Volcanic Lake Lago de Atitlán

We completely forgot to mention how the term "gringo" came about. It's a funny story. The U.S. has invaded Mexico several times, and the American soldiers wore green uniforms. The Mexicans, tired of their occupiers, would shout "Green go!" And that's how the name "gringo" was born. Reading the newspaper in Guatemala is shocking. The front pages are filled with news of new murders. Most of them happen in the capital, Guatemala City, which is why we’re avoiding it. Most tourists steer clear of that city. You have to be careful in other parts of the country too, but thankfully, not to the same extent. We were up at 4:30 this morning to inform the rest of the group that we wouldn’t be joining the volcano hike. Honny is feeling better but still a bit weak. Honestly, I was relieved we didn’t go because carrying 25 kg of gear is a bit much for me. We got all our money back, so that was lucky. Today, we took a chicken bus further east to Panajachel, one of the towns around Lake Lago de Atitlan. We had to change buses three times. Chicken buses operate on the same principle as in India: the more people, the better... at least for the bus driver, who makes more money. Before the trip started, vendors were pouring in and out of the bus selling ice cream, soda, pizza, newspapers, and more. There was even a missionary on board who stood in the aisle for most of the journey preaching about God. We squeezed 3-4 people into each seat, and the aisle was packed too. The driver cranked up the music, and off we went down narrow mountain roads, overtaking despite the sharp turns. Lago de Atitlan was formed by a collapsed volcano, and there are still other volcanoes surrounding the lake, so the views are absolutely stunning. Panajachel is very touristy, but it's nice to be in a place like this every now and then. It makes it easier to find hotels, restaurants, and buy souvenirs. So far, we’ve picked up a T-shirt, a cap, and a Maya mask. We had dinner at the popular Sunset Cafe with a view of the volcanic lake. Panajachel has a bit of a tourist price tag, though. Our dinner, which included a shared plate of nachos with guacamole, two main courses, and drinks, cost us 201 quetzales. There are quite a few bars in town, so we wrapped up the evening there :)