Hotel Villa Margarita Flores

As predicted the traveller is a very fickle creature; one minute a hard task manager to please, the next easily pleased. You will be happy to hear my morose phrase is well and truly over.. but thanks for the emails and FB messages of support. Within 24 hours of writing (not publishing) my blog, my whole outlook on Guatemala had dramatically changed as all my expectations were smashed out of the water, I became a kid again; laughed for just being alive and marvelled at the ...

From San Cristobal I traveled back to Palenque to arrange a tour of Bonampak and Yaxchilan on my way to Flores, Guatemala. Bonampak and Yaxchilan are beautiful Mayan cities near the Mexican-Guatemalan border. Nearby are another group of descendands of the Mayans, called Lacandon. They are often refered to as the true Mayans because they were never conquered by the Spanish. However, today they have abandoned many of their ...

... The bus driver decided that we weren't packed in tight enough so he squeezed himself halfway down the bus and then positioned Dave and I so that he was pushed up against me horizontal to the aisle. The bus driver then returned to his seat. It was easily one of the funniest moments so far of the trip - the bus driver wanted us to travel in this sexually compromising position for 3 hours standing up - but just us - every one ...

... and souvenir shops and began walking. It was lucky Shane didn’t come as we ended up walking for about five hours and though we stopped every now and then it was quite uneven ground for his knee.

But it really was an amazing place and the guide was great. He was very knowledgable, had studied for years on Tikal, and was really funny. He began by telling us we wouldn’t forget his name as its Donald Gonzalez so just think of Donald Duck and Speedy Gonzalez. It ...

... when internet is available to chat with folks when
possible. My username is Grantfaraway and I think my location is still
Springfield. Hiked to a waterfall today, which was a much needed
reprieve from "chicken bus" travel day. A loco experience for anyone
traveling in Guatemala...local or foreigner.

By the way...if you come to Flores stay at a different hostel than Los Amigos, but definitely go eat there. The food is amazing, but the hostel itself is quite unclean.

... it has also been frustrating and overwhelming at times. Volunteering here can feel like a drop of water in an ocean of need. Thanks to my friend for reminding me a few days ago of the following story: "I awoke early, as I often did, just before sunrise to walk by the ocean's edge and greet the new day. As I moved through the misty dawn, I focused on a faint, far away motion. I saw a youth ...

... die fitteste bin zur Zeit. Ich glaube ich auf der Busfahrt was schlechtes gegessen und seitdem wird mir schlecht wenn ich auch nur was gekochtes rieche. Deswegen bin ich jetzt auf einer Art Fruechtediaet. Ausserdem bemerke ich gerade, dass mir richtig erholsamer Schlaf fehlt. Deswegen bleiben wir jetzt einen Tag laenger in Flores (das ist die Stadt von der man aus Tikal besichtigt) Guatemala ist auf jeden Fall ziemlich touristisch. Ich kann mir einfach ...

... Flores i guatemala um kl 14. Flores er mjog nalegt gamalli maya borg sem heitir Tikal. Vid aetludum ad reyna ad skoda thaer en tha hefdum vid thurft ad gista i Flores. Thessi ferd var ordin allt of long svo vid akvadum ad taka frekar naeturrutu til Guatemala City. Sigga var auk thess buinn ad skoda thessar rustir adur og thetta er ekkert svo olykt odrum svona borgum sem vid hofum skodad. Vid tokum thvi 9 tima rutu kl 21 og komum til Guatemala City um 6. Thadan var okkur svo ...

Happy new year everyone! Hoping you all had a lovely Christmas and brought in the new year in style. We had a very quiet and different Christmas to usual. Its amazing how much Christmas is about family, friends and the routines and traditions you are used to. Take that away and it doesn´t feel as much like Christmas. We had a lovely relaxing time though and took advantage ...

... and we have enjoyed virtually every second of it. The people have made it a magical experience and I would definitely return again one day. In just over two months we have traveled 3237km overland. We have spent many hours on the road, some good, some not so good. One thing is always the same though and that is the excitement we feel when we board a bus and head off to a new destination. The thrill of the open road is truly addictive. XXX