Travel day ends in ruins

Yesterday already seems like a week ago, mainly because we’ve been traveling practically non-stop since our flight out of SeaTac, then a three-hour layover in LA followed by an all-nighter to Guatemala City, where we landed about 5:30 this morning.

After clearing customs we were met by Marco and Alex from Hands for Peacemaking and set off quickly once the bus and Land Cruiser were loaded, stopping at Dennys for an authentic Guatemalan breakfast of Grand Slams and other delightful fare.

The day was spent mostly in the two vehicles winding over the hills of the Western Highlands and through cities bustling with activity. We were only stopped by local law enforcement once, just to confirm where we were going (Marco has a way of working through these problems without paying their unspoken request for a security fee). Most of us dozed on and off through much of the trip to make up for lost sleep, but in the Coaster bus Conrad and Curt broke out their ukuleles and led us in song.

We also needed to take a detour, and on that detour we were stopped by a rope road block manned by kids demanding money for passage, a common practice in Guatemala. After finally reaching Huehuetenango in mid-afternoon we drove out to the Zacuelu ruins and climbed around on them for an hour or so.

We finished off with a delightful meal at an open air restaurant before unloading at the Hotel California, our home for the night, and bed. Hoping to get some sleep tonight if they will only turn off the repetitive party music playing loudly above us for someone’s 27th birthday party.

If you are reading this on Saturday morning we will be on our way to Barillas, another seven-hour drive from Huehue.

Everyone is a little road weary but in good spirits.

Thanks for following along.

Brian