Lanquin, June 7-11

Today is the morning of Friday the 9th, and it is my 2nd day in Lanquin. The rainy season has REALLY started now, with the rain starting at two o’clock yesterday and still going. Everyone says that there’s not going to be any letup today, so I’m staying at the lodge today, just hanging around, maybe see a movie or two, chat with the other backpackers, and of course watch some football: today is the first day of the World Championships, so I’m going to watch Costa Rica beat the crap out of Germany later today (yeah, like THAT is going to happen! :-)).

The trip from Flores to Lanquin was a bit more problematic than I had originally thought. I overslept :-( so I missed my 5.30 bus straight to Cobán, so I instead had to take the “chicken buses” (chicken bus is backpacker talk for the local buses, more or less dangerous to ride and quite often with chicken cages tied to the roofs, hence the name), and change four times, including once to a boat(!) before I got there.

Inside of a typical Guatemala mini-bus – also typically crowded.

And then there was yet another bus to Lanquin which means that the trip took more or less the whole day – traveling here is really slooow. Here I’m staying at El Retiro, because it is the only backpacker-place in town.

The cabaña where I’m sleeping.

But that don’t matter too much, because it is a great place. I pay 35Q for a bunk in 4-bed cabaña, which is probably expensive as dorms in Guatemala go, but you DO get excellent service for that. Lonely Planet describes it as a backpackers dream, and I would agree. The cabañas are in a shady area between the road and the river, and by the river is a BIG building with thatched roof and open to three sides that works as a restaurant/social area.

The social area of El Retiro beckoning to you when you arrive.

Today the social area has been quite full because of the bad weather I guess, but otherwise it really only crowds around dinner time. But if it gets too full, there is also a lounge with beanbags on the floor right under the roof. I’m going to spend some time there today, since that’s where the TV is (for football!), but otherwise there’s too much making out going on between the couples for me not to miss you and feel sad, so I stay away from there. Talking about football – time for the first match!

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Well, of course Costa Rica didn’t stand a chance against Germany, despite all of us rooting for them, except two poor German girls that looked liked they thought we would heap the whole WWII guilt trip over them or something. But of course they had the last laugh in the end – Germany won with 4-2. :-(

It is now 6 o’clock, so it has been quite some time since I wrote last time. I’ve spent the day, first beating some Israelis in Risk, and then playing cards with some other guys. The rain refuses to stop and is now up to 28 hours in a row. On the other hand, I wouldn’t really have a problem staying here a week or so either. :-) The food is really good, the cabañas are good, and it is really easy to get to know people and just generally have fun. No single girls in even remotely near my age bracket yet though. :-( But who knows, there’s bound to be more people showing up later in the evening.

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Now back from yet another delicious dinner – vegetarian only here which might not suit everyone, but it is great for me! Time is flying, so I better get around to tell you about my day at Semuc-Champay, don’t I?