Random Thoughts

Greetings people:

First I must write about my experience in ¨Gringotenango" otherwise know as Panajachel or Pana. It lies at the top of Lake Atitlan and is the main jumping off point for the rest of the lake villages. I had a wonderful hour boat ride over here from San Marcos. I was a bit sad to see it moving away from me as we sped off. It will always have a special place in my heart. Anyway, I arrived and as always, there is never a shortage of young male help for your bags or for a hotel and in Pana for a van ride to anywhere else you may want. I disappointed them greatly by wanting to take my own bag, and I already bought my ticket to Antigua for tomorrow. The long walk up the hill was good for me. I haven't hefted that bag around for a while. I am learning just how to pack it to make it seem like it weighs the least. Ive lost a few pounds just being more active, but it is hard to stay away from the carbs. They are everywhere.

Anyway, hang with me. So, it is an interesting thing arriving with your baggage to a city you know nothing about except a 4 year old travel book, which is a start. You just make it happen and look like you know what you are doing. Luckily, I came upon the place I was looking for Mario's Rooms. Like everything, prices had gone up but I cant complain. A nice room all to myself with a bathroom for $11. I mean really. I was in a dorm room for $10 in CR. Anyway, its a lovely spot behind the secret door. You just never know what you'll find when you look from the street. So anyway, there is a hammock and a nice garden.

All I can say is thank goodness I am only here 1 night. I my wallet couldnt take it. With all the tourist that have been swarming this place since the 60s, it is the spot to get Guatemalan stuff. The problem is.......I love it all. Ive been so good up until now. I have purchased very, very little. I made that deal with myself awhile ago. However, I don't have the resistance that I need to survive here in the land of professional vendors. I am going to barely get out alive. My bag cant handle it. The other deal I made with myself is to only get something for someone else. This helps a little, but not enough. They are incredibly persistent and in an non-offensive way. They drive a hard bargain. I had 2 things I did want to buy and I always like to talk to the people Im buying things from. I just hate impersonal and they like it too. Anyway, the first thing I bought I paid a bit too much for, but it was worth it. I gave my highest price first, Im out of practice. Anyway, I got the main thing I had been looking all over for and I was more or less done. I stopped to look at something and ended up having a nice conversation with a woman and her daughter. She was so sweet and interested in my life. Most are Catholic here and thats an easy thing to discuss. Anyway, she gave me a braclet as a gift at the end of our time together, to remember her. Then I proceeded to play with it and well, broke it! It wasnt expensive, but I was horrified and she gave me another. Yikes. Anyway, as this was happening another older woman, Maria Christina from Santa Catarina, came over and was hilarious. She wanted me to buy something to remember her. She handed me this colorful scarf. I held it while I talked to them. Every time I tried to give it back to her she would toss it back at me and laugh, and drop the price. This went on an on in good humor, too funny. So, yes for 10Q, a little more than a dollar I bought something from her. So, then Im done right? I mean my bag has no room.

But I do want to walk around a bit more and get a sense of the place, which seems to just be tons of tiendas. But I love all the colors. Guatemala is a fantastic country. I love all their handmade goods. They are beautiful with the rich colors and textures....oh its a soft spot for sure. Anyway, I cant eat much lately since Ive only been having 2 meals a day, but I do get famished. Its really weird and I eat at 430 when everyone else eats at 730. Anyway, I chose a nice spot that took VISA. An Italian restaurant, because in these tourist towns there is rarely comida tipica or local food its all crazy stuff for the tourists, yuck. Oh well, I had a nice broccoli soup and avacado salad and I couldnt even finish that much. I think it was 2 or more full avacados, but it was so good. However, they found me there. These sweet preteens, who drive a very hard bargain. They make braclets and necklaces themselves and are great business people. So of course I bought 2 small things with the remaining coins I had. So some of you will be getting Guatemalan gifts. If I could afford it, I would have bought you all something, and it wouldnt have been difficult. I also enjoyed the restaurant because it was really decked out beautifully for Christmas. It is hard to feel the coming of Christmas with the warmer air and lack of other typical American pasttimes. So, I was feeling a little nostalgic at that moment. I still have almost 2 weeks more to travel. It doesnt seem like a lot, but trust me, it is an eternity.

Im getting the hang of things mostly. There is a lot to figure out when you travel alone and in places youve never been, but knowing the language helps and people are gracious and kind. Im not too keen on the travelers, they seem in their own world. The only nice people I met in San Marcos was a girl and her mother from Australia. Funny enough, we saw each other when we were in Bocas, the daughter that is. Anyway, its a weird world. Im just staying open to each day and what it brings. I met a lovely woman before I left this morning from Italy. She has been there 20 years after coming for a vacation. She said it changed her life. I guess there was one other from somewhere in Europe who was always nice to me. She was staying at Las Piradimes Meditation Center. she was very chilled out. Im still trying to figure out how to relax and do nothing. I was a little happy today, because I had an agenda. So so sad. I will have one more chance to "get it right" in Nicaragua next week. I really did very little for 5 days but look at the lake and the volcanoes and eat and sleep.

Well as it goes, I have lots of thoughts, but Im sure they are interesting only to me. It would be so much easier if I was an introvert. I do okay for a bit, but then I have to talk to someone and luckily the locals are happy to oblige me. They have a kind way about them and great smiles. I wish I could capture these on film, but it wouldnt be enough. Its their spirit that goes with it that I love. Im trying to stay up until the late hour of 9 tonight, because tomorrow night I will be on a 9 hour bus to Tikal and I want to make sure I can sleep. Ive got 2 hours to go. I hope I can make it. I just dont know what has become of me. After going to bed at 7 last night because the power went out and my candle was almost gone, I woke around 5 to see the sunrise, but it was cold and so took it in and went back to bed. Im finally in a place that sleeps late and goes to bed late like I normally do, and now I am on a different schedule. Oh the cruelty of the world.

Well, thats enough for now. Ive eeked out all the stories I can muster for the moment to pass the time, and I dont have to pay for internet use here! I am happy to report that Ive been gone almost a month and nothing bad has happened to me. Im sure it is just a matter of time, but I am healthy now, nothing has been stolen or lost. I dont have a bad sunburn, just a few bruises and Im in much better physical shape. The only thing that has suffered is my pocketbook, but that is because I am cheap and my house is still not rented after 2 months. That was not in the plan. So if you pray and you have time, Id appreciate God helping find someone who will rent my house for what I think its worth....or rather what I need to make it with my plan. Thats my problem, making a plan. Oh well. All will be well, what more can I do. Love to you all and your families. Buenas noches.