The weather in Canada had been TERRRIBLE, minus 30 celsius for three weeks and I needed to get out! So searching the internet for cheap fares to warmer climes, I stumbled across a great fare at www.itravel200.com to Guatemala. Guatemala? I knew little but can speak Spanish...so click, click, away we go, just where would we be withou the charge cards?
I secured a ticket for 10 days, for a great price, of course I had to fly back on Friday the 13th, but what's a trip without a bit of a twist?
The flight down was rather unspectacular, (well except for the lady at the Montreal airport who insisted she could not fill out the U.S. immigration card as there was no check box for visiting aliens- she was headed to the Nevada desert to comune with the extraterrestrials!) a boring 5 hour wait in Miami, but it was warm! Those of you familiar with my travel style will know I rarely make plans above and beyond my airline ticket, but this time I had felt the need to make arrangements beforehand. Guatemala has seen it's share of turmoil, some fairly recent events had me a tad leary about arriving in Guatemala City alone in the dark.Through the ever helpful Lonely Planet Thorntree I found a great hotel, the Posada Merced .The hotel is located in Antigua and the helpful owner Gail (a kiwi) even arranged for a shuttle to pick me up at the airport for a mere $10 U.S., how civilized.
I arrived at the airport and was pleased to see my name ( or an approximation!) on a placard held by a nice young man. We drove through the chaotic streets of Guatemala City and onwards to Antigua. Antigua has cobblestone streets and it was not hard to tell when we enterred this UNESCO heritage town- suspension mechanics must make a mint here!
Tired and bedraggled we arrrived at a lovely hotel, imagine my surprise when the young gal behind the desk hailed from Toronto! My room was beautifully decorated ( including a dozen roses!)and there was plenty of hot water, so off to bed. |
