http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Central America Caribbean , Guatemala en-us Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:48:20 UTC Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:48:20 UTC Hello family friends and fansI have left Quetzaltenango and am happily situated at Lago Atitln. Now I feel like I'm on vacation. Don't get me wrong I did enjoy my time at Xela but afterall it is the second largest city in Guatemala and I am just not a city gal Lago Atitln has the feel of Kootenay Lake back home. I have settled into a funky town of San Pedro La Laguna. The waterfront stree http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Lago-de-Atitlan/San-Pedro-La-Laguna/blog-350986.html Erster Monat ist rumDas geht so schnell man.Ich haenge schon zwei wochen hier in san pedro ab. Einfach so schoen chillig hier.Ja nur chillige junge leute eine bar neben der anderen guenstigs gutes essen bier und co. Ich will garnicht mehr weg.Aber es gibt ja noch viel schoenere orte auf der welt und darum ist am mittwoch hier definitiv schluss und es geht weiter zurueck nach antigua.Ja ich war http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Lago-de-Atitlan/San-Pedro-La-Laguna/blog-350388.html Wednesday November 26 2008Today I took a bus to the old capital of Guatemala called Antigua Guatemala. This colonial era capital still has cobblestone streets and lacks the bustle of the new capital. I was only here long enough to have a cup of coffee at Caffe Opera and catch a shuttle bus to Panajachel. The bus was scheduled to leave at 1230 however we had to go to a garage and switch to a http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Lago-de-Atitlan/Panajachel/blog-350341.html Vitejte v byvalem hlavnim meste krasne kolonialni Antigue chranene UNESCEM jak jinak. Mistnim obyvatelum terenni stav ulic sestavajicich se z kocicich hlav uplne az tak nevyhovuje ale pri tom relativne velkem prilivu turistu si tu kazdy prijde na sve. Delame mensi prochazku mestem davame si cerstvy snidanovy dzus projdeme namesti a tesime se na vyhlidku nad mestem kam se ovsem nejlepe vypra http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Antigua/Antigua/blog-350143.html V sest hodin rano nasedame do busu privado jehoz velkou vyhou narozdil od kolektiva jak mi mafian vysvetlil je ze nam ridic na pozadani zapne klimatizaci. Je ovsem ponekud chladneji coz je na Petenskou nizinu relativne prekvapive takze dnes klimatizaci zas tak moc nepotrebujeme. Jedou s nami dva veseli panove ktere ceka dest hodin s nami dolu a nasledne cca 68 hodin zpet nahoru do Flores. P http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Livingston/blog-350139.html Prijezd do Flores startovaciho mista na Tikal byl malinko sokujici. Na predmesti vyrostlo obri nakupni centrum u cesty ze St. Heleny na ostrov Flores stoji retezec kureci rychloobcerstvovny Pollo Campero vedle nej se budeje Mekac a Kaefcecko jakoze pokrok. Ceny tu malinko vzrostly po silnici se prohani jeden novy moped za druhym. V porovnani s Mexikem jsou na nas v hotelu o neco milejsi z l http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Flores-Tikal/blog-350108.html HolaMy trip is over with now but I have so many videos to post This video collection is from my trip through Guatemala from Rio Dulce to Tikal. It was a long trek but it was fun I went to Finca Ixobel which is a town located about halfway to Tikal. Then I travel another 4 hours to El Remate which is just outside of Tikal. Then of course there is the day I spent at Tikal which was fantastic. I h http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Rio-Dulce/blog-350103.html Im now in guatamala...altho not for much longer as i cross the border in honduras tomorrow....after leaving belize behind we headed to flores...which is a little island town with some very nice restaurants...from there we headed to the ruins at tikal...which is another mayan city again in the jungle where again we got to climb all over the ancient pyramids....no health and safety hereafte flo http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Antigua/Antigua/blog-350077.html Today was the day to visit Tikal the famous Mayan ruin deep in the jungle of Guatemala. I was disappointed that we could no longer see sunrise or sunset at Tikal because of recent rule changes. Irsquove heard that itrsquos either for fairness or that some guides abused their privileges and took more than the allowed 15 people up the temple at one time. We chose to go to Tikal in the aftern http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Flores-Tikal/blog-350053.html This was our earliest start yet We piled into the van at 0500hr in the morning so that we could avoid the traffic jam around Guatemala City. It worked and the ride was smooth as we had breakfast en route and drove by Lago de Izabal largest lake in Guatemala and Rio Dulce. We stopped at Poptun Finca Ixobel for lunch. I had an awesome vegetarian burger and papaya shake before having a fr http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Flores-Tikal/blog-350052.html Today is the day to climb Volcan de Pacaya Most of us opted to go in the afternoon because we wanted to see flowing lava contrasting the dark sky. I had the morning to walk round Antigua and I went back to see the lactating fountain at the main square. There is a sizeable traditional market here and an artisan market next to it. Things here are definitely more expensive than Panajachel and Sa http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Volcan-Pacaya/blog-350051.html Another early morning rise at 0700hr to drive to Chichicastenango for breakfast. It was surprising that banks here actually open on Sunday Like many other places in Central America there was a huge line to get into a bank even before it opened. I had the Especial de la Casa but sorry to say it was nothing special. Like many other villages locals donrsquot like their photos taken but th http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Chichicastenango/blog-350050.html Panajachel aka Pana is the busiest and most built up town around Lake Atitlan. We took a boat to a hotel La Casa del Mundo near Jaibalito for breakfast. Itrsquos built on a secluded cliff and Lonely Planet calls this place the most magical hotel in Guatemala and itrsquos certainly not too far from the truth At every turn there was a Kodak moment and there were enough lounge chairs I http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-350048.html The Night of Terror began at dinner. It was the first night since staying with our host family in San Jose that I parted from being veggie. I had a traditional Guatemalan dish a bowl of soup containing a whole fish its head and