Guatemala
I made it to Guatamala! And thank god I did because money is running quite short. I am averaging about $10 a day without buying any gifts, so its not bad.
Im finding more and more difficult to find the will to write because its becoming more like life than vacation. Over the last week I spent a few days completely alone in which I completely reveled in the feeling. I havent been that happy being alone in a long time and I think Puerto Escondido was the perfect place to do it. Warm beaches everyday watching the surfers, cool nights with friends talking about the places they have been and walking around by myself just looking around.
On Wednesday night I really wanted to go downtown, but it was like pulling teeth to get anyone to want to come out with me, it was yet again another time I missed my party girl Amanda, who if I wasnt wanting to go out she was and vice versa. I finally got two nice English girls to go with me, and Omri jumped at the chance to go with us. We made our way back to the same bar that Amanda and I had gone and then gotten right proper fucked up at the afterparty and the music was still just as good. The girls were party poopers (a favorite saying from Helene, I dont want to get off my tits tonight, as in drunk) and went home early and some asshole guy trying to start a fight had his girl steal one of Omris shoes (why I have no idea). I then saw some a guy I recognized from a few other places (I think Mazunte and San Cristobal) and said hi. After a few minutes of talking he told me he was going to Guatemala the next day. We then decided to travel together and I met his friends and had an incredible time.
The three boys, Paz (Israeli), Armando(Mexican), and Gabriel(Italiano), made my night. They each had such personality and were so funny that the only thing I could keep saying was I fuckin love you guys. We got really drunk (Ive now decided that tequila is my drink), and danced the night away. Omri eventually left and we made our way back to their hostel. We lounged about laughing and flirting and then got some more drinks, went to my hostel, drinks, watched the stars, went swimming, and passed out back at their hostel for a few hours.
We had to wake up the next morning early enough to get me a ticket for the bus to Guatemala so I think I got a total of about 3 hours of sleep. We got to the bus station and I now believe I may have gotten some of the luck of Amanda because I got the very last seat on the bus right behind Paz. Luckiest girl ever. After that we hung out all afternoon having one of the best days ever. The guys had such good energy, especially the Italiano, unfortunately he has a girlfiend but he promised me to his brother so I will have my EU card soon enough..
We went swimming in the ocean one more time, played with the kittens at the hostel (of course I fell in love with the little gray one, Tabitha), ate at a restaurant on the beach in my binkini (or as Gabbi said monokini), and said goodbye.
So onto the bus trip. 24 fucking hours! We got on the bus at 530 and arrived at the town near the boarder at 830 in the morning, waited for two hours and got on the most luxury bus Ive ever seen, slept for a few hours, went through the border where the minute I step off the bus a kid literally grabs my passport out of my hands. It takes me a second to realize what happened and then I yelled hey and grabbed it back. I heard a lot about the boarder and unfortunately because I was groggy couldnt remember any of it. There were about 8 other international travelers so we were able to stick with them and were fine. Thankfully there was a girl who spoke both english and spanish and again I say, luckiest girl ever. She helped us out of at least 4 or 5 sticky situations with the locals. Everyone there is trying to either get something from you or rip you off. The exchange rate is not good, so if you go there wait until you get to a bank, or get the quetzalis first. We got back on the bus and made our way on.
After another hour or so the bus stops on the side of the rode in the middle of nowhere. The lady tells us to wait here for another chicken bus. So we get all our things and cross the street where we are supposed to wait. It takes me about 10 minutes to realize whats going on, then as Im standing there a truck pulls over and two federalis get out of the back. Now Im totally panicked, but thankfully within a few minutes the right bus arrives (again with the help of the woman who translates) and we get on. The chicken bus is everything I was told. Painted colorfully on the outside and packed with people on the inside. We were able to fit in the front, unfortunately that meant every person on and off had to struggly against us. After an hour and a half of up up up, we arrive and after seeing nothing but shacks and small villages Quetzaltzenango was a bit of a shock. It reminded me a little of San Cristobal but not quite as nice. We found the hostel no problem and after talking to a few people about what to do here I promptly fell asleep.
In total the trip took 24 hours and I somehow thought I was going to be able to go out that night to a music festival. Im sad I missed it, but I know there will be many others. Today Paz and I walked around the town a bit and had some really good food. I know Im a horrible american and have now gone to McDonalds twice on my trip, but I have to say the ice cream cones here are much better than there.
Tomorrow we are going to try to go to the Hot springs, but I have a feeling its going to be harder to get there than we think. Only time will tell. Monday I will go to Panajachel on Lake Atitlan and then Antigua for a few days. After that Belize, and back to the Cancun area. Hopefully my money will last that long..
