Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala

Having the most amazing time in Guatemala, with astonishing sights nearly every day, and sometimes several times per day. The local transport is pictured at left, the infamous chicken buses (possibly so named because the locals carry their chickens on it, or maybe because the drivers are constantly playing chicken, passing on blind corners.) They leave when packed to the gunwales with people, mostly colourfully dressed local Mayans. Ciaran was slightly appalled on his first trip in one, but now is really into the visual splendour of them.
The yellow church is San Andres Xecul, reached by pickup truck from Xela and a weird riot of colour and symbols. If you look closely you will spot monkeys and jaguars as well as saints.
The scene of all the hats was taken from a balcony in Xela, while eating breakfast. From what we can gather it was payday for the workers. They were queued 4 deep right around a city block, waiting for the heavily armed bank gates to open. When they did, the workers were allowed through in single file, and the whole business was still not completed by 4pm. We believe this scene is repeated every fortnight!




Another day trip took us up to Fuentes Georgias, a natural hot spring high in the cloud forest. It was a spectacular trip on the back of a pick up (those who believe in seat belts can stop now), winding up through precipitous mountain ravines on a narrow but two way road. At the top, we found this lovely series of hot pools where we could soak with the locals and give ourselves mud facials if we so desired.