The Paupers of Panajachel We took the shuttle from Antigua to Panajachel which took 3 hours, half an hour of which was spent at a rest stop on the top of a mountain. Here we observed some artisian stalls and a squirrel in a cage. Freezing temperatures and rain also greeted us atop the mountain. Charlie had not anticipated the shock weather change and so was insufficiently clothed. We worried that it would be horrible weather in Panajachel, but as we descende...

Antigua 2 - We Return To The Scene Of Our Crime Having vowed never to return to Raksheeta´s again following the bed disaster, we arrived on her doorstep and rang the bell, prepared to run away if her face showed signs of anger at seeing us. Luckily, we were greeted with a big smile so we knew either our secret was safe, or all was forgiven. Unfortunately Raksheeta had no twin rooms left, so we had to share a double bed with a single size mattress on it...

Monterrico We arrived in Monterrico on a shuttle bus from Antigua that took just over 2 hours to get there. Lisa had been brave and pre-booked the hotel for 5 nights by telephone from Antigua. The only unforgettable thing was that Lisa’s name was now Lisa Lo, according to the hotel staff anyway! We got our room with a private bathroom but were informed it would cost Q120 per night and Q240 per night at New Year (bear in mind Raksheeta’s was only Q40 p...

Antigua 1 We arrived in Antigua following 2 bus journeys and a change in Guatemala City. The 1st bus journey from Rio Dulce to Guatemala City was eventful to say the least. First of all the bus arrived 1 hour late. We piled on and the inspector made a local man move so that Charlie could have his seat ha ha! Lisa, however, was not so fortunate and was shoved to stand at the back of the bus. Lisa’s experience: wobbly and generally uncomfortable with p...

Rio Dulce Got a bus at 8.30am from Santa Elena to Rio Dulce. Lonely Planet said journey would take 4.5 hours; however 3 hours into the journey our destination was announced so we scrambled off the bus in a mad panic. The first hotel we went to was awful so we went to see another one which turned out to be even worse and more expensive. We saw an advertisement for a hotel that was only accessible by boat and completely surrounded by inhospitable jungle and river, ...