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Thread: Guatemala

  1. #26
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    Travel safe Lancelot. Guatemala is cheap as long as you enjoy the food.

    If you enjoy archeological sites I understand Tikal (to the north) provides a good glimpse of the historical Mayan domain. (Vid: "Ancient City Hidden in the Jungle').
    Travel safe and thanks for your great pics !

  2. #27
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    ^ Thanks! Yeah there is a lot more of the country I want to check out. Tikal looks interesting.

  3. #28
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    If you go again, try to get to Chichicastenango. One of the most fascinating places I have ever been was the Pascual Abaj site on a hilltop just outside of town. It is a pre-Colombian stone head still used as a place for pagan worship. People are pouring whiskey over his lips, sacrificing chickens, and chanting continuously. The idol is never left alone, someone always sits with it. The weekly market in Chichicastenango is very colorful and can't be missed.


    Guatemalan buses are absolute hell.

  4. #29
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    Guatemalan coffee is good, but some what mild to my taste. This French press costs about $1.30 for one and a third cups. I found another coffee shop that makes a mean espresso, complete with a foot pump (pressure) Italian espresso maker


  5. #30
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    cute chica.

  6. #31
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    yes,but where are the senioritas?

  7. #32
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    An old friend of mine from Tenerife lives in San Pedro de Laguna and works at Blue Lilli cafe.... I think it is a bit hippy like up there.

  8. #33
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    Quote Originally Posted by toslti View Post
    An old friend of mine from Tenerife lives in San Pedro de Laguna and works at Blue Lilli cafe.... I think it is a bit hippy like up there.
    Yes, San Pedro has the hippie reputation

    The court yard at Mr. Jon's, one of my favorite breakfast stops, inside Casa Cakchiquel. Originally built in 1948 by a Swedish Duchess, it was supposedly on of the first restaurants on the lake and hosted several famous visitors, such as Ernesto "Che" Guevara, Ingrid Bergman.



    One morning last week a fire would have been very welcomed. We've had a few 7C nights since I've arrived



    Perhaps Che debated the coming 'Revolucion' with fellow guests gathered around this fire place...



    Panajachel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    Last edited by Lancelot; 21-01-2015 at 02:36 AM.

  9. #34
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    I crossed the border from Nicaragua into Costa Rica- just barley, I didn't have an onward ticket, so Immigration made me buy an onward bus ticket (Tica Bus) before they would let me in. A Canadian couple living in Costa Rica were returning from a long weekend in Nicaragua almost didn't get back in as well, despite the fact that they owned a house their and were driving their Costa Rica license plated car too! Yeah, they were guilty of no onward ticket as well- they had tickets back to Canada, but they thought they wouldn't need them.

    Wrong!

    They too finally were allowed to pass after presenting their home ownership documents.

    Granted 90 days, free of charge.

    The Canadians gave me a lift to Playa Del Coco...

  10. #35
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    Nice interesting thread mate,

    Cheers.

  11. #36
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    ^ Thanks T.

    Before going to Costa Rica, I spent four days on Ometepe Island, a two volcano island in Lake Nicaragua. Very slow pace of life.

    The Bus Stop, 555!


  12. #37
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    Made it to Panama after a 16 hour Tica Bus journey from San Jose to Panama City. The entry into Panama was FUBAR, first we are stamped in, then we wait for about 30 minutes, then a roll call -no shit- 'Juan?' "Presente!" then a cursory check of our bags.

    Proof of onward ticket is required, but the Aussie guy behind me in line used a fake ticket, a screen shot on his smart phone, and sailed right through.

    Stayed in Venta Surf Hostel for three nights but the place was filled with some rude pricks, recently discharged from the Israeli Defense forces, so I bailed for a room I found on Airbnb. Would have stayed longer but the guy was booked up, so I found 'Siri' Hostel, the former Thai Consulate in Panama. Small world

    Did the Panama Canal trip, visited the locks at Miaflores. Reminded me of Thai pricing, $3.00 for locals; $15 for foreigners. Same same but different, 555!

    Supposedly there is good sea food cooked to order at the fish market, so I'm giving that a try tonight.

  13. #38
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    The Panama Canal was pretty awesome and I'm glad I went to the Miaflores Locks. Just to the left of this photo the Panamanians are building a new larger canal to increase traffic and allow larger super cargo ships to pass through.



    Panama City was hot and humid, reminded me a lot of the Philippines. The people were less friendly than my experience in Guatemala.

    The hostel I stayed at was the former Thai Consulate! I'm usually the oldest guy in the dorm, but one of my room mates was 77! He was in excellent shape, bounded right up the stairs and would gamble all night in the casinos and come dragging back in around 0700 to sleep, 555!

