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Nothing or all:
to be honest we had some doubts whether to go to Guatemala or not, taking the security situation and the numerous other travel destinations on our route into consideration. But having talked to travellers on our way we had met so many that were fine and had gone to most of the places where we wanted to go. We even met a girl traveling by herself. Then it was decided - we were going to Guatemala.
The moment that we decided to go there we were invited by a very nice couple (Kristy & Matt) from San Diego, California, we had met in Belize to meet up with them in El Remate, close to Tikal, Guatemala. We decided the same second and the rest was planned. We arrived in El Remate early the next morning. At least the bus driver told us we were in El Remate. We found out that we were at a street crossing 1.5km away from El Remate, and that our hotel was on the other side of town....and that there we no taxis passing by. So we walked - for about one hour in the heat with a perceived humidity of 90% and carrying our backpacks. You can imagine how pleasant that was. At least we felt safer afterwards having received nice greetings and expressions of pity for one hour. Our time schedule was busted with that. We were told that there was no bus leaving for Tikal anymore as it was too late. But the good thing in Latin America is that there is always a way. We talked someone from the bus company into collecting people to do an extra round to Tikal and it worked out!
We arrived at noon and were - surprisingly - almost by ourselves in this arqueological site. Most of the tourists had abandoned the site already for the day. We were left with some guatemalan families having a picknick in between the ruins and some diehards. Next to having the ruins by ourselves the most amazing thing was when we heard the houler monkeys scream after a rain shower. We went looking for them and watched them and spider monkeys for an hour jumping from branch to branch. And that in the middle of an arqueological site! Later we met a familiy that said they had seen Pumas before at the site...We don´t know, but for sure there are signs everywhere "beware of Pumas" or "beware of crocodiles".
We decided to join Kristy & Matt to Antigua - a city famous for its well preserved colonial houses and spirit. We spent an aweful day in the buses with the only highlight being a drive along an "almost DEG project". But Antigua was worth the hassle. It is well preserved and also protected, so far more secure than the rest of the country. We visited a coffee and macadamia farm close by, had very nice breakfasts and fruit juices and enjoyed the beautiful view at the three surrounding vulcanos (we even climed one and roasted marshmellows)...and in the meanwhile just fell in love with Antigua. So we decided to stay a little longer to refresh our Spanish skills.
And here we are. We have rented a small apartment where we can cook for ourselves and save on our budget. We go to Spanish school every day for six hours a day - there is always something that you can improve!
It looks like we will stay here until saturday and then continue on to Lago Atitlan to celebrate Anna´s birthday.
Hope to hear from you guys soon.
Best,
Anna & Maarten
- comments
Ria en Kees Hoi Anna en Maarten, Mooi verhaal en mooie foto's !!! Goed om te horen dat het allemaal niet zo eng is in Guatemala. Bij ons zijn de temperaturen een stuk lager, de schaatsen kunnen weer uit het vet en de vorst houdt nog even aan. Liefs van ons 2.
Ronja HI Anna! Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag! Wir hoffen, dass ihr schön feiert und du den Geburtstag in Guatemala genießt! Alles Gute und auf das alle deine Wünsche in Erfüllung gehen! Dicker Knuddel Ronja&Jurre