26th & 27th June 2008: Took a chicken bus from Antigua to Panjachel, with a stop off at Chichicastenango market thrown in. The chicken bus is an experience to remember (but possibly not repeat), with kamikaze bus drivers who seem to enjoy driving as close to other traffic (and cliffs, and cows, and anything else in there way) as possible, while the ticket collector is climbing over the roof full of luggage in order to avoid fighting his way through the hoards of people crammed onto the bus. Phew! Despite all this, we make it to chichi (as it gets called, don't ask me to spell the long version again!). It's full of all sorts of stuff, textiles, amazing hand woven mayan calendars, clothes, trinkets, plus all the usual stuff you'd see at a market at home. All I manage to buy is a necklace though! After all that excitement we decide to upgrade and get a private bus to travel in comfort to Panajachel. It's right on the edge of Lake Atitlan surrounded by volcanoes. It also has great chocolate! I am staying in a little apartment (with stairs and everything!) with three other girls. Luxury!

We take a full day trip around Lake Atitlan, visiting a few of the surrounding towns. First we go to Santiago de Atitlan, the home of Maximon (also known as the god of sin!). He's a tricky character to find, as every year he moves and someone gets to look after him (whilst decorating their house very oddly at the same time!). Anyway, we track him down and pay our respects before sampling some of the rum you can buy at his abode - served in a small plastic bag! After this we head to San Pedro de Laguna, which is a beautiful spot, with cliffs to jump off into the lake below. Unfortunately it was here that Jen got her camera stolen (or rather, three men with machetes requested she give it to them and she was sensible enough to agree). Amazing tiny local women (also with machetes which are twice the size of them!) try to catch the ruffians as apparently they cause a fair bit of trouble for them. Unfortunately they're unsuccessful. Rest of the day is a bit of a wash-out, we go for a drink in San Marcos before heading back to our little house, getting takeaway pizza and catching up on some tv viewing.