tail sticking up out of the soup at either side. Well I asked for it The disection began. As the fish gave me a look of defiance I glanced up at the rafter over the ki http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/El-Peten/blog-349782.html Theres nothing wrong with a beer and a slice of lime. It must have taken off in Eire around the 90s. First consumed by the cool ones. And then the suits on Friday nights in town stuffing city bars after a weeks work. Now beer and lime is popular almost everywhere. I quite like a cool bottle of beer with lime.But when youre given beer lime AND salt on the sideJessica and I looked at one anot http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/El-Peten/blog-349776.html November 25 2008Guatemala City Guatemala Central AmericaI arrived in Guatemala City on Sunday November 23rd and spent a couple of nights relaxing. Tuesday morning I went to the National Museum of Arqueology and Ethnology in Guatemala City. There are many original artefacts here from the ancient Mayan cities of Guatemala. The museum is in the Zone of the city that is close to the airport and http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Guatemala-City/blog-349670.html Bundled into a colectivo 10seater minivans that act as buses crammed with 24 Guatemalans James and I found our way to San Jose a half hour around the Peten Itza lake from Santa Elena. We headed out to the small quiet town to learn Spanish and stay with a family.Les gustan los nios Do you like children asked the school director Glenda a lady who had an unnerving constant surprised smil http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/El-Peten/blog-349442.html Ran out of time yesterday so will fill you in on the last 24 We were planning to go to a reserve in El Remate yesterday and camp there the night but we got talking to a local who said it's pretty dodgy and there have been cases of muggings and assault as it is pretty isolated. We headed there just for the day instead and felt quite disappointed at the entrance as prices had doubled and the beach http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/El-Peten/Flores/blog-349405.html As the days count down and we face the ultimate reality that at some point we will have to return to lands where the word sunny is mearly a concept. We are determined to make the most of every little hour that remains. With that in mind we planned a wild rollercoaster week skirting through Belize hence the title I thought it was funny and dont care what anyone else says and north Guatamala. http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Flores-Tikal/blog-349205.html HiGot to Belize City late night and met some pretty crazy people including Prince Charles Paris III who sounded like one of the most educated people I have ever met not too mention one of the most insane. The hostel we stayed at was right over the river and the people were really friendly in fact everyone in Belize is It is an absolutely fantastic city and beautiful in a very different way.W http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/El-Peten/Flores/blog-349160.html Hola Amigos here it is finally the Daztastic travelblog youve all been waiting for.... well something like that After few hiccups in this thing called life it seems I have finally started doing a bit of living with my eyes wide open and it has taken me Antigua Guatemala. Getting here was a pain in the Rear as American Airlines did their damndest to start me off on the wrong foot. The Troll http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Antigua/Antigua/blog-349136.html Antigua was a cool city. Didn't really spend much time here to explore much of the city though. We're coming back from our loop around Guatemala so we'll check it out more later.Homer and I met up with my friend Florian. We met him earlier in San Pedro and decided to hook up in Antigua and climb Volcano Pacaya together. It's a 'live' volcano that spews lava through its side. Awesome. The hi http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Antigua/blog-348924.html After Xela Quetzaltenango we traveled to San Pedro La Laguna a small town by Lago Atitlan. The place had a good vibe. It was very chill and hip. There were quite a few travelers here but it didn't feel touristy. There's an area where it feels like you're going through a maze. Businesses and restaurants are located through these narrow alleys. Kind of cool. Local people here were very fr http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Lago-de-Atitlan/San-Pedro-La-Laguna/blog-348850.html Chillig billig und wunder schoenDas ist die typische Antwort die Einheimische geben wenn sie gefragt werden warum man nach San Pedro la Laguna kommen muss. Und damit treffen sie den Nagel auf den Kopf.Heisst also hier ist fuer die naechsten 10 Tage mein neues zu Hause.San Pedro ist eine kleine HippieStadt in Guatemala und liegt versteckt am Rande des Sees Atitlan zu fuessen eines schon lan http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Lago-de-Atitlan/San-Pedro-La-Laguna/blog-348541.html A live volcano that we climbed by horse and foot and toasted marsh mellows in the lava http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Volcan-Pacaya/blog-348382.html A beautiful cobblestone street city http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Antigua/Antigua/blog-348377.html In the middle of the jungle with all it's masses of mosquitos and amazing animals lies Tikal the lost ancient city http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Flores-Tikal/blog-348370.html We stayed in a beautiful hotel by Lake Peten for a night before taking off for the jungle ruins. http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/El-Peten/blog-348363.html I MADE IT I GOT OUT OF MEXICO Im goin back in a couple weeks though... However i made it through the border w no problems i didnt even pay a fine i gave them the innocent me look and told the customs officers i had realized in mexico city the day before that my visa had expired ''im so sorry officer i completely forgot about it...'' and called the french embassy a http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Lago-de-Atitlan/San-Pedro-La-Laguna/blog-348006.html Guatemala gehoert definitiv zu jenen Laendern die mich von Beginn an fasziniert haben. Obwohl ich nie wirklich gewusst habe warum ich unbedingt hier herkommen wollte war ich mir doch sicher dass ich mich hier gleich zuhause fuehlen wuerde. Und genauso war es.Gleich nach der Grenze BelizeGuatemala hat sich die Landschaft extrem veraendert. Von betonierten Strassen in Belize war der Uebergang z http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Antigua/Antigua/blog-347871.html