Estamos Aqui: Panajachel

Buenas Noches! We´ve made it as far as the town of Panajachel on the shores of Lago Atitlan. The lake is, as reported, extremely beautiful. Volcanoes tower over verdant pastoral fields that slope down to the lake. Jungley cliffs frame several canyons where towns nestle themselves up close to sandy shores. And if you look here and there, you can see majestic waterfalls cascading through windows in the foliage. I´m describing all this in some detail because I´ve got a slow internet connection here which won´t allow me to post pictures too easily.

Today we were feeling adventurous and so set off to find the ruins of Iximche, where the local indigenous tribes put up their last massive military resistance against the Spanish in the early mid 16th century. We didn´t know exactly where it was or how to get there, but we succesfully navigated our way by chicken bus, tuk tuk, and ever improving Spanish. The site was muy interesante. We explored the ruins and read the informative placards until we´d had enough and then made our way back.

Another siesta in the late afternoon and now here we are out on the town scouting for internets and foods.

We´ve also picked up a travelling companion, Geoffroy, who is from Normandy. He´s a young law student on summer break who we met in the shuttle from Antigua. Last night we got to know each other over several cervezas, card games, and late night pupusas, and today he came with us to the ruins. It sounds like we´re both headed across the lake tomorrow to San Pedro de Atitlan, so the good times will keep rolling. The camaraderie among backpackers is amazing. Maia says she wants to write a doctoral thesis on how travellers apprentice each other.

Pictures to follow soon...

Hasta luego!