Given that we had been on the go since the beginning of our tour, we were well overdue for a low-key, laidback kind of a day. We were allowed the luxury to sleep in past 6am, which was previously unheard of, giving us ample time to relax and pack our belongings. I’d grown quite used to the fact that my one, Country Road duffle bag was all that I had to be concerned about, and that it was essentially containing the entire contents of my current life. It’s amazing how well one can adapt when they’re forced to get by with so little. We departed the jungle lodge just after midday. Fortunately for us, it would only be a relatively short drive to our next stop in Santa Elena. We pulled up outside our hotel, and boy, was it the quaintest place you ever did see: painted the colour of the sky, with crisp, white trimmings around the windows and door frames. Once we had checked in, I was eager to see what view awaited me from our room. I stepped out onto the balcony and watched the sunlight beaming over Lake Peten Itza. Across the water, I caught a glimpse of the island of Flores, speckled with brightly coloured buildings, almost like a Christmas tree decorated with its twinkling lights. With this thought in mind, I immediately felt at peace in my serene surroundings. After spending a fair bit of time settling in, we were guided across the causeway that connected Santa Elena to Flores to explore the local markets and find a spot for lunch. Cars zoomed by as we walked in single-file, trying to keep a safe distance from the busy road. It was the heat of the day and perhaps the hottest we had experienced in Central America so far. We all felt awfully sticky as we traipsed through the winding and narrow streets. It was a small price to pay when you realised where you were in the world, and what you had come to see so far. Eventually, the heat got the better of us and we sought relief from the sun in a local restaurant decked out with industrial sized fans. I enjoyed a margherita pizza and an iced coffee topped with whipped cream, all while admiring the idyllic lakeside setting. Free time in the afternoon allowed us to wander around the markets and attempt to bargain for souvenirs. Knowing I was limited with my luggage capacity, I trawled for a modestly-sized memento. I stumbled into a small, inconspicuous shop, and found a shelf of hand-painted ceramic skulls, trinkets I have always been drawn to. They were by no means a rarity in Guatemala (or Mexico, for that matter), but a bright orange one depicting a scene of small figures in a village caught my eye. I probably paid more for it that I should’ve, but it was nice to know that I’d be able to take a tangible reminder of this trip home with me. We made a point of taking typical tourist photos on our way back to Santa Elena, dodging the red tuk-tuks and mad traffic that crossed our path. I was looking forward to returning to our hotel; the pool had looked ever so inviting upon arrival. It was the perfect way to cool down and unwind after a day in the sun. My quick dip was followed up with a shower before a number of us ventured down the road to the local Burger King for dinner. Short of walking back to Flores, it was our only food option this side of town, but in all honesty, I was quite eager to sink my teeth into something greasy! We placed our orders in the most haphazardly-spoken Spanish possible, which proved to be a challenge. Nevertheless, we were pretty pleased with our attempts. My friend Tom was able to utter but one line without fault, “sin salsa de tomate,” which in English translates to “no tomato sauce.” This was perfect because he hates tomatoes. And sauce. No words have proved to be more useful to a tomato sauce loathing individual in a Spanish speaking country. Back at the hotel, our weariness was starting to show, and most of us spent time in smaller, quieter groups. I popped down to see Tammy and Emily who were watching TV in their room. Flicking through the channels, we came to a stop when we realised that the Disney hit Frozen was on. Just for the record, “Let It Go” is about a million times better in Spanish. Without hesitation, we leapt our feet, and danced around the room like absolute muppets, which forced us into fits of delirious laughter. It was not quite the nightclubbing scene we had experienced in Cancun, but it was more than good enough for us. A few of the others were congregating in a room down the hall to partake in some games of the drinking variety. Tammy opted for an early night, so Emily and I moseyed on over to see what was happening. I can’t recall what we played exactly, but I’m certain that quality banter and laughs were exchanged. One beer in and I was ready to call it a day. I returned to my room, turned on the air-con and hopped under the cool covers. Tomorrow we would be jumping on our second internal flight and heading to Antigua. I didn’t know what to expect, but if Antigua was anything like what I had experienced so far, then I had every reason to be as excited as I was.
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B is:A 26-year-old tea drinking writer of words trying to find her place in the world.
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April 2020
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