Puerto Quetzal/Guatemala

5.2.2024 Puerto Quetzal

I disembarked shortly after 8 a.m., and while most of my fellow travelers were looking for the buses for their booked excursions, I was looking for a means of transportation away from the rather uninteresting port for tourists. I talked to taxi drivers and realized that a solo trip would cost me quite a bit of money. And so I waited until I noticed that a young couple was also looking. They agreed that I should join them, we accepted the US$200.00 that the taxi driver demanded as the complete price for the tour to the city of Antigua, and set off.

The taxi was well past its best and the windshield had several large cracks. But the engine and air conditioning worked, so we reached Antigua relatively comfortably after about two hours.

On the way we passed several volcanoes. According to the taxi driver, one of them has killed around 3,000 people and has only been doing so for a few years.

In Antigua we parked the taxi and continued on foot. The taxi driver took us through a former, partially destroyed monastery, which now houses a restaurant, a hotel and several shops. I went to a chocolate shop and bought a package of fine chocolate weighing over two kilograms for around US$ 65.00. If I strictly ration the 24 bars, they could be enough for the next seven months without jeopardizing my success.

The taxi driver first said goodbye to us and we were able to explore the city on our own. We also went to dinner together. By the way, the couple were two very nice Ukrainians who spoke good English.

After eating we went to the central square where local traders hustled us with their products. I was immune to most products, but I was weak when it came to a very colorful and tastefully patterned scarf, which could also be used as a table runner, because I really liked it as a gift. After negotiating the price down to a reasonable level, I purchased the good piece.

Shortly afterwards we found our taxi at the agreed meeting point and drove back to the ship. At the terminal, dozens of vendors sold local products and I purchased a short-sleeved shirt.

In the evening the comedians Mario & Daniel performed and occasionally made me laugh.