Guatemala

We crossed the border from Mexico into Guatemala about 1 month ago. I was a little anxious to see how crossing the border would change things. Immediately the mountains grew steeper and there were very loud and FAST buses careering past us on the hairpin turns covering us in a plume of black exhaust smoke, (on the horn the whole time), but apart from that, it was relatively the same, of course.


So if it was a relief from the outgoing Mexicano lifestyle i was after, Guatemala was not the best place to retreat to, although apart from the buses, things have become a little more subdued (or maybe i´ve become a bit more subdued, dont know).

We started in the western highlands with pine plantations in the mountains and corn covering the rolling hills, sometimes hiding the houses it grows so large. We had a great chance meeting with Jesse & Chikky in San Cristobal Totonicapan. Jesse is a Peace Corps volunteer from the states living there, who introduced us to couch surfing, which is an online meeting point for travelers and local people with a place for the traveler to sleep (www.couchsurfing.com aidan & yuriko). He also twisted our rubbery arms to stay another night and do some exploring of the town and surrounding area. He also gave us the heads up for an organisation called Help Exchange which ive since become a member of, its like WWOOFing but its worldwide and not necessarily all about farming, so we might also use it to meet people along the way.

The clothing changes from region to region, and is especially prominent in the western highlands. We saw everyone, men women & children, even the horses, wearing this type of clothing.

Then it was off to Lagona de Atitlan, a lake in the highlands surrounded by volcanoes, before heading to the town where its like stepping back in time 80 years, with old ruined houses and cathedrals and cobble stone roads, and a popular place for visitors to Guatemala, Antigua.

A view of Lagona De Atitlan.

 

We saw the people wearing this kind of clothing in the highlands, but here its for sale in Antigua.

We then took a detour to Tikal. After 8 days we made it to the Unesco World Heriatage site and woke up at 4 am the next day to catch the sunrise from one of the large temples. We watched the sunrise and a band of spider monkeys having breakfast in the canopy before exploring some of the main buildings within the center of the city, it was awesome, unbelievable, well worth the 1000km round trip to get here.

The North Temple in the city of Tikal, the largest Mayan city which flourished in the period 500-600 AC. One of four large remaining pyramids. A  feature of Tikal is the amount of ruins there, it was home to more than 100,000 people once. Some of the buildings were restored like this one, and a lot left to show the age of time, also being reclaimed by the rain forest.

& just cause i can, the campsite we had before and after visiting the site of Tikal, secret location (El Remate, a sleepy little town on the edge of a lagoon and the National Park of Tikal).

We are nearly crossing the border into Honduras, but before that we¨re off to Livingston next, a small town on the Caribbean coast in Guatemala famous for a bit of Caribbean African sub culture and having no roads into the town, how are we going to get there i here you ask...our first boat trip with bicycles.

We have both really enjoyed our time in Guatemala, its been varied and easy to travel (speaking of which if you¨re coming here check out (visitguatemala.com)- ask for George, if you¨re in the Izabel province, hes the guy with 200 muscats, a keen eye for hapless tourists to prey upon and - and is the coolest biodynamic pirate in Gautemala, he will help you with anything you need. i said i would Geroge!