This morning we were up at 6:00 a.m. to get ready for our trip to Pana that was scheduled for 7:30 a.m. to pick up our 9:00 a.m. shuttle to Xela. After getting ready to go, we finished packing the final items we would be taking. I'm not sure I've mentioned what we carry with us, so here goes: two large rolling duffles, two rollerboard carryon bags (primarily with books), two backpacks with our two computers, a medicine bag, my breathing machine and Linda's coccina (kitchen equipment we've picked up while here). It's quite a load. One of the reasons we're taking a shuttle is that they drop you off right at the door to your lodging.
Our truck for our trip into Pana finally arrived about 7:45 a.m. After loading, we started the trek. A short distance down the road, the driver stopped to pick up a man and two Maya women going to market. I had assumed that we had contracted to use the truck exclusively, but stopping to pick up more passengers must be a genetic trait in these drivers. Linda tells me that Joan admonished him not to stop for anyone else, as we needed to get to our departure point for Xela.
We soon arrive at Pana's main crossroad and out three extra riders depart. Turning down Calle Santander, we're soon at the travel agency, which is closed! We had also wanted to eat before we left, so we drug our luggage into the restaurant next door to the travel agency and ordered our breakfast. While we were eating, the travel agency opens for business and I drag our luggage through the connecting door to the travel agency.
9:00 a.m. comes and goes, so I ask the young woman at the travel agency when the shuttle will arrive and she told me, "9:00 a.m." It finally arrived at 9:15 a.m. and we helped the driver load our small mountain of luggage. I assume that we'll drive around town picking up other passengers, but the driver drives right out of Pana. I ask the driver if we'll be picking up other passengers at Los Encuentros (the place on the InterAmerican Highway where passenger switches are often made) and he tells me that we're going directly to Xela. It finally dawned on me that we have this shuttle (an 11 passenger van) all to ourselves. Well, almost all to ourselves. At Nahuala (the driver's hometown), we stop to pick up his father and a friend, who evidently are going to Xela.
We finally arrive in Xela and are taken immediately to Casa Latina, where we are shown to our bedroom. We're on a floor with three other bedrooms (two young women from the Netherlands and another from Michigan). We share a kitchen, bathroom, dining area and living room with television. There is also wireless Internet. All this for only Q1350 ($187) per month.
After unpacking, we head over to our favorite restaurant, Cubatenango, to discover that it's evidently has either moved or closed. Instead, we walk to Parque Central to eat at McDonalds, since we haven't yet located safe places to eat. After eating, we walk over to Dispensa Familiar to pick up some items we need, such as oatmeal, instant milk, tea, limes, bananas, oil (for popcorn) and bath towels. We lug these items back to the guest house and Linda takes a nap, while I use the Internet access. Susan and Max are on-line, so we try to video conference, but it keeps freezing up. We finally are able to audio chat with no problem. Maybe it wil work better tomorrow.
For supper, we walk back to confirm that Cubatenango was still closed (hope springs eternal) and end up walking back to Parque Central for another hamburger at McDonalds. Afterwards, I spot the Pollo Campero just down the street from it and wish we had seen it earlier.
After walking back to the guest house, Linda wasn't feeling well (altitude?) and decided to rest and I decided to work on my blog. Tomorrow will be a relaxed day, hopefully. I do want to see if the municipal marimba band plays tomorrow morning. When we were here in 2007, we aplauded when they finished a beautiful tune and they responded by playing the "Stars and Stripes Forever" for us.
