Antigua Baby!

Interesting experience getting to Antigua. I was going to share a taxi with Mimi (one of the Canadians staying at Teresa´s) but the taxi we called never came and we had to stop one on the street (this means he´s not reputable...no meters). We explain that he should drop me off anywhere on the street so I can catch the chicken bus on the way to the airport. I ask how much and he says 50Q ($4.50). The guy drops Mimi off she tells him I have the money, then he takes me to the Camionetta (chicken bus head quarters). I get out and give him the money, some guy already throws my bag in the bus and the bus driver tells me that it was supposed to be 50Q each. I start to argue with him telling him he did not say that when I asked for the price before. Mean while, the bus is starting to inch away. I had a choice, argue some more or jump on the bus with my stuff. So...I looked at the taxi driver and looked at my bag...and then jumped on the bus. The guy gave me a look and the bus drove off. Once the bus starts moving some guy gets up and says a speech. I have no clue what he says, then he walk around and people are giving him money. I don´t understand but I do know that the people aren´t giving him the bus fare amount. The lady in front of me tries to explain what is happening in spanish but it´s too chaotic for me. Then the guy behind me speaks english and tells me he said to give him money because he needs some and that they should do it for their country. I talked to this guy the whole way to Antigua. He practiced his english while I practiced my spanish. He was really nice. He asked me where I was staying, I showed it to him on the map and then he walked me all the way there.

So now....i´m finally alone. No one to walk around town with or anything. No one is at the hostel when I get there, and I´m hungry. I found a place to eat and I ate alone for the first time ever in a restaurant. Was weird...not so enjoyable. I saw some churches, walked around the streets and then sat in Parque Central to people watch. I was approached by person after person trying to sell me scarfs or jewlery and I don´t know what else. One lady didn´t try to sell me anything until after she told me about her 3 children and her husband who died 8 months ago (all in spanish...i´m getting good peeps!). Part of me wanted to buy something, but then the othe part of me said how long has she been using that sob story to get peopl to feel bad.

First night in Antigua was fun. There are not as many tourists in this town as I was told there would be. Apparently the big crowds just left...not as many friends to make, but better for me because the prices at the hostel went down. So I made friends with an Irish guy named Roundhi. We went to dinner and then to the Irish pub in town. It turns out everyone Monday night they have Air Guitar Contests...that´s right people. The video is of the winner!!!

I decided to take some spanish classes in Antigua so I am here until Sunday. I am spend a lot of time with Roundhi and Laura (brittish girl) who are also taking classes at the same school as I am.

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Part of trip: Guatemala and Belize

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