Dan, Sylvie and Felix Blog: Change of Plans!

After arriving at Puerto Madero, Mexico and being directed by the Port Captain to a new marina (that was not in our guidebooks), and that this marina was letting boats stay at no cost since it was still under construction, we decided to do what most former backpackers would do: Road Trip!

So the day after arriving, instead of rushing to check out of the country, we made sure Ustupu was snug as a bug and took a bus inland. We had a lose plan. A bit of time in Mexico and then head to Guatemala..for a bit of time. We were going to figure it out as we went.

In Mexico, we headed for the mountains and spent days roaming the old colonial town of San Cristobal, walked the impressively restored grounds of the ruins at Palenque, swam in the occasional waterfall and of course, watched a chicken being sacrificed followed by a swig of coke to burp away evil spirits in San Juan Chamula.

As we literally reached the Mexican/Guatemalan border, our fist taste of this new country is an intoxicated man being whipped by another cowboy boot wearing man. Oh dear! Welcome to Guatemala! We will happily report that it is the only whipping sighting we made in the country.

We arrived in Guatemala in time for the Sunday market in Chichicastenango- and what a market! This was our first attempt at bargaining which was good timing since things were often priced at more than 3 times their value which was clear by how quickly the prices dropped once you stood there in disbelief. I always thought that I would be the good guy bargaining but it ends up that Dan is the good guy. I would not budge on a price then Dan would come in for the kill by offering a bit more, or a granola bar.

After shopping until we dropped we headed to a few more places in Guatemala: Lago Atitlan and Antigua. We took in beautiful views, ate some delicious food, and walked and walked and walked. We probably walked more in those few days than in the last 3 months we have spent in Mexico.

It was time to head back to Ustupu. We hopped on the “chicken buses” which are the local buses (normally old school buses converted into colorful, fast transportation machines) and quickly made our way back to Mexico. We unfortunately did not see any chickens on the bus.

Now that we are back in Mexico, we are preparing to leave again. This time afloat. If all goes well, our next landing will be in Nicaragua.