We chose to stay at San Pedro La Laguna on Lake Atitlan as it was the cheapest of all the lakeside villages and it was recommended by a couple of friends.

The journey from Antigua was arduous, roads swerving from left to right and hills going up and down. It's no wonder some of the passengers were travel sick (actually vomiting and all!). The view of the lake was stunning when it came into view. On arrival we were bombarded by touts trying to recommend hotels for us. In the end we used one of the guys who works for the tourism board and viewed loads of different hostels/hotels/guesthouses etc. We both agreed that we were not getting the 'vibe' which made it harder to decide where to stay. In the end we settled for a clean hotel with hammocks hanging! Many a minute was sent swinging in the hammocks reading.

San Pedro La Laguna does not have much going for it, it's a pretty lakeside location and has all the necessities a traveller requires but there's nothing to see. It's an ideal place to while away time! We did meet a few weird people and found that the lake attracts people who are on either a holistic or spirutal journey. Unfortunately we're on neither!

The following day we headed out to San Marco La Laguna for the afternoon, San Marco is supposedly the prettiest of all the lakeside villages. Our first stop was the national park so Nick could let off some steam by doing some cliff jumping! Helen just played the role of photographer as she forgot her swim wear!

We were offered drugs by some guy drugged up to his eyeballs and this confirmed that people who come to the lake are either weird, drugged up or on some holistic journey! Not that there's anything wrong with that but it's just not for us!

We watched a couple of movies and caught an early boat to Panajachel to catch our shuttle bus to Chichicastenango Market. Chichicastenango Market is one of Guatemalas largest markets (in fact it's one of Central Americas largest markets). The market takes over the entire village, we were looking forwards to this as we miss the markets of Asia. We wandered around hoping to make some purchases but left with none. All the stalls were selling the same things, brightly coloured clothes, indigenous clothing, hippy looking jewellery and handbags! Again, not for us!

Our shuttle bus took us back to Antigua where we stayed for a night before going to Flores. (We must add that we finally got to see Snow White and the Huntsman - and absolutely loved it!)

Both of us really love traveling, but the getting to each place seems to be getting more and more gruelling, and harder on the spirit the longer the journey. But, we only have 5 weeks left after an amazing year + away from home, the end is in sight and we are very much looking forwards to catching up with our friends and family. (Obviously, Nick would travel forever if he could but, he misses football too much! (his exact words!))