    Your only as old as you act

  14. #39
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    Nice journey...Guatemala sound and looks great!

  15. #40
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    Keep it coming Sir Lance!

  16. #41
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lancelot View Post
    the place was filled with some rude pricks, recently discharged from the Israeli Defense forces
    You know, I can't say I've EVER met any Israelis, but have heard the same thing said about them by so many people. Are they brutalized so much in the military that they want to let loose when they become backpackers, and disregard other people ?

    BTW, thanks for the thread, Lancelot. Er....did you get to use your lance much ?

  17. #42
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    I've only met one Israeli back packer recently released from his military service. Seemed like a very decent fellow. We knocked about Thailand together for a few days and never witnessed him going south in any way.

    He told me of his military experiences as well that his sister was also in the military currently. His entire family had served at some stage of their lives.

    Perhaps just guys letting off steam after being released from their military obligations. Reason enough to celebrate. I'm sure we've all had encounters with various rude people while on the road.

  18. #43
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    Quote Originally Posted by Latindancer View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Lancelot View Post
    the place was filled with some rude pricks, recently discharged from the Israeli Defense forces
    You know, I can't say I've EVER met any Israelis, but have heard the same thing said about them by so many people. Are they brutalized so much in the military that they want to let loose when they become backpackers, and disregard other people ?

    BTW, thanks for the thread, Lancelot. Er....did you get to use your lance much ?
    Could very well be the Israeli backpackers are letting off some steam after their military service. I don't want to tar them all with the same brush, but in my personal experience, I would just as soon not be around them. I met an Aussie guy at the same hostel and he summed it up diplomatically, "I try to keep an open mind but they (Israelis) always let me down."

    This hasn't really been a mongering trip, the travel itself is the juice. I did go to a couple of 'Pensions' in San Jose, Costa Rica. Prostitution is legal in CR, but pimping isn't- so an enterprising guy has a hotel, the girl rents the room and what happens between consenting adults is no one else's concern.

    There is Hotel Del Rey in San Jose that is packed with free lancers, some of them pretty hot looking. The going rate is $100 short time, usually one hour or one pop- whichever comes first. Del Rey is also a casino, so they cover all the bases, women, booze and cards
    Last edited by Lancelot; 05-05-2015 at 10:47 PM.

  19. #44
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    My original intention was to travel by land from Guatemala into South America- but the Darien Gap put a stop to that I could have sailed on some island hopping boats, about a three to five day adventure, but I decided to cash in some FF miles. United only charges 10,000 miles for a flight from Panama City to Bogota, so off I went.

    Bogota was a bit chilly after the muggy tropic weather of Panama, so I manned up and added another shirt Caught a bus from the airport to the old city; the locals kindly helped me along the way, telling me which stop to get off the bus. The women are HOT, more European and very BBB (Big Butt Babes)

    I found Colombia to be a bargain, my hostel was only $7.40 a night and even included a breakfast with eggs and free coffee all day I withdrew cash from two ATMs and no local fee. My US bank doesn't charge a fee, so I'm good.

    The architecture was stunning.


  20. #45
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    Enjoyed your pictures! I've been down there a couple of times and spent 5 months in Xela (Quetzaltenango). I'm sure you'll get there, sooner or later. It used to be a really nice place; I hope it still is! Have fun!

  21. #46
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    Quote Originally Posted by Latindancer View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Lancelot View Post
    the place was filled with some rude pricks, recently discharged from the Israeli Defense forces
    You know, I can't say I've EVER met any Israelis, but have heard the same thing said about them by so many people. Are they brutalized so much in the military that they want to let loose when they become backpackers, and disregard other people ?

    BTW, thanks for the thread, Lancelot. Er....did you get to use your lance much ?
    Thanks for that , I have noticed that, when they leave the IDF military for a break, well it's a break, they know that they could be called back once their holiday after 3 years Israeli military service is over and they are back home in the Holy Land.
    This is what puzzles Me about these groups, they always are on the Hippy trail.
    They want to be hippies , young hippies, rebel hippies by visiting dangerous countries, but the locals are so cool and accommodating to them.
    They know that when they get home, that Hippie holiday is gone, and they are no longer care free.
    Greet them next time with Groovey man.

  22. #47
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chuckycheese View Post
    Enjoyed your pictures! I've been down there a couple of times and spent 5 months in Xela (Quetzaltenango). I'm sure you'll get there, sooner or later. It used to be a really nice place; I hope it still is! Have fun!
    Sounds interesting! Some day...

  23. #48
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    That said, I do know of problems down there... I basically steer clear of S.Am

  24. #49
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    A little Street Art across the street from my hostel.

    Ya never know what you're going to see


  25. #50
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    That's true.

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