On leaving the volcanoes of Lake Atitlan, we endured a five hour drive up hill, down hill and round tight bends all at once: HJ rolled around in the back and managed to keep travel sickness at bay. When we reached a straight bit, there were dozens of speed bumps. Relief only came on reaching the Pan American Highway which took us all the way to Guatemala City where Javier made an unscheduled departure from our itinerary to take in the key sites on Zone 1 (there are 18 zones in total).
Our hotel in GC was a typical large business hotel with one added advantage a lovely pool but unfortunately minus hot sunshine. It seemed strange to be mixing with people in suits and getting in a lift.
The following day was another 5 hour drive to Puerto Barrios which involved hills and spills and lumps and bumps. On a newly constructed section of the Pan American Highway, where huge lorries were whistling past corrugated homes of locals, you could literally reach out of the car window and knock on their door. For a reason we cannot understand, it has been funded by the Taiwan government and a ceremony was due to be held any moment to cut the ribbon.
On reaching Puerto Barrios, we bade farewell to Javier, jumped in a boat, and were told to look for "Fat Robert" at the other end. After 30 minutes of being literally tossed like a pancake on the Caribbean Sea we chugged into Livingstone jetty where FR was there beaming like a lighthouse.
Our hotel, Villa Caribe, is right on the waterfront with magnificent view of the Caribbean as it meets the Rio Dulce. The town, which cannot be reached by road, is an interesting mix of Spanish and Caribbean and it seems strange to say gracias.
Tomorrow we leave by boat for Punta Gorda in Belize and hopefully three days of relaxation and sun!
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| The shanty town of Guatemala City |
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| The Cathedral and central plaze |
The following day was another 5 hour drive to Puerto Barrios which involved hills and spills and lumps and bumps. On a newly constructed section of the Pan American Highway, where huge lorries were whistling past corrugated homes of locals, you could literally reach out of the car window and knock on their door. For a reason we cannot understand, it has been funded by the Taiwan government and a ceremony was due to be held any moment to cut the ribbon.
On reaching Puerto Barrios, we bade farewell to Javier, jumped in a boat, and were told to look for "Fat Robert" at the other end. After 30 minutes of being literally tossed like a pancake on the Caribbean Sea we chugged into Livingstone jetty where FR was there beaming like a lighthouse.
Our hotel, Villa Caribe, is right on the waterfront with magnificent view of the Caribbean as it meets the Rio Dulce. The town, which cannot be reached by road, is an interesting mix of Spanish and Caribbean and it seems strange to say gracias.
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| Approaching Villa Caribe by boat |
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| The busy arrival and departure jetty at Livingstone |
You're out competing the Top Gear guys for most uncomfortable car journeys.
ReplyDeleteI don't envy you the sun and heat. Is blissfully chilly here.
Dear M - what with all the rice and beans we're eating, RM is trying not to "out belly" Jeremy Clarkson. You will be pleased to hear it is raining now we have reached the rain foest again!
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