Blogs from Lago de Atitlán, Western Highlands, Guatemala, Central America Caribbean - page 11

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. It’s built on a secluded cliff and Lonely Planet calls this place the most magical hotel in Guatemala and it’s certainly not too far from the truth! At every turn there was a Kodak moment and there were enough lounge chairs (I was educated that these are called Muscoka chairs) and hammocks to spend many lazy days here. Every room has a fantastic view facing the lake and volcanoes, a paradise if you ask me! There are four volcanoes around the lake: San Pedro, San Luca, Santiago and a smaller one I can’t remember the name of. I had the best breakfast burritos before spending some time ... read more

Having done Mexico, from Mexico City,Oaxaca, and Puerto Escondidoand finall San Cristobal,we arrived in Guatemala yesterday. Staying by Lake Atitlan. Will add more soon.... read more

Panajachel, later during the night. Por todos los dioses imaginados por el ser humano, this was unexpected and is getting totally out of control. Peter and Michael are already drunk out of their collective skulls, Nora is getting to that state where she'll take off her clothes and starts dancing again singing softly in her Louisiana accented french. We've moved to the bar's garden and spent the better part of the night exchanging travel stories from the weeks we're seperated. My travel partner James is sitting opposite me, his impressive beer belly portruding from under his T-shirt and beads of clammy sweat dropping down his frown, his skinny arm possessively around the shoulders of Mary Carmen who is sitting on his lap, her coal black eyes doing a hard job to lock with mine. While I ... read more

Panajachel, 8 abril 1990. It was only four kilometer from Panajachel to Santa Catarina Palopo, a small village with adobe houses with corrugated roofs where the stray dogs barked at me and chicken crossed the narrow stone paved streets while the village children followed me around. I found myself a small comedor with a sign outside that said "cervezas frìas". Ordering this elusive cerveza fria that turned out to be lukewarm, no surprise there, and a whole bunch of Coca Colas for the around me assembled population of the village's schoolclass, I took out my sketch book and made this bunch of rowdy youngers sit opposite me one by one immortalising them with my pencil and charcoal. Another five kilometer brought me to the similar but bigger village of San Antonio Palopo. I decided to skip ... read more

Solola, 06 abril 1990. I've come to Solola mostly of the friday market which according to the locals is the best in the Central Guatamala Highlands. Having arrived late yesterday afternoon I can now see the arrival of the traders from dozens of surrounding villages and small towns while having breakfast. Each village has got its own colorful costumes and designs which are worn with pride. They set up their stands displaying veggies and meat, clothes and fruit, household wares and plastic relious items naetly arranged on the available space. The first cutomers of the day drift by but this being early morning yet, business is understandably slow with possible clientêle hoping for better deals later on during the day. Finishing off my frijoles with habaneros that came with my omelette - sunny side up as ... read more