Im finding more and more difficult to find the will to write because its becoming more like life than vacation. Over the last week I spent a few days completely alone in which I completely reveled in the feeling. I havent been that happy being alone in a long time and I think Puerto Escondido was the perfect place to do it. Warm beaches everyday watching the surfers, cool nights with friends talking about the places they have been and walking around by myself just looking around.
On Wednesday night I really wanted to go downtown, but it was like pulling teeth to get anyone to want to come out with me, it was yet again another time I missed my party girl Amanda, who if I wasnt wanting to go out she was and vice versa. I finally got two nice English girls to go with me, and Omri jumped at the chance to go with us. We made our way back to the same bar that Amanda and I had gone and then gotten right proper fucked up at the afterparty and the music was still just as good. The girls were party poopers (a favorite saying from Helene, I dont want to get off my tits tonight, as in drunk) and went home early and some asshole guy trying to start a fight had his girl steal one of Omris shoes (why I have no idea). I then saw some a guy I recognized from a few other places (I think Mazunte and San Cristobal) and said hi. After a few minutes of talking he told me he was going to Guatemala the next day. We then decided to travel together and I met his friends and had an incredible time.
The three boys, Paz (Israeli), Armando(Mexican), and Gabriel(Italiano), made my night. They each had such personality and were so funny that the only thing I could keep saying was I fuckin love you guys. We got really drunk (Ive now decided that tequila is my drink), and danced the night away. Omri eventually left and we made our way back to their hostel. We lounged about laughing and flirting and then got some more drinks, went to my hostel, drinks, watched the stars, went swimming, and passed out back at their hostel for a few hours.
We had to wake up the next morning early enough to get me a ticket for the bus to Guatemala so I think I got a total of about 3 hours of sleep. We got to the bus station and I now believe I may have gotten some of the luck of Amanda because I got the very last seat on the bus right behind Paz. Luckiest girl ever. After that we hung out all afternoon having one of the best days ever. The guys had such good energy, especially the Italiano, unfortunately he has a girlfiend but he promised me to his brother so I will have my EU card soon enough..
We went swimming in the ocean one more time, played with the kittens at the hostel (of course I fell in love with the little gray one, Tabitha), ate at a restaurant on the beach in my binkini (or as Gabbi said monokini), and said goodbye.
So onto the bus trip. 24 fucking hours! We got on the bus at 530 and arrived at the town near the boarder at 830 in the morning, waited for two hours and got on the most luxury bus Ive ever seen, slept for a few hours, went through the border where the minute I step off the bus a kid literally grabs my passport out of my hands. It takes me a second to realize what happened and then I yelled hey and grabbed it back. I heard a lot about the boarder and unfortunately because I was groggy couldnt remember any of it. There were about 8 other international travelers so we were able to stick with them and were fine. Thankfully there was a girl who spoke both english and spanish and again I say, luckiest girl ever. She helped us out of at least 4 or 5 sticky situations with the locals. Everyone there is trying to either get something from you or rip you off. The exchange rate is not good, so if you go there wait until you get to a bank, or get the quetzalis first. We got back on the bus and made our way on.
After another hour or so the bus stops on the side of the rode in the middle of nowhere. The lady tells us to wait here for another chicken bus. So we get all our things and cross the street where we are supposed to wait. It takes me about 10 minutes to realize whats going on, then as Im standing there a truck pulls over and two federalis get out of the back. Now Im totally panicked, but thankfully within a few minutes the right bus arrives (again with the help of the woman who translates) and we get on. The chicken bus is everything I was told. Painted colorfully on the outside and packed with people on the inside. We were able to fit in the front, unfortunately that meant every person on and off had to struggly against us. After an hour and a half of up up up, we arrive and after seeing nothing but shacks and small villages Quetzaltzenango was a bit of a shock. It reminded me a little of San Cristobal but not quite as nice. We found the hostel no problem and after talking to a few people about what to do here I promptly fell asleep.
In total the trip took 24 hours and I somehow thought I was going to be able to go out that night to a music festival. Im sad I missed it, but I know there will be many others. Today Paz and I walked around the town a bit and had some really good food. I know Im a horrible american and have now gone to McDonalds twice on my trip, but I have to say the ice cream cones here are much better than there.
Tomorrow we are going to try to go to the Hot springs, but I have a feeling its going to be harder to get there than we think. Only time will tell. Monday I will go to Panajachel on Lake Atitlan and then Antigua for a few days. After that Belize, and back to the Cancun area. Hopefully my money will last that long..