They say pana hu chel.
I had some trouble at the bus station this morning. Everyone was sending me some where else and I couldn't find my bus. I know I saw one go yesterday. This old bloke was telling me no directo and I would have to take his bus and change. He said I had to change at Los Encuentros. When we got going I realised the bus was going to GC and I would get off on the way. The young driver was a maniac. When the driver leans into the corner at 45 deg you know he is going for it. It was a real workout trying to stay in the seat. We were pulling G's around the corners. And he overcharged me at $3, shoulda been less.
Well the "station" at Los Encuentros is actually the junction where you turn off the GC road so that is where they left me. Luckily another bus came along straight away and I said "pana" and the kid said get on. This bus really filled up so there was standing room only. This driver was way more sedate.
It turns out this bus doesn't go to Pana as well and I am going to have to transfer again. I do know I am getting closer. We stopped at a town and everyone got off so I asked where to get the next bus? The kid told me to get on the bus behind us and he would take me to parky central. I decided to walk cos I knew I was close and there was something going on. On the walk I discovered I was in Solola, another lake town. There are marching bands everywhere. They seem to love them here. There must have been about 20 of them. While I was taking a couple of photos I saw a couple of busses and thought they must be the one to Pana. It turned out they were and I jumped on. When we got into Pana, at the first stop I noticed a sign for one of the hotels I had seen on line. I jumped off and walked down the dodgy alley and they have a room. On line says they are full? This arvo I went for a walk and saw the real place I was looking for, one is Hotel and one is Hospidage. Luckily I got the cheap one and it is great. I'm lovin it here so far.
On the plus side, with all this carry on my Spanish is getting much better. I still can't talk much but I understand more. I don't know why it won't stick in my head, the other day I saw a 3 year old kid talking perfect Spanish so it can't be that hard can it?

Last night turned out to be a big night. I ate in a restaurant, something I almost never do, and I was up and down all night. I will leave you to fill in the gaps. And the couple in the room next to me were shall we say noisy from 2.30 till about 4, a pretty good effort but I didn't need to hear it.
Yesterday I booked a tour of the lake including going to a weaving collective and coffee house. I had to be there by 9.10. I was early cos if you not 5min early you are late. There were 5 Americans there getting organised and at 9 they decided to go for breakfast. The woman said be back by 9.20. Now we all know there is no way they going to get breakfast in 20 min. I complained and asked why I was told 9.10. Then at 9.20 me and the Americans, who still arn't back, get consolidated into another tour. The guide introduces himself and I asked if we were going since we are 15 min late and he said 9.30 was the usual time. I was pretty ****** by now and told him what I thought of his organisation. They then sent someone to get the Americans ans we headed off.
It was a nice morning and the ride to San Juan La Laguna was pretty cool. There we went to the weaving place. Not really where they do it just where they pretend and show us tourists to get us to pay top dollar for their stuff. I is what I it is, usual tour stuff all hype and little substance.
San Pedro La Laguna was only 5 min away and when we got there the guide was saying the coffee house was optional. That usually means another charge but in this case it didn't so a few of us said we wanted to go so he had to do it. That was a dinky explanation of coffee but it was still interesting.
Lastplace to call was Santiago Atitlan. The biggest place we visited. We walked up the hill to the church. Here they practice a mixture of Catholic and Mayan. I had lunch here cos I was feeling better. As usual I have no idea what it was but it was ok. Some kind of vege noodles, fritter, tortilla and an egg. Tours are rarely great and this one wasn't but it turned out OK.
Now I have to find transport to Antigua or stay here another day. The bus runs everyday except Sunday and apparently tomorrow is Sunday? The only way by bus is the reverse of what I did to get here and then from Xela to Antigua and I don't want to do that. I am going to look for a colectivo or shuttle.

this blog will get bigger for the next couple of days