Around The World In 80 Waves

I have allowed myself a day to just hang out and catch up on myself at this traveller hot spot. Panajachel is one of a number of towns on the edge of the massive lake that is called Lagos Atitlan, which is itself in between four active volcanoes.

The area which was actually in the clouds when I arrived yesterday is stunning. I had too much to deal with on the mountain roads to even notice it, but breathtaking doesn’t do it justice.

I make some sarnies to feed me for the day (this blog could arguably be called around the world in eight hundred ham and cheese sandwiches!) before taking a ferry boat across the lake to the charming market town of Santiago Atitlan which is inhabited by the indigenous Maya people who speak only their own dialect of Tz’utujil.

I have probably the best coffee I have ever tasted and then go shopping for some souvenirs, resisting the temptation to buy myself a stylish machete of my own. (My mother rather sensibly confiscated the last one I managed to lay my hands on. I was only 12!)

I consider myself to be quite good at haggling but was taught a lesson in it by the tiny Mayan ladies. I actually had to take my T-shirt off in one shop to prove that their XLs were not big enough for me before I was allowed to leave the shop empty handed! I eventully found the XXL I was looking for and a couple of other little things too.

I had time for a quick look around the town before heading back, and took this picture from the steps of the church. The building in the foreground is the primary school and that is indeed an active volcano in the background. You can get used to anything I suppose!

The wind has increased significantly through the day and the journey back across the lake was so bumpy I nearly claimed it as Wave 35, because I have surfed smaller waves on this trip. I was the last to board the fibreglass boat, and all the cushions had gone, so by the time I had got back to Panajachel I felt like a one legged man who had just come last in an arse kicking contest. I had to brace myself between the roof, the side, the hull and the bench seat to try and protect my delicate backside.

Nothing much else to do today so I catch up on the blog and have a few beers bumping into Taru again as well as a load of other friendly travellers.
It is quiz night at the bar and because I am a trivia fiend I persuade Taru to take on the quiz with me. Despite a shockingly bad USA music round and there being just the two of us versus six people on each of the other teams we win the quiz comfortably, and all the prize money, which was enough to cover my hotel bill while here. We also won bonus shots for being the only team to know what a merkin was. Result!!!