Hotel Royal Palace Guatemala City

... Most of the city and country buses are old buses from the states some of which havenīt been repainted and say things like "St. Charles School District". I am hoping to find an "Arlington Public Schools" one before I leave tomorrow. Also, as they are old school buses I donīt exactly fit in the seats quite like a used to. Although it seems Guatemalans being a tad bit shorter on average can fit in the seats, sometimes three to a seat, I have to spill my ...

... and treat me like a king just because I pay them to sleep in their telephone booth-like room which has window shades that never really shut (thus allowing both outside visitors and occupants in the adjoining room a clear view into my quarters) and a bed with a few loose coils that are strategically placed so that I wake up each morning with sore kidneys.

By far the three greatest things about my new family are: 1) The food--absolutely delicious ...

Found a guide who spoke perfect English, who was knowledgeable in flora, fauna and Mayan history and glyphs. His name was Francisco Florian, who had liked in the jungle of Peten province for most of his life. He was outstanding - starting our tour with some small areas to explain the ruins and the astronomy that goes with it, and beginning to teach us different glyphs so we could ...

... at Tikal. The rest of my stay in El Remate, Peten, was spent prostrate, dizzy, nauseated, trying to get my faulty internal temperature regulation to cool down with cold compresses and rest until the wicked heat-stroke passed. Memories of Nepal, and a firm resolution never to stay in absurdly hot places without air con available. The mind is strong, but the body is weak!!!

Wuckin good breakfast this morning then went to a Crusoe Island break in Antigua. How amazingly beautiful this place was. I went snorkelling in the clear warm blue ocean and saw the most gorgeous fish and a whopping great starfish (Not the chocolate variety). The island was about as big as two football pitches with a ram shackled bar built on it. But the food and drink was included all ...

... realisation that I had to face a 3 hour bus journey (and the roads are not good) and an hourīs boat trip with a dodgy stomach. Tom, however, has packed a first aid kit to wonder at - everything from insulin to tampons. My first aid kit consists of half a packet of paracetemol and a second hand plaster. Thankfully Tomīs immodium saved the day. The boat trip over the lake was the biggest surprise Iīve had since I found ...

We checked out zona 1 today in Guat city. Itīs impossible to know where you are in this city. Itīs split into zones and all the streets are numbered, so there are 14 avenida unoīs etc.You have to know which zone you are in. We managed to get on a bus going to town but had absolutely no idea where we were when we got off. Stumbled across ...

I am on my way home!!!!! Juan drove me to Guatemala City this morning and I am now hanging around the Dos Lunas Guest House waiting to go to the airport at 10:00 tomorrow morning. I wish I had booked an early flight and will probably do so next time. It is nice not to get up at 4t is nice not to get up at 3am to be at the airport 3 hours before a flight, but I am beginning to think it is ...

... that means, **Ta-da** WE ARE 70% of the way TO OUR GOAL FOR THIS YEAR!!! Over 50% of the population of Guatemala is too poor to give any kind of gifts at this time of year. Perhaps the next time you're online buying for a ...

... to check it out. I am still alive and I did not get mugged. I have to say, I was not comfortable in that town for it is very dodgy. As I was walking around town, I could not help notice the number of armed security guards with sawed-off shotguns. At first, I presumed they were guarding banks or jewellery stores but as I looked closer at one of them, he was merely guarding a grungy Chinese restaurant. All doors have triple locks plus padlocks, bars on every window, iron ...