Leaving AntiguaIt of course had to happen - the happy, sufficiently exotic but still familiar bubble that is Antigua, had to end. But for me, what a way to exit Guatemala! Predictably, we had to end my five weeks with a bang at Rilley's - which we did. I left Antigua (with very little sleep) on Saturday 3 October with some friends heading to Coban on to Lanquin for Semuc Champey. We arrived at El Retiro lodge - a backpacker's paradise - just in time to head t...

Twelve things I found surprising about Guatemala:1) The thought that the thousands of "chicken buses" crisscrossing the country's roads had once ferried small (and not so small) American kids to school from Minnesota to Miami. These buses have now found a new lease on life in Guatemala, often with a more colourful exterior, but as frequently in the same old yellow colour seen in the movies (and on the streets of every American town) with the words - &q...

About beer in Guatemala. Moza. Cerveza Oscura. Bock Bier. Yup.

Rain, fire, mist and smoke - Volcano Pacaya. These are some of the ingredients available on the overnight trip to Volcano Pacaya, which lies nearly exactly in the middle between Guatemala City and Antigua. No doubt this was one of the better excursions which I have ever done. In fact, in many other countries the trip - or at least the way we approached it - would not be allowed for safety reasons. Whilst being mostly overwhelmed with the sight of lava continu...

Independence Day - on the 15th of September, Guatemala, Mexico (and perhaps a few other countries in Central America) celebrated their independence from Spain. It is a pretty big day for which each school in the area had to enter a marching troupe and band, some choosing to go with a certain theme, others just parading in their school clothes. Well, for us, festivities started the previous evening with a huge party in Reilly's - an Irish pub close to the main s...