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!
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