You Get What You Pay For

And we did not pay for our shuttle bus from Antigua to Panajachel today. As part of our brilliant bartering with the hostel after we ended up in the non-AC room, we exchanged the third night of our stay for the equality priced ride to Panajachel. So while technically NOT free, it kind of was and therefore, the awful ride we had should have been expected.

Before the bus, however, things were pretty good because we did the New England thing and went to Dunkin Donuts! Sometimes a girl has to do what a girl has to do!

Now, back to the shuttle. To set the mood, it was late! So things were already going well. Next, it was a tiny shuttle and it was basically full when we got on (we got the last two seats) so our bags had to go on top. That's cool, I can handle that! What I can't handle is when my bag is half hanging over the edge of the rack and the driver tells me not to worry about it. No, sir, I will worry about it! I need that stuff. So when he wasn't looking, I climbed up the ladder on the back of the shuttle and properly secured my bag.

And now we're on the bus (which, fyi, was more like a van). We obviously have the worst seats because we're the last ones there which means that we will be riding with one butt cheek dangling off the ends of our respective benches for two and a half hours. Except that the roads in Antigua are cobblestone and the rest of the roads in Guatemala might as well be, so we were in serious danger of bouncing off for most of the time. Did I mention the alarming speed at which our driver took the numerous twists and turns of our journey? Because I left my stomach somewhere between here and Antigua. Add in the benefit of breathing in exhaust fumes the entire time and you'll see why I was in a bad mood when we got to Panajachel.

The next example of you get what you pay for was to be expected. Whitney booked us a hostel through AirBnb at the last minute for this excursion and it cost exactly $23. For both of us. For two nights. Yeah, $5 plus tax a night. So no, we weren't expecting much. The biggest surprise when we arrived was when the manager told of that AirBnb doesn't allow for listings of less than $5 but the rooms are actually only $4 and then he offered us a beer at 11am to make up for the price difference. We declined.

Now parents, before you worry, this place is not unsafe or super dirty, it's just absolute bare bones. I mean, $4 a night...

Now, I was still in a bad mood from the bus ride and being super hungry so we went to find lunch. I'll admit that it's hard to be in a bad mood here because it's absolutely stunning. Coming here is like stepping into (or dangerously driving into) another world. Lake Atitlan, the lake that Panajachel is on, is gorgeous!

We met up with Whitney's friend, Caitlin (Spell check? There are approximately nine million different ways of spelling that name and Whitney calls her by her last name, Stevens, anyways) and walked around. Katelyn took us to a market where we got chocolate covered bananas for the equivalent of 13 US cents! Catelynne took us to a grocery store where we didn't buy anything! Kaytelinne took us to the house where she is staying while she works here for the next three months to watch National Geographics!!! We got a neat little tour from C8lyn's host as well and then we got tacos for dinner!

That's basically it. Whitney and Katelinn are going out tonight while I am going to sleep because I'm exhausted! Peace and love, blog readers!