There have been a few times this week I have thought...what part of ´travelling alone in Central America´ was a good idea....but I am hanging in there as things can only get better.

After an intersting flight to Guatemala in a tiny plane with no air con I arrived at Guatemala airport. I basically had to find a customs person to stamp my passport in what seemed like a deserted airport. Once outside the airport and no sign of the person who was meant to collect me I decided not to panic as I did in Cancun but wait a while as they were probably late in arriving....well no such luck. The school in Antigua whom I organised everything through had got the dates wrong...so there I was at night, again, on my own with lots of taxi drivers trying to convince me to go with them. This time there were tears! I eventually found a lovely lady with a mobile who spoke English who called the school. To cut a long story short...They organised a lift for me and told me the principal will be at the school waiting for me. I arrived there later that night and he was great although spoke little English.

I decided to stay at the school accommodation for a week just to feel a bit more settled. So I have my own room and bathroom which is great.

My 1st day I had no school, so explored the town a bit which is out of this world...feels like you have stepped back in time a couple of 100 years. I dont quite know how to describe it, but it is fasinating. Cobbled streets, gorgeous shops and cafes in every door way and the town is surrounded by moutains or should I say volcanoes ..active ones at that! In the afternoon you can hear drums and all sorts of other instruments going off and these crazy buses and tuk tuks everywhere. And of course the rooster that starts crowing at about 1am in the morning! I will post some pictures soon. not of the rooster of course!

The people at the school have not been overly helpful but I will give it a week and see how it goes. I started my spanish lessons today which was quite overwhelming as I felt I did not learn a thing...but I know it will improve! They have activities every afternoon ....after the lessons for 4 hrs each morning. I thought best I get involved in those to meet some people. Todays activity was a visit to the Antigua Exotic...a reptile and snake park...so I got to meet a few people. Including an American couple who live in Mexico, and an an old American guy....that lives in the moutnains in Costa Rica and another American girl!

I think I will move to a homestay next week. I spend my evenings reading and drinking wine...found some okay Chile Sav Blanc! It is a strange thing being on your own this much...I am sure I am going to start talking to myself.

Weather is lovely....not that unbearable heat of Mexico and not cold either.

Anyway...weekend coming up and apparently it is independence day on Monday so there will be big celebrations in town.....