I’ve Been Very Bad

So it’s now been a few months since I last updated the blog. I’ve been very bad, but I’m going to do better!

I’ll start by back-posting older entries I never got around to posting and then fill in from there. Read on …

On the Road Again: Part 2

After a few days in Antigua, we shuttled up the mountains to Lake Atitlan. Like Antigua, Atitlan is surrounded by volcanoes and is picturesque.

Kevin and Amy on the rim of Lake Atitlan

The communities that line the shores of the lake have distinct personalities and are incredibly popular with American and European backpackers. After arriving in Panajachel, we hopped on a public boat and headed to Santa Cruz, a quiet and laid-back village on the north shore.

Street scene in "Pana"
(Check out that electric distribution system!)

Maya crafts vendor

View of the lake from our room

After a night at Atitlan, we decided to begin making our way back to Honduras. We spent another night in Antigua and then shuttled back down to Copan.

On the shuttle, we met Justin, an English traveler who was nursing a butchered leg. He had been on a hiking tour of Pacaya, one of the volcanoes near Antigua, when the volcano began erupting. As the lava spewed, his guide yelled “Run!” His group suffered numerous injuries, ranging from burns to cuts and dislocated shoulders (from tumbling down the scree-covered slope), but they also made Page 4 of the national newspaper. We spent the entire 5-and-a-half hour ride chatting, and Justin joined us in our adventures for the next few days.

The next day was Sunday – and my birthday. We headed to the Maya ruins for a repeat visit to the most ornate site in the Maya world. We also visited the museum, which had been closed for renovations on our previous visit several years before. That night, we played pool and air hockey and bar-hopped through Copan.

Copan's main plaza (one side only)

Justin cheezing it up with our guide's
feather staff and a Honduran lempira note,
which features the scene in the background

Close-up of the "Old Man of Copan"

Kevin copying his favorite Copan carving

Playing pool on the deck

On Monday, we headed back to the eastern shore and overnighted in Copan. The next day, we ferried back to Roatan. (This trip, the ferry earned its “Vomit Comet” moniker. As passengers got progressively more seasick, the crew made the rounds handing out plastic puke bags.) Justin joined us in Port Royal a few days later, and we resumed pondering what to do with ourselves.

On the Road Again: Part 1

As we pondered our future, we decided to make the most of a bad situation and hit the road. We had been to eastern Guatemala several times, but we had never made it up to the Western Highlands and wanted to check it out before (or if) we left Central America. Plus, our visas had just expired, and we needed to renew them. So we decided to try our luck at the Guatemalan frontera.

We left Matt’s at first light (about 5) in the morning to boat in to Oak Ridge. From there, we hired a taxi to the ferry, locally nicknamed the “Vomit Comet.” Luckily, the seas were fairly calm and we made it to the mainland without any seasickness.

View of the La Ceiba harbor from the ferry

Once in La Ceiba, we hired another taxi to the first-class bus station and travelled in style courtesy of Hedman-Alas across Honduras to the western city of Copan. The next day, we bought shuttle tickets and headed north to Guat.

We spent the first few days in Antigua, a beautiful Spanish colonial town surrounded by volcanoes. It was amazing and such a treat after the isolation of Roatan and Port Royal. The city is gorgeous and filled with fountains, churches, restaurants, art, and handicraft shops. It was also very clean, safe, and organized.

Here are a few pics:

Church near out hotel

The main plaza

Kevin's favorite fountain

Maya woman washing her hair
in a public wash area

Amy and Kevin having drinks
in an Irish (!) pub

View of a volcano from near the main plaza

Statue with volcano in background

We spent our days walking the streets and exploring the courtyards tucked in the centers of the blocks. We also found a Burger King! Yum … American French fries.

Antigua's Burger King