Lomas de Tzununa Santa Cruz La Laguna

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... not exactly spacious. About halfway through the ride, a<br>middle-aged woman came and squeezed on the seat next to Susan.<br>Considering that there was already three across from us (and the guy<br>across from us was pretty much in the aisle), and that Ted is three<br>times the size of any Guatemalan, we thought it was a little odd that<br>she´d choose to pack us in like gringo sardines. And as seats started<br>to open up around us, we found it downright bizarre. But ...

... a German - who happened to be staying in La Iguana as well and also should return Sunday. So we joined forces and took a small lancha - boat - the 15 minutes to Santa Cruz. I had read that one ought to pay 10 Q, the locals pay 5 Q, but we always ended up paying 15 Q. Not a big deal - that's just how it is. <br><br>I did know that Panajachel had two docks, and I kind of expected some types of concrete docks. Think again! These were very simple wooden docks, and we ...

So, this week John and I are spending some time in San Marcos. San Marcos is one of the many small towns around the Lago de Atilan (Lake Atilan). When I say small, I must admit that it has some character. You arrive by a small boat, at a small wooden pier, comparable to the dock outside any lake house in the states. From here, the majority of the town is organized ...

... and women making their way to buses with their loads of furniture, groceries, etc, and the central plaza just past the knee-high stone ledge. The plaza was spotted with families, more ice-cream vendors, and hundreds of flowers,shrubs, trees. We made our way through the aisles inbetween the vendors' tarp coverings and soon we are being shoved by multiple shoulders and feet through a tight spot. I felt someone's hand on my lower ...

... this before. Will and I caught up with Juan, James, Derek and George and were told by one of the guides that we had only 30 mins left of walking up hill and then we were done for the day. It was only 10 am and we had been walking for 3 hours. Energised that we were about to commence the last leg of our journey we spritely walked up the hill and found the others who had stopped because Kirsty had taken a nasty fall and had grazed her legs. Thankfully it was all superficial ...

... This is pretty much what the hostel is famous for, if i feel like it i might show you all what i look like in a dress. I hope all is well, if anyone should feel the wish to visit, there are cheap flights to Guatemala city from NYC, DC and LA for around 300 round trip. A bed in a dorm here would run you about 5us a night and a private room about 9us. The amazing views are free as well as all the free booze i will give you. Hasta Luego, Geoff

... strapped to their heads and spines...but what can I say...I'm a bad ass..... The next day was the hot springs that pour into the lake....we got 8 people and rented a boat for 4 hours...he took us to the side of the lake where the hot water pours from underneath...its too hot to have a pool so you basically swim near the shore and experience a mix of cold lake and burning hot water...but when it gets to intense just swim out....then ...

... over to Tzununa yesterday, a 2 1/2 hour journey up and down the mountain side surrounding the lake ... simply amazing views. I'll be heading north-west to Quetzaltenango ("Xela") tomorrow and then make my way to Chiapas in Mexico and up into the Yucatan, flying home from Cancun on or about March 27.

... There is now an international group of men who know what it's like to have an overexcited little man molest them through dance. I believe that I raised their cultural sensitivity. <br><br>My plans for the rest of the day: hammock, lunch, more hammock. I'll also decide whether to try and buy painkillers in town or to continue playing the generosity of fellow hostellers. I am a bit of a charity case today. Donations definitely accepted.