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We departed Antigua at 8.30am heading to San Pedro near lake Aititlan. We seemed to be making good progress when suddenly we came to a halt at the bottom of a hill. We waited for a long time in stand still traffic having no idea what was happening. After about an hour we hadn't moved so Suhanya decided it would be a good time for a toilet stop. She wandered off into the bushes and found several French women who had had the same idea. Of course the traffic chose this time to start moving again! She managed to run back just in time to board the bus with Phant holding open the door and her jumping in as the driver put his foot down on the accelerator.
When we finally reached the top of the hill a load of people with tree branches and posters wandered into the street and blocked the road. We got down to find out what was happening. It turned out they were protesting because workers for NGO's hadn't been paid for the last 6 months. We waited for 45 minutes before they let us through. However it was difficult driving through with cars on the other side of the road driving in our lane. We saw "Chicken buses" playing chicken with each other but we managed to get through with the skill of our driver. We drove along enjoying the beautiful scenery when we suddenly came to another halt. This time the protesters started a fire. After an hour passed there was still no sign of the protesters letting us through. So we both decided to have a toilet stop. There was a meager little bush on the side of the road that would have to do. Suhanya went first then Phant. As he returned he saw Suhanya grinning incomprehensibly at some local man. We got back in the bus but he followed us and wouldn't go away until the driver had a word with him.
Soon after, the traffic started moving again and as we passed the blockade we saw a large charred tree trunk in the road. We later saw an impressive volcano in the distance but before too long we hit a third road block. We got down to stretch our legs again and walked over to the protesters. We saw rocks and boards with nails on the road this time and it was another hour wait before being let through. It was like a GP start with the engines revving and a chaotic first dash to pass the protesters before they blocked the road again. We were finally clear and managed to enjoy the spectacular scenery as we drove down twisty roads along a mountain to our final destination: Lake Atitlan.
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