is great and it is quite close to the action. And that is when I realize that it is Tuesday. I was planning to arrive here on Wednesday, day before the market day. If I realized that it is Tuesday not Wednesday I would happily stay one more day in San Pedro, but now I am here and I guess I have to make the best of it. Leaving my stuff in the hotel I head out to see the church of St. Thomas where both Maya and Catholics perform they holly ceremonies. Definatelly worth the time. I guess I will go to the shrine of Pascual Abaj (or the idol as locals call it) tomorrow.
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Oct 23, 2005 06:00 PM Lake Atittlan - San Pedro de Laguna
Got to San Pedro the Laguna today and like this place, it is a small town right on the lake. There was no lancha directly here so I had to go through Santiago Atittlan which actually work out great because during my 2 hours of waiting I was able to visit this town as well. I especially wanted to see the Mayan god Maximon. Was able to shoot few pictures of his as well for 10 quetzales and paid 30Q to my guide. He was convincing me that Maximon drinks all the rum that locals bring to him as offerings which was really hard to believe. In San Pedro I found very nice Posada des Cristalinas which cost me only 25Q with private hot water shower and great view of the lake.
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Oct 21, 2005 06:00 PM Copan Ruinas Archeological Site
Went to Copan Ruinas archeological site and it was really amazing. Unfortunatelly the guides wanted $30.00US in addition to park entry fees for a guided tour so I decided to go on my own. It is very beautifull place and the carvings are gorgeous. It took me about 4 hours to walk through the whole thing but I did not rush and I also visited the Los Sepulturas which is included in the ticket to Copan Ruinas. And now I am back at Copan.net to offload the pictures from my camera. Tomorrow I am planning to head out to Antigua and then to Lake Atittlan. Don´t know what the situation there is like since the mud slides but I guess I will find out soon.
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Oct 20, 2005 06:00 PM Copan Ruinas
Well I finally got to Copan Ruinas after being stack on Utila Island till today (4 days). The ferry service was out of service and so was the plain service as well because of hurricane Wilma. Was bored to death and lost 4 days which I would rather spend seeing stuff. But finally I am here in Copan Ruinas and love this town. Tried Maya Connections for the internet but it was so slow I could not do anything, it took me almost 30 minutes just to send an e-mail. Went to Copan.net and while the speed was not lighting speed either I did discover that is much faster and the price is cheaper. The owner was very helpfull when I needed to recover my pictures from corrupted card and while talking to him I discovered that by the end of this month the speed is going to go up due to some upgrades currently in process which will make the Copan.net the place for internet. Tomorrow I plan to visit the archeological site.
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Oct 16, 2005 06:00 PM Utila Island
I have done my diving and got Open Water Diver. The experience was very nice and the views were fascinating. Paradise Divers has proven to be great place to dive and I am very happy with my choice. Their boat might be older then the other dive shop´s boats and the guesthouse is older one too but it is fairly clean, right on the water and the instructor Ben was excellent. Beside the diving there is not much to do on the island so I plan to leave tomorrow.
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Oct 12, 2005 06:00 PM San Pedro Sula to Utila Island
Slept in and did not get the first bus to La Ceiba but lucky enough there are plenty and I am getting one at 9:00am. I arrive in La Ceiba at around 11:30 AM and find out that the ferry leaves for Utila Island at 4:00PM and the one at 9:00AM was cancelled due to low number of passangers so I did not loose anything by sleeping longer, great. Unfortunatelly the ferry fare doubled two weeks ago to 380 Lempiras, and is supposed to go up again in couple of weeks. Monopoly is not very good. It takes about 2 hours to get to Utila and it is time to find a dive shop for the diving. There are tons of people waiting for the ferry to arrive to convince you to go diving with them. I decide to go with Paradise Divers. While all other dive shops keep prices the same , Paradise Divers have them lowest at US$185 for complete Open Water training, and it includes free room for the duration and 2 Fun dives at the end. Other shops I would have to choose either free accomodation or fun dives. Sounds like a great deal so I am dropping my backpack at their place and can't wait for the action to start.
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Oct 11, 2005 06:00 PM From Finca Tatin to San Pedro Sula
At 7:00AM we leave for Livingston from Finca Tatin via Rio Dulce. It is 20 minutes ride and we get off in Livingston. Small town, not very interesting from my perspective. Have a great camarones for breakfast. Wonder around a bit and decide to get lancha to Puerto Barrios. Puerto Barrios also does not have much to offer. After walking around and sipping on a beer in Safari restaurant with great view I decide to catch a bus to Honduran border which are plenty and stop by the market in Puerto Barios. The bus stops at immigration to get exit stamp. Since the minibus is full of people the driver assistant takes my passport in so I don't have to get out and this way I am saving Q10 because they don't ask him to pay for exit stamp which they usually do with tourists. The minibus leaves us at Honduran border where I change Quetzales to Lempiras at very bad rate, just to have some for my immediate needs and from there we have to take pickup truck with very basic sitting arrangements to the closest town to get bus to Puerto Cortez. Here I get entry stamp to Honduras and get charged 60 Lempiras for it but I actually pay in USD ($3) since I don't have many Lempiras exchanged yet. The exchange rate in this boarder town is much better than at the border but I did know if I will be able to exchange here so now it is to late. Then get on the bus and head to Puerto Cortez. After arriving in Puerto Cortez I immidiately get a minibus (also called directo) to San Pedro Sula. The ride takes about an hour and I find out that it is to late to get bus to La Ceiba which will be my getway to Utila Island for my Open Water Diver Certification. So I have to stay overnight and with a help from local guy I get to St. George Hotel. The area is not the nicest but the hotel is block away from the bus station and costs only 160L per night with private bathroom. Not bad for the price.
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