I got into Guatemala City in the early afternoon, cleared customs, and had to wait a good 20 minutes for my taxi - I could have taken another but I forced myself to be patient and he finally arrived - its a good thing I waited.
Stayed at the Posada Belen - expensive, but I do enjoy the place. Left at 6:30 in the morning for Panajachel and stayed at Marios Rooms (130 Q for the night but included breakfast and I got the wireless internet to work on my computer). I stayed 2 nights and just chilled, visited Candelaria a bit, read alot and drank some Gallo. Saturday I also went up to Solola just to hang out and eat lunch - nothing to exciting.
Left sunday morning for Huehue and made the mistake (huge) of having 3 cups of coffee. I had to piss in Los Encuentros (the most disgusting ¨sanitario¨ that I have ever used), then again I had to piss in Cuatro Caminos (nice new and clean sanitario) and then had to piss when I got off the bus in Huehue - 1 cup of coffee maximum in the future.
pana to solola - 3Q
solola to los encuentros - 3Q
los encuentros to cuatro caminos - 15Q
cuatro caminos to huehue - 20Q
there was no delays on the road to cuatro caminos but the construction still is not finished - the road will be much nicer, but people will drive faster and it will be just as dangerous I think, oh well.
The weak US dollar is hurting this year, instead of 7.8 Q/dollar its more like 7.45 Q/dollar and because of the gas price 38Q/gallon everything is more expensive - less Quetzales for my money but stuff costs more - shit.
beer
tienda 10Q
paper moon 15Q
arrived in huehue at about 1 pm on sunday afternoon
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Home to Guatemala City
Left Two Rivers wed. early afternoon for Chicago and stayed at what was the Exel Inn for $71. Left the motel at 4:45 am for my flight to Mexico City. The following was written on the plane from Mexico City to Guatemala City.
Arrived in Mexico City at 11:40, which was 20 minutes early - cleared customes at 12:59. I hustled to customs knowing the drill and the line moved ever so slowly. There were some people complaining that the had conecting flights and they were let thru - pissed off the rest of us. What really sent my blood pressure up was when I finally got to my gate one of the girls that 'had a flight to catch' was at the gate waiting for the same plane I was. I walked at a slow sprint to get to my gate but made it 20 minutes before they started boarding (time enough for one 38 peso beer).
Thoughts for the future - never cut the time short in Mexico City.
Next to the gate was a money exchange kiosk and they were buying dollers for 10.15 pesos and selling dollers for 10.75 pesos. Under the sign it said 'no commision' huh? If I exchanged my doller and then decided to reexchange it I would be .60 pesos short - if that ain't a commission what is?
Flight from Chicago was booked but this flight has empty seats. Again I love flying mexicana - the food is good and the beer is free, though I confess I didn't have a free beer, instead bought one at the airport (never claimed to be smart).
Right now I am typing this on the plane using a text document and plan to paste it onto my blog - hope it works.
Thoughts on the Chicago terminal - ugh, ugh and double ugh. You go thru security and then you can't even get a cup of coffee - course you also can't bring it with you - dangerous liquid and all. Than goodness I learned from my trip with Don at spring break - so at least I ate and had a cup of coffee before I went thru security. Got to the terminal with ususal Roger like efficiency - I was there at least 45 minutes before they opened (but at least I have never missed a plane like someone else I know (deb))
Arrived in Mexico City at 11:40, which was 20 minutes early - cleared customes at 12:59. I hustled to customs knowing the drill and the line moved ever so slowly. There were some people complaining that the had conecting flights and they were let thru - pissed off the rest of us. What really sent my blood pressure up was when I finally got to my gate one of the girls that 'had a flight to catch' was at the gate waiting for the same plane I was. I walked at a slow sprint to get to my gate but made it 20 minutes before they started boarding (time enough for one 38 peso beer).
Thoughts for the future - never cut the time short in Mexico City.
Next to the gate was a money exchange kiosk and they were buying dollers for 10.15 pesos and selling dollers for 10.75 pesos. Under the sign it said 'no commision' huh? If I exchanged my doller and then decided to reexchange it I would be .60 pesos short - if that ain't a commission what is?
Flight from Chicago was booked but this flight has empty seats. Again I love flying mexicana - the food is good and the beer is free, though I confess I didn't have a free beer, instead bought one at the airport (never claimed to be smart).
Right now I am typing this on the plane using a text document and plan to paste it onto my blog - hope it works.
Thoughts on the Chicago terminal - ugh, ugh and double ugh. You go thru security and then you can't even get a cup of coffee - course you also can't bring it with you - dangerous liquid and all. Than goodness I learned from my trip with Don at spring break - so at least I ate and had a cup of coffee before I went thru security. Got to the terminal with ususal Roger like efficiency - I was there at least 45 minutes before they opened (but at least I have never missed a plane like someone else I know (deb))
plans change
Well for all of you that wondered what happened to me here it is. The floods in Illinois caused my train (from Galena to KC I think) to be held up. They were busing the passengers but the trip was already somewhat to long and any delays would mean that I got to Flagstaff to late in the night, so I said screw it - I´ll do the Mexico thing on the way back. An added advantage is that my Spanish will be better. I was able to get 100% of my money back and then left 1 day later on mexicana airlines - $340 for a one way trip with good food and free beer.
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