“It ain’t half hot Mum! The early morning weather was a magnificent 82 degrees Fahrenheit. However, in the lakeside town of Panajachel, 5,000 feet above sea-level, a pleasant breeze brings a welcome gentle coolness. We left just after the booked time, after a warm and colourful welcome from the locals, relying on trade from, apparently, the last cruise ship of the season. Lake Atitlan is two and a half hours inland, Panajachel around 45 minutes by pleasure boat across the lake. It was a fascinating coach ride through small unsophisticated, and obviously very poor villages and some pockets of industry. A temporary fault with the air conditioning led to around 10 minutes delay, early in our journey. This was rectified efficiently by the driver.
Our guide pointed out, among other things, the high flying vultures in the hopes of Christmas, courtesy of the demographics of the guests on our coach…! Needless to say, the fowls of the air were disappointed. All in all, an excellent shore excursion to a remote but most attractive and appealing location. As you will see from the pictures, Lake Atitlan is gorgeous, surrounded by hills and volcanoes, one or two of which I understand could “go-up” anytime! On the way to Lake Atitlan, we passed crops of sugar beet and coffee. Our guide delivered a good account, but perhaps slightly rose tinted of everyday life in his country. Needless to say, I hope the journey home is relatively commentary free.
And there’s more delay, just before we head back to the ship. One of the guests has injured herself on a boat. I would find out later she was going for a scan at hospital in Guatemala City, around 70 miles from the port.
Panajachel and Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.
I am rather sorry I had allowed my currency to dwindle. I did buy a nice t-shirt from a little woman who would have been brilliant selling life assurance. Little children had phenomenal confidence selling their wares, and I liked them!
More later, David, still on Lake Atitlan.
PS
Nocturnal pictures of Queen Elizabeth at Puerto Quetzal after the long coach trip to Lake Atitlan and back.
Thanks again for reading,
David.
David's Cruise 