Blogs from Lago de Atitlán, Western Highlands, Guatemala, Central America Caribbean - page 10

La Casa del Mundo, Jaibilito When this was all a month's vacation plan, I had included a few hotel stays in my month, thinking that I may be feeling a bit isolated in my apartment and in need of some socialization from time to time. When it moved from a vacation plan to a 'retirement' plan, I cancelled some hotels but kept just this one. I had already paid for one night of it, so I figured for $75/nt for the primo room #13 with the full frontal view of the lake, why not...and I am so glad i did! I arrived at their dock, just a short 10 mins ride from my dock at Pasajcap, and climbed the 300 steps to reception, where I needed to sit down and catch my breath. Man, am I ... read more

The group all went on the boat trip, nice early start (except Michelle as ill). We had a breakfast stop in an amazing place. Would love to come back and stay here. It was called Hotel la Casa, he views were amazing, the food divine... It was a great start to the day. We then went onto Santiago Atitlan, went to the church. Here we had another odd experience. We went to visit Maximon, their god that looks after them. He resides in different houses and you can go any give him rum and cigarettes... He is a wooden statue that they dress, changing these weekly, and there are saints and his father living in the same house as him where ever that may be!!! Weird... But good money making scheme as you have to pay ... read more

Guatemala's simmering internal problems are beautifully mirrored by the restless volcanic bedrock it sits so precariously on. Evidence of its Pacific rim nature is everywhere in the landscape, and the sights surrounding us here tell their own geological story so clearly. Lago Atitlan is the culmination of much volcanic activity - the lake itself is a wopping big crater, and there is no mistaking the imposing shapes of the many volcanoes surrounding it. Whilst sitting enjoying coffee and good friends, periodically clouds of volcanic debris were billowing out of a crater across the lake from us. Our first stop was Panajachel, the largest of the towns surrounding the lake. Only a few short hours by 3 changes of Chicken bus from Xela, we could not have been in a more different economy. The main street of ... read more

Wed 17th Dec 08 Just after lunch Fran, Brad & myself hired 3 mountain bikes & threw them on top of a chicken bus. We took the bus to a town at the top of the hills. We biked down the crazy road with extreme drops that leads back into Panajachel. There were some hairy turns & near misses with oncoming chicken buses but it was great fun all the same. It took about 10 minutes to reach the bottom. Then we cycled the 4 kms to the neighbouring town of Santa Catherina Pollopa. That night we had a really good bbq in the hotel grounds, I drank a nice bottle of red wine. ... read more

Tues 16th Today Fran, Christina, Brenda, Brad & myself hired a boat. We 1st went to Santa Cruz for breakfast at the Lost Iguana with spectacular views of Central America's deepest lake. Then we crossed to San Iago de Atitlan where the mainly Tz'utijil & Kakchiquel have a deity which is an amalgamation of christian & Mayan saints, the Spanish conquistador Avildera, St. Simon & Judas Iscariot all fused together in a large wooden statue called Maximon. We were very lucky to witness a rite asking for a pregnancy blessing. We offered some money to him & in return we were allowed to take a photo. We saw the shaman pray in spanish & mayan, offering him libations, money & his favourite cigarettes. Then we went to a beach near San Pedro for a swim. We ... read more