We have had a full day in Chichi and it was fantastic. Lucy and I wandered around the streets and in the plaza for a while this morning. There is a lot of activity - music playing continuously, lots of locals wandering around in traditional clothing, there were traditional dances in the most amazing and elaborate costumes, processions through town carrying these huge statues - really incredible. We seemed to have been in the right spot every time. The markets have everything you could imagine in them, shoes, clothes, fruit,ceremonial masks children´s toys and even dried fish! Lucy and I were starting to head back to the hotel, when amongst the crowd we spotted Jack, who was asking for directions. He arrived in Guat. City late last night and caught the chicken bus to Chichi today. ... read more

Okay I am cheating. I am not in Guatemala. Yet! But I've just set up this travelblog and so consider this a test. But the plan is that we travel around 40 hours or so (sounds horrendous) and get to Chichicastenango on Thursday 20 December, in time for la Fiesta de Santo Tomas on Friday. I don't know what I was thinking when I thought it would be a good idea to go straight to this festival - clearly I hadn't thought it through properly, as after the flight to LA (13 hours stop over) then the flight to Miami (five hours stop over) then the flight to Guatemala City, we then have to drive approx. 3 hours to Chichi! It better be worth it. Anyhow - the rough plan is to start there, have Christmas ... read more