Testing the Guatemalan Transportation System

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  Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
Wednesday, December 19, 2007

For the past three days we have tried out almost every form of transportation that Guatemala has to offer.

On Sunday, we took a launch to the biggest town on Lake Atitlan called Panajachel to see their colourful market. The colours are amazing as cotton fabrics are sold there for dirt cheap prices. If we were not travelling as lightly as we are, we would have filled our suitcases with dirt cheap tableclothes and quilted bedspreads. After an afternoon of walking we decided to take the next launch home. The 'captain' was in a hurry, we think, so he booted the boat back to San Pedro. The 40 minute ride took about 30 minutes. This wouldn't have been so bad except for the huge waves on the lake. We were sitting in the front and got the brunt of the broncing boat but all the people behind us got absolutely soaked. Then they were handed a tarpaulin to cover themselves up with. It was the best midway ride that we had been on for a long time

Panajachel's Quilts

.

On Monday, we took the early shuttle van to Antigua. As it was full of travellers, we had very little legroom (8" maybe) and were crowded in the seats. For the first hour, we headed up into the mountains on an extremely twisty and nausia causing road with no guardrails and deep gutters on the shoulders of the road. Around each corner, and there were hundreds, we encountered dogs and people walking up the mountain with huge loads on their backs. At one point we saw a team of oxen hauling a huge pine trunk up the road. It is amazing that we didnīt hit anyone or thing. We did see a group of people that were looking down a cliff at a vehicle that had fallen. After 3 and a half hours of driving through construction and dust we finally got to Antigua, a pretty little colonial city that once was the capital city of Guatemala.

Our hotel, Posada de los Bucaros, is in the north end of the city, in a quiet area. It looks like at one time it had been an old hacienda and has been restored nicely. It has all that we need - quiet, hot water, comfortable beds and very clean. We have met a few people who will be on the GAP trip with us and 4 of them are Swedes.

In the late 1700īs an earthquake destroyed much of the beautiful city and to this day, there are ruins everywhere

In the launch - the mountain Chris climbed

. Ruins of huge cathedrals and buildings. It is because of the destruction that the capital was moved to Guatemala City. Antigua was named a world heritage site.

We were told by many other travellers that we should go on a trip to the active volcano of Pacaya so we booked a trip for Tuesday afternoon. Little did we know what an adventure that would be. We left at 2 p.m. and took a hour and half bus ride to the volcano. Upon getting to the park entrance, a group of about 20 people started a walk up the mountain. This was no leisurely walk - when I say up, I mean it. About two thirds of the way up, I opted to take a horse up the rest of the way. Altitude and trouble breathing does it for me all the time. Chris, being in good shape, walked with the young people. It wasnīt easy. When we got up to the top of the mountain, we had an incredible 360 degree view of the surrounding landscape - Guatemala City, the volcano, and the farms all around. Now we started the ascent down into the lava fields below. This was the time to test our running shoes - walking on bowling ball sized boulders and trying to keep your balance for 40 minutes. The dried lava is razor sharp so you do not want to fall, but many people did. Finally we got to the running lava beds. What an experience. We were within 3 metres of a lava flow. Can you imagine!!!!! People were roasting marshmallows and hotdogs.

The tarpaulin in the launch

The sun starting going down, the sunset was beautiful and we realized that we had a long trek ack over the boulders and up the mountain and then down the mountain to get back to our bus. We went ack the way we came and this time had to use our flashlights to see where to walk. Another Guatemalan experience that we will remember for sure. It was awesome, especially seeing the erupting volcano with its streams of lava in the dark. The bus ride was  slow, thank heavens, and uneventful. Those dusty mountain roads can't be good for vehicles.

So today is the day, at 6 pm, we start the GAP tour. We decided to tour Antigua a bit and after our wonderful breakfast, we heard a strange sound. Everyone was running and we thought that an earthquake was going to happen. The sound became louder and louder and then we saw it. A fireworks store had caught on fire and fireworks were exploding everywhere. It was pretty awful actually as it was in the market area with lots of Christmas decorations and clothes and plastics. The smoke and noise was incredile. We were a safe distance away, thank heavens. The ambulances went by but we do not know if anyone was hurt. The explosions lasted for a good half hour.

Well there we go for now - boats, shuttles, buses, horses and hikes - all big adventures in 3 days. By the way, the weather continues to be in the 20īs and very pleasant.

P.S. We have learned a new way to wash clothes after our hike to Pacaya. We get into the shower with our clothes on, soap them up and rinse off. Remove layers, wring out and roll out in our one towel after we have towelled ourselves off. Hang to dry and clean clothes the next day!

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Antigua breakfast	The roof of a destroyed cathedral	The bowels of the cathedral	Looking into a house
Volcano Pacaya from the bus	Start of the hike to Pacaya	On top of the mountain	Dried lava flow
3 meters from the lava	The sunset	Lava flow

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