Chilling on the blustery lake

  Santa Cruz de la Laguna, Guatemala
Tuesday, December 5, 2006

An hour after leaving Chichi we arrive in Panajachel or Pana as its known. We are taken straight down to the dock of this huge and beautiful lake. It is surrounded by volcanoes and greenery and is a fantastic sight - just what we were hoping for! We get straight on a lancha (speed boaty thing that takes you to villages around the lake). We are heading to Santa Cruz, where we have heard good things about a place there and is not as built up as the other towns. 10Q and 20 mins later we are there and arrive on the shore to see a few buildings nearby and are new home ´Iguana Perdida´ we choose a room overlooking the lake which is basic but fine and only 80Q a night with shared bathroom.

1-View across Lake Atitlan

We then sit outside on the patio area and read and watch the fantastic blazing sunset. We start talking to resident drinker, Bob, he is American and lives up the road with his wife.  He is a Vietnam war veteran and is obviously seriously damaged by the whole experience.  He is a nice guy to talk to for a bit but you do go around in circles as he drinks from about 10am it seems.  Think he annoys some of the staff but appears to pay their salaries!  There are communal dinners here and we have a lovely one for 45Q for 3 courses and are joined by a Dutch tour group. Seems like a cool place!

Off to bed early again and are woken a lot in the night by things banging around by the very strong winds outside.

Monday
We have our curtains open in our room so are woken by the sun rising and head down to the shore to watch it properly. Magical. Then head back to bed.

1-View across Lake Atitlan

It is very windy today but sunny outside and although we were planning to walk up to the village and then up to the top of the mountain we reckon its too dangerous as things are literally flying around. The corrugated iron roof on one of the sheds next to the lake is virtually completely torn off, I dont know how it managed to stay put throughout the storm.

There is nothing for us to do but sit inside in the shelter and read. Eat more fruit for lunch which also includes weird red bananas we bought in Antigua. Its nice to have an excuse not to do anything. The electricity has gone in the main building (have none in our room just torches) which is a pain so no cold beer for anyone. It calms down a bit later and we walk along the lake shore sussing out other dinner options in 2 other hotels which are pricier and not as nice. Instead have dinner at our place by candlelight as still no power. Atmosphere amongst the staff feels a bit weird and we feel a bit awkward as a result, some people reckon its due to the iminent full moon.

Tuesday
Go for another run before we both head down to the lake for a swim. Whilst I am getting out my towel gets blown in by a gust of wind which is great! We dry off in about 5 mins due to the sun and wind and have break on the wooden pier and sunbathe.

6-Em enjoying a swim with her towel!

We have decided to leave here today partly cos of the weather and partly due to the atmosphere.