It’s Not Every Day - St Cristobal to Panajachel

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It’s not every day you get to speed boat across one of the world’s most beautiful lakes, surrounded by perfect, cone-shaped volcanoes

Lake Atitlan is a postcard - the water clear, the traditional villages that rise up the steep sides of its surrounding mountains ready to pose as centerfolds in travel magazines. The Sunset Cafe might have been full of gringos, but the music was perfect (Latin chillout), the margaritas fresh, the food delicious, the company light, and the view stunning. It was impossible not to feel the magic in the place, an unmistakable buzz of somewhere beautiful. On a speedboat, we had motored across the lake to explore the town of Santiago (sight of the worst tragedy during last year’s hurricane, when 2000 families lost their lives in a mudslide), and the backpacker village of San Pedro. The locally grown coffee is as thick and rich as chocolate, the markets cluttered with hippie-gear. Lake Atitlan has been popular amongst gringos for decades (we have an awesome breakfast at a Norwegian owned hillside hotel) and while some of the locals are annoyingly persistent to peddle their wares, others smile and simply welcome. My two favourite all-time travel sensations: Zooting by scooter (without a helmet) amongst ride paddies and coconut trees, and standing up front on a boat, speeding across a beautiful lake, warm air through my hair and fingers. With three volcanoes piercing the cloudy sky, there was no better place for the latter than Lake Atitlan.

It’s not every day that you climb a volcano with lava spewing forth
Well, I did have that day last year in Chile, but for this day you’re going to have to wait until next week because I’m only climbing Pacaya in a few hours. Our group of 14 has continued to gel, taking each challenge in stride (six went down to gastro in the last 48 hours!), the laughs plentiful. Fortunately I’m not bunking with Stuart tonight because that bastard can snore up an earthquake and last night I didn’t sleep a wink. So I am a little tired, but after another great week on the road, I’m pleased to report there are still no rashes, and still no arrests.

Pousada Los Bucaros
Antigua, Guatemala

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