Let's digress a bit and discuss the "chicken bus:"
The cheapest and easier form of transportation around Guatemala is that of the chicken bus. This fleet of retired school buses have been souped up, painted and renamed. When and where do they travel, might you ask? Great question. Here is what I know:
1) there is a panel at the front of the bus above the windshield that states where the bus is headed
2) there is no published schedule you just ask the locals - or who seems to be the guy standing at the chicken bus stop in the town you are in who apparently is a specialist on the schedules and destinations (all very unclear)
3) these buses don't stop. They don't stop for bathroom breaks. They don't stop to let people on (just slow down to a creep). They don't stop to pick people up (unless it is on the interstate).
4) the man who collects money, also is in charge of tying freight on top when people have large items.
5) each seat "fits" 3 adults
6) they are all standard transmission
7) the emergency exit door at the back of the bus is also an entrance and can be opened at any speed...
Anyhow, we survived the chicken bus to Panajachel. Total cost 30 quetzales (a little more than $4). From Pana we needed to take a ferry across the lake to San Pedro where we had reserved a hotel for 230Q a night (about $30). After going to the wrong dock initially, we eventually found the public ferries and hopped in. It. Was. Choppy. But 35min later we arrived in San Pedro.
We were starving so hit up a restaurant. After that we decided to grab a few beers and head up to the rooftop area at our hotel and plan what we were going to do on Saturday. It was pretty low key.
Saturday we woke up and decided to climb Volcan San Pedro. So we got up early, ate a large breakfast and headed to the trailhead in a "tuk-tuk." Our guide Pedro was a hoot.
The trailhead
Coffee plants EVERYWHERE
View point
Weird flower
Is at the top. DAMN CLOUDS!
I was filthy after the hike!
After finishing the 5 mile, 4000ft elevation gain hike, we were tired, hungry, dirty and needed a beer. So we showered ip and went out for food and cocktails! The night life in San Pedro was AMAZING and the people watching was even better. We ended up rocking out at Sublime (local bar) to a live band and dancing like fools. We ended up by a fire pit at the lake edge by the end of the night which was awesome!
All in all a great weekend. Can't wait for Antigua next weekend!
Hasta luego!
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