Hi guys, hope you like one of my new song :)
Blog: http://melissacantello.blogspot.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissacantello
Saturday 28 February 2015
Friday 27 February 2015
Travelling round the world 101 - Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
Sunday, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
After we left Antigua, a brief 3 to 4 hour local bus journey later, and we were dropped on the edge of Parachem on the edge of Lake Atitlan. Oh my pickled cabbage it was cold. I was wearing multiple layers, scarf enveloping my head and I was still as chilly as a pair of frozen beans. We went to Chichi markets on Thursday, o dear I spent a bit too much money (I blame the cold, froze my rational), well it was mostly present buying. The silver and jade here are just so very cheap!! Where else can you get handmade silver and jade pretty pendants etc. for 3 or 4 squids? I haggled a bed through down from 845q to 215q (as I’d been told that was still higher than the local price), I was so proud. Thought the man was going to almost actually cry, Latinos are just so dramatic. The price in the morning was 425 but by the afternoon it had risen to 845! We didn’t quite understand the logic.
The market in itself was fascinating to wander around, a vast array of widely clashing colours, smells and sights to assail the eyes and invigorate the nostrils. It was a large local market with people coming from miles around to buy, sell, peruse and haggle. We didn’t see many other tourists whilst we were there though, although we were there at the end of peak season.
The journey back from Chichi was interesting, we took three connecting local minibus collective taxi things, they ram them SO full! For a minibus that seats 12, they manage to fit about 20-25 people on, several hanging out of the open door as we rocketed along. I have a brilliant photo of my friend, closely resembling a sardine. We were literally pushed onto the bus, sitting half on strangers laps, with armpits and chest/back/arms pressed in on every angle. Thankfully I had a window seat so was pressed up against the glass instead of someone else’s face. I wouldn’t advise it for anyone who is claustrophobic!
Thursday 26 February 2015
Fever - Acoustic Cover (2) performed by Melissa Cantello
Check out my new cover of 'Fever' :)
Blog:
http://melissacantello.blogspot.co.uk/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/melissacantello
Wednesday 25 February 2015
Travelling round the world 101 - Antigua, Guatemala
Friday, Old town, Antigua, Guatemala
This will be a brief entry, as I do not want to torture you guys with having to read too much.
We were in Antigua yesterday, which was lovely. Antigua is beautiful, it has a colonial, seeped in history feel to the place. This is not surprising given that it was the Spanish colonial capital. The architecture was stunning – in a Mudejar influenced Baroque style. It has the charm of an old European town, rather than a bustling cityscape, and is strewn with interesting ruins and attractions. Lots of the houses had stunning painted wooden panels lining them. They were generally coloured in pastel shades which added a restful air to the surroundings. The leafy old town square was bedecked with horse-drawn carriages. I am happy to announce that these horses looked in much better condition than the horses at the volcano. Antigua also has the benefit of being relatively safe and peaceful, which is a happy respite in a country which has a high homicide, but very low (2-3% prosecution rate).
We spent an enjoyable day wandering around Antigua, people watching and soaking up the sights, tastes and smells. I went into a pharmacist in Antigua to buy some cream (labelled with the price on) and asking (on the off chance) for un ´mejor precio´ (a better price) and she just gave me 7Q off (about 25%)...for no reason - I didn’t even say because I’m a student or anything! Love it. Am going to find buying things in the UK very strange…here you can haggle for literally anything, go into a DIV clothes or hardware store....if you don’t like the price...just ask for a better one. Of course, I do like to haggle as that is part of the culture, but I think it is really important to remember that a few Q to me doesn’t mean much so you shouldn’t take the biscuit.
We’re heading to Lake Atitlan tomorrow, we´re planning on going to the nearby market town, so looking forward to soaking up some culture and haggling a lot.
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