{delayed blog} The border crossing at San Christobal was pretty straightforward. They didn´t stamp my passport though, so no reminder unfortunately. I got on another chickenbus on the Salvadoran side to Santa Ana where it was a bit of a hassle to get a local bus to take me to metrocentro where there was an ATM. I continued on by bus to Lago de Coatepeque, making it a long day of traveling alltogether. But it was defenitely worthwhile! A beautiful crater lake with chrystal clear water! I checked in at the ... and got a dormroom all to myself for seven Dollars. American Dollar that is. The last currency, the Colón, was replaced by the US Dollar in 2001. The sun had just set when I arrived so the evening I spent having dinner at a ... read more

We all know the monster of Lochness, right? Well, the monster of Atitlan is different. Big, for what it is, but definitely not as huge as the Scottish version. More colourful though! I encountered it during my walk up and down Volcan San Pedro on the Lago de Atitlan. But let’s start at the beginning; I’d left Antigua and had to change buses three times due to the holiday of Semana Santa and it’s less frequent bus service. I first changed in Chimaltenango on a bus to Chichicastenango, the route I had taken before. I knew where to get off, and hop on a bus to Panajchel. Or so I though, because that one stopped in Solola, on the ridge of the volcanic slope leading down to the lake. The last 20minutes into Panajchel were quite ... read more

Via Guatemala city I arrived in Chichicastenango on a Saturday morning, in time for the famous Sunday market. I had traveled together with the two Ozzie ´moles´ from El Péten region the day previous, and then taken a chicken bus (3 hrs) to the market town which lies at 2175 meters! The roads lead through mainly mountainous terrain, making the bus trip a rollercoaster ride of the type that might give you a whiplash. With sweaty palms we held on to the bars on top of the seats in front of us for deer life. Equally sweaty buttocks caused some serious sliding movements, which meant the poor soul at the window was being absolutely squashed. The term chicken bus refers to the fact that livestock used to be transported on these buses alongside people. I have ... read more

One of the most relaxed border posts I’ve been at, the pier at Punta Gorda (a.k.a. PG) an it’s adjoining customs office stamped all the gringos aboard the lancha from Puerto Barrios through in a matter of minutes. Another day at the office for them, I guess. Some of us changed shirts as we had gotten quite wet on the way. A restaurant just up the road was able to exchange Quetzals for Belizean Dollars at a good rate (Q8 = B$1) and a chicken bus was waiting to take us north. Actually I’m not sure if these old school buses from the USA are the infamous chicken buses. This one wasn’t full anyway and quite comfortable. It took two hours or so to Placencia, or the stop on the main ‘highway’ for the city. I ... read more

The bus I ended up in was one of those old yellow school buses, imported from the USA. It was pretty comfortable though, although the bus was full. The ride was mostly through valleys with some mountains nearby, but nearly all flat out. It gets real dry and dusty everywhere here during winter that's for sure! Four hours after departing the SPS bus station the bus arrived safe and sound. It was only a few minutes along the steep and cobblestoned streets before I had found a place to stay. At HNL 200 ($10) a bargain, three floors with an inner courtyard so it stays nice and cool. I had a room on the ground floor. The rest of the day I didn't do much, apart from walking around the small town and meeting some fellow ... read more