Bus Trip

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Trip Start Aug 01, 2007 Previous
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  Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
Sunday, August 5, 2007

Plowing down a narrow, single land highway (that is suppose to really be for two directions of traffic) down a steep mountain will never be forgotten.

I left Antigua, on what i was told a direct shuttle to Xela, at 7 AM. The bus is similar to a Grayhound bus back in the states and has several people already on board. The bus leaves Antigua and we begin our climb into the highlands. Lush green land is in every direction. The woman we see along the road are in brightly colored traditional dresses. The towns we pass are varying in size, but for the most part are small. The bus stops in Los Encuentros and the driver as for those continuing to Xela to get off the bus. Me and another guy stand up and sort of look at each other thinking, huh?. The driver said a connection minibus would be picking us up in 30 minutes. The he drove off into the sun. HE LEFT US IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE! Thank goodness I was with somebody else, Alex, who spoke Spanish realy well

My host family 1

. I would have been scared to be left my the side of the road if i was on my own. Alex and i evenualy found a place to grab breakfast while we waited for our minibus.

An hour later, we are on our way to Xela. Just as we are about to pull out of a gas station, the minibus almost got hit my a giant chicken bus that was coming off of a hill. I gasp and make a little scream, Alex yells and the driver calmly swerves to the left and out of the chicken buses way. I saw my life flash before me.

Driving into Xela was beautiful. Indigenous women  wearin bright long skirts and carrying everything and anything on their head, all the while, with a child strapped onto their backs. It was a since, that I had only ever seen on tv or read about in National Geographic magazine. Too see it in person was quite incredible and humblinh.

Once I reached Xela, I saw that it is a much larger of a city than I thought it would be. Xela is the second largest city in Guatemala and has a slightly provincial atmosphere since it is in the highlands. The town is ringed my high mountains and cold mornings and nights. The nickname for the city, Xela, is a shorten version of the Kiche name of a nearby pre conquest city, Xelaju

My host family 2

. The city of Xela is a main connecting point for the highland towns and villages. As such, practically every bus in the regions goes through Xela and it is here, where people come to sell their goods.

I found the school and then was placed with my host family. I am living i with a woman and here two children. Her husband is currently working in Maryland, so he is not home. I put my things down and decided to walk around town. I start classes tomorrow morning at 8 have a fairly filled week of things. I know I wanted to stay in Xela for a few weeks, but I think I am going to head out after a week. The weather is too cold for me...

For now I will have some time to read, practice my spanish and help build stoves in the local community.

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My host family´s home 1

My host family´s home 2

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