Category: Travel

I can’t remember the last time I have been some place where it has rained all day without let up. Monday was like that here at La Casa del Mundo on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. Luckily we have a beautiful room with lots of light. There wasn’t much of a view because the lake and mountains were covered with fog. But it is a very pleasant place to spend a rainy day.

The food here is good too so we ate, read and did not much of anything. Half way through the day we decided that we should do at least one thing. So we descended the stairs down to the lake shore, went for a swim in the lake, and then climbed ack up to our room. It was a refreshing swim and a very relaxing day.

Today we spent the whole day at La Casa del Mundo on Lake Atitlán in Guatemala. What a paradise! We spent the whole day wandering around the Casa trying out different view points, hammocks and benches. We changed rooms because our room last night was not our first choice. Tonight’s room is bigger and higher up so we are more in the trees. The way we seemed to float over the lake in our room last night was very cool too.

We had a great lunch in the restaurant. We talked to some American women we met last night at dinner. They are all medical professionals in a program in Guatemala where they volunteer in a clinic in the mornings and study Spanish in the afternoons. They were enjoying a weekend break here.

Tonight the lake is shrouded with fog and a steady rain is coming down. Every so often there is impressive lightening and thunder. Our room is cozy with candle light and blankets. It is not cold enough to need the fireplace.

Our trip so far has included some difficult travels interspersed with Islands of magical places to stay and wonderful food. Today we left the hotel in Huehuetenango early and took a cab ride to the bus station.

We got on a brightly colored bus and waited about an hour for it to leave town. The bus was going to Guatemala City. When all the seats were taken they put stools in the aisle for the people who got on later, We got off at the stop nearest to Lake Atitlan and took the local bus that was pointed out to us.

At the end of the route we got off. Duke did some shopping and I watched the teenagers who were in town for the marching band competition. The uniforms and flag girls looked incongruous next to the local people who were all wearing traditional dress.

When we asked directions to the dock we discovered that we were in the wrong town only half way down to the lake. So on to another local bus. When the local buses got full a woman in traditional dress would just sit down next to me and push making it a three person seat.

When we got to Lake Atitlan we caught a small boat for a 20 minute ride to this amazing place we are staying, La Casa del Mundo. They have their own private dock and our room is cut into the cliff. We look out at the lake and the two volcanoes. Unfortunately it is overcast but it is still an amazing place. Check out their website at
http://www.lacasadelmumdo.com

Last night we spent the night in San Cristobal de las Casas. Duke found the place we stayed on Air B&B. Their primary advantage is that they will lock our car up for 9 days while we are in Guatemala. The accommodations were quite rustic and damp and we had to lug our bags up a gigantic hill but they worked and we had no problem being up and waiting for our van at 7:15 am this morning.

The van had a broken window and no air conditioning. After picking us up it picked up about 10 other people. The last lady was from Ireland and they had her sitting in the middle in front on a kind of jump seat with no seat belt. It didn’t look at all safe to me and I was glad when before we were out of town she said I paid for a safe trip to Guatemala and I won’t sit in this seat. There was an argument between the driver and the Chilean woman sitting next to her who spoke for the irish young woman and finally the driver put some luggage on top of the van and the irish lady had a seat in back with a seat belt.

It took us about three hours to get to the Guatemala / Mexico border. The formalities were pretty simple although they made us pay an exit tax, something Duke has never had to do leaving Mexico before.

The Mexican driver waited with us until the Guatemalan driver and van showed up. It was much nicer, good windows, comfortable seats, and air conditioning!

We drove for about two more hours.
Tonight we are in Huehuetenando. We got to listen to a wonderful marimba band in the square as we walked to dinner and then had a great dinner overlooking the square and people watching.

After breakfast at El Secreto (see the picture below) we left Oaxaca. The first 120 miles were from the mountains down to the coast. The road was good but extremely windy. It hugged the edge of the mountains with not a straight spot to be found. Luckily we were in the outside lane and there wasn’t much traffic because in a lot of places the rain last night had caused multiple rocks to come down on to the inside lane in a lot of places effectively making it a one lane road. I’m glad it wasn’t raining while we were driving! The 120 miles took us 4 hours!!

Tonight we are San Cristobal de las Casas. You can see us in the picture eating cheese and crackers overlooking the town.

We are leaving our car here for 9 days. Tomorrow morning at 7:30 we get picked up by a van for the all day drive to our first stop on Guatemala!