Today we left Quetzantenango (Xela) to visit Antigua by a private bus. The public buses are referred to as 'chicken buses' because people take everything, including chickens, on the bus. They are really colourful and are given names and are often adorned with the driver's personal touch.
We and arrived at Antigua at about 2pm and most of the group wanted to settle into their hotel. Val I had to return to Guatemala City at 8pm and so we set off to see some of the town. We visited the most amazing market and we spent ages and most of our money there.
I was keen (as usual) to see the church and there was a wedding taking place. A decorated horse and cart was waiting outside to take the bride and groom from the church. Val and I sat at the back of church for a while. In Guatemala the churches are really well used and on Saturdays there is a huge queue outside the confession box. The country may be poor but most churches have flat screen TVs around church and the churches are full on Sunday mornings.
Val and I made our way back to the group's hotel for 8pm where we were due to be collected for our journey and the whole group were waiting for us. They presented us with medals. They tried to tell us that the plastic was really silver! It was lovely and everyone said really nice things to us before all standing in the street to wave us off. I feel very blessed to have shared the past three weeks with such wonderful people.
I'm now in the hotel in Guatemala City and have a whole room to myself after sharing for the past three weeks - luxury. However, I am being collected and taken to the airport at 4am and really looking forward to going home.
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