Guatemala City

Well, we made it into Guatemala a week ago Monday.  We managed to stay in one of the most dangerous cities in Guatemala that 1st night, Huehuetenango.  Guess there was a shoot out there 2 wks. ago, something like 9 people killed.  None of them tourists, I might add.  The next night we stayed on Lago Atitlan, where there are 3 volcanoes and it was very pretty there.  Lots of biting bugs.

From there we went to a beach called Sipacate, a mellow little beach area, and camped New Year's eve and day all the way through yesterday.  Black sand beaches, 80 degree weather, lots of humidity, and lots of cool people.  The army came out and checked us out (for our safety) on Fri. night at 11 PM with lots of flashlights and didn't even try to talk to us.  Lots of ash in the air there, though, and our coughs are still going strong, maybe due to that.

We got into Guatemala city on Monday in the afternoon.  Big city, lots of traffic.  Managed to get to the U.S. Embassy to look up my SIL and then waited for her so that we could follow her to her house.  Ate at another Taco Inn (last one was in Oaxaca City), and had the Alambre, shared it with Leo.  Trying to clean up all the ash that got into the camper, wash the dishes and clothes and then will manage to start cleaning the counters, stove, cushions and floor from the mess that it looks like right now.  That ash totally made everything grey.

We are planning on El Salvador from here on the Pacific side, not sure of the beach just yet, but we are discussing it and plan on making a decision soon.  Hope everyone is having a great New Year.

toni