Last stop in Guatemala
Trip Start
Sep 23, 2010
1
328
366
Trip End
Jul 13, 2012
Where I stayed
Guatemala City, Western Highlands, Guatemala
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
As arranged we were dropped off at the B&B we'd booked not far from the airport in a gated and security posted neighbourhood and soon settled into our room. After a rest and bite to eat for lunch we did some research for our next move to El Salvador looking up a hostel and getting some info on buses. As it was getting late and Guatemala City is huge, we picked up something for dinner in a small shop round the corner and went back to the room. Around 7pm we boiled our eggs and made some toast for a quick and easy dinner and then sat and watched cable TV for an hour or two before bed.
Wed's 4th Apr.
Got up at 8am and enjoyed a plate full of fruit (mango, pineapple, banana and watermelon) for breakfast followed by a round of toast and tea. Once we were set for the morning, we headed off to the bus stop to catch the no.83 into the centre. Half an hour later (after driving past an over turned cement mixer with a lady laying on the ground, hope she's ok) we arrived at our stop near the bus terminal. We walked in to the bus terminal to book tickets to San Salvador for tomorrow but were told just to turn up half an hour before departure. We then continued along 6th and 7th street until we reached the central park and had a look round. We noticed in the park and along the way, the police had the old safari style white hats and gun holsters to match. Didn't notice any white gloves though. We spent a little while walking around the park looking at the impressive buildings of the National Library, National Palace, Presidential Mansion and the Cathedral. Then we walked down a street that the locals were laying out their carpets (alfombras) http://www.questconnect.org/guat_semana_santa.htm#Carpets and were asked by one family (the Garcia family) if we'd like to help. So we got on our knees and helped put coloured sawdust down on the stencils and then sat with the family and waited for the procession. There are lots of different processions in Guatemala City leaving from different churches and the one we were waiting for was from Iglesia Santa Teresa round the corner. Lazaro (who has good English) showed us the church before the procession started so we knew what was going on and when. Around 1.30pm sellers of all sorts came down the street selling anything from food and drink to hats and the purple costumes that some people wear. As the procession reached the top of the street, they were cleared away and a float being carried by men in black suits swayed it's way down the street, across the carpets closely followed by a brass band and lots of confetti. Once they had cleared the street, they were followed by another float this time carried by women dressed in black and in front of them people swinging urns with burning incense. It was quite an enlightening experience and the carpet stood up quite well though rather smudged after a few hundred people tramping across it. There was even more excitement when a crew of road sweepers followed the procession with a digger in tow to clean up the debris. Lazaro and his family were pleased with their (and our efforts) and have hopefully been blessed by the ritual (for want of a better word). After thanking Lazaro and his family (they were very attentive and looked after us well in the few hours we spent with them and feel very honored to meet them) for including us in their celebrations, we headed back to central park to take some last minute photos and caught a bus back to the house. The bus had seen better days as there was more weld holding it together than metal and the sides wobbled quite scarily. As Cat wasn't feeling too well, (flu like cold - temperature of 100.8) we had the rest of the afternoon to rest in our room until dinner time. After dinner we packed our bags ready for the morning and watched a bit more cable TV until it was time for bed.
Thurs 5th Apr.
Up early at 7am this morning and after breakfast around 8am we headed off to the main street to catch a bus QTZ$3 each (normally 1 each but it's a Holiday) into town. Well we would have if one had come, half an hour later we walked back to the hostel to get a lift from the hostel manager for QTZ$50 ($6 US) and we arrived at the bus terminal at a speedy 9am. After booking our ticket and paying Patricia for the ride we sat and waited until 10am when we boarded our luxury 2nd class bus. Well for second class it was luxury as it had air-con and was only half full! I have to say that Guatemala City gets an unjust bad rep for being dangerous and best avoided! We had nothing but kindness from the people we met and weren't hassled by anyone.
