as i didn't get a photo of "the road" a Guatemalan guy on ADVrider sent me one, just so you have an idea what it was like

this is him a few months earlier this year...in the DRY SEASON :sunny::sneeze:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...62365046_n.jpg

i was woken in the middle of the night probably around 3 or 4 am by very heavy rain hitting the palms that made up the roof of the palapa by the river i was staying in (and the view)

http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM2561-XL.jpg
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM2562-XL.jpg

eventually i went back to sleep but was woken again around 6 am as it was still raining...the next time i woke it was 7, i got up and looked out fearing the worst, i saw pataches of blue sky and decided to make a run for it, even though the roads are bad they seem to drain off and dry reasonably quickly...it is only around 12 km's or so to the paved road but not an easy start to the day (see previous posts)

this photo is probably about the best part of the whole road

http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM2563-XL.jpg

when i did reach pavement i was in fog and drizzling rain of and on for hours

http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM2564-XL.jpg
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM2576-XL.jpg

and again going thru markets but this time as they were setting up, so not as many people around

http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM2565-XL.jpg

eventually as i had missed the turn to the back road i had to go thru Guatemala City...NOT FUN...i think i may have shortened my life by a few years due to all the fumes

http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM2583-XL.jpg

eventually getting thru the city and heading to Antigua, i stopped into see Chris at CA Tours, had a beer and headed off to EL Hostal

http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM2585-XL.jpg

Only just read a few parts and at work but will read later...when do arrive in adeliade? can catch up and show you around town and then hit the hills.

Alex

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Tapatalk 2

the speed i am traveling maybe 2014!!! by then if you are still following me it would be great to meet up

This is just insane. :Tosser:
Beautifull!
Thanks and keep it coming!

you'll like the next post when i do it, it involves someone from Slovenia!

What colour was that on the water? One of the coolest pic!

rafael...which water photo do you mean?

rolled a few hundred yards up the road from CA Tours to the Hostel and settled in...i had already planned for Spanish lessons with a place called Spanish for travelers ( www.spanishtraveling.com) my reason for choosing them was they take you places and not just sit you in class room, not show you a photo of a cup of coffee but take you to a coffee plantation for example

so i have a walk around in the morning before lessons begin, these are just a few quick snaps the better detailed photos will be added later as i get to walk around in my free time

http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1789-XL.jpg
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1790-XL.jpg
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1792-XL.jpg
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1795-XL.jpg
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1799-XL.jpg
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1805-XL.jpg
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1809-XL.jpg
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1810-XL.jpg
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1812-XL.jpg
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1827-XL.jpg

My first outing with the school was supposed to be to a coffee plantation but it was canceled so we could go to a wedding rehearsal, here are the the couple, and the rehearsal was held in a Mayan market

http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1835-XL.jpg

he is Guatemalan and she is from Slovenia...in this photo the lady to the far left has just explained most things about the wedding and marriage and then said the family expects 13-14 children, hence the look on her face :huh and they gave her a baby doll to practice with

http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1860-XL.jpg

the bride (to be and mother) have been given gifts for them to work with and provide for the husband

http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1865-XL.jpg

fresh tortillas we made and we had a traditional Guatemalan lunch

http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM2588-XL.jpg


here is my crazy Spanish teacher with a fiesta mask

http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1874-XL.jpg

http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1877-XL.jpg




lots more of Antigua to come...

This one here:

http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM2396-XL.jpg