We were on the road for twelve hours today, starting in Santa Cruz and finishing in Coban. It was a LONG day, but at least we made it. We were sandwiched in a tiny bus full of vacationing Israelis that apparently thought wearing tattered t-shirts was stylish. Also, passing a bus identical to our own upside down and half way down a cliff was somewhat disconcerting...but we're still here.

On the plus side we shopped around for the best fare before buying our tickets. The first place we went to asked for 300Q per person, and every place after that wanted more. When we went back to get the cheaper tickets, we tried to ask the lady if we would arrive tonight (we wanted to make sure there was no over-night transfer) and she looked at us confused. After a moment she said, "Okay, discount, 10%!" We saved 60Q and got the tickets for 270Q each, all because we have no idea how to ask anything in Spanish! Of course, that's just one time this has helped us out of a hundred times it's caused us to get screwed (probably).

The biggest downer today was me leaving my blackberry plugged into a wall in Antigua during a bus change, after telling myself four thousand times not to forget it. That phone is now 7 hours away, and we will have to make a return trip to Antigua to pick it up (assuming it's still there) in a week or two.

Oh well, if that's the worst thing that happens this trip I think we'll have made out pretty well. It's cold enough to see your breath and our hostel will have electricity (and hot showers) for only two short hours tomorrow morning. We're styaing here (Casa Luna...beware!) out of desperation; it's where the bus dropped us off late at night. They wanted 120Q for to people in a dorm, which was a painful sum to me. We got them down to 100Q, but it still hurts! Without the phone we have no alarm clock, so we'll have to see if Brittany can wake up on sheer will power. Otherwise, tomorrow may be another long day.

At least we aren't at a desk...