My escape from Guatemala City went more or less as planned. Depending on where you want to go you need to choose the accurate bus station. For most destinations it would probably be a place called Trebol. It is a busy intersection with many bus stops around. It is hence needed to ask somebody where to go as it is typical Guatemalan chaos.
I did a mistake of not asking first and just wandering around what looks more like an open market than a bus station. After three times of turning around I asked a guy selling tickets to city's public transport. He pointed me the right direction and I was out for an adventure. My first Chicken bus ride ever!
For those that never experienced this rather scary way of transportation let me assure you - it is fun. There are always two operators. The driver and his assistant selling tickets and helping passengers to catch their connecting bus. Chicken buses are old Canadian school buses converted into colorful beasts cruising the local countryside. If the driver is crazy enough it is a true roller coaster.
I have shared the ride with Ritu - an Indian traveler. She told me that Indian buses are much worse, so she was enjoying the ride while I was new to this horror. The driver was overtaking trucks and other cars in unholy fashion. We were bouncing from one side of the seat to the other and our butts were receiving proper massage all the way.
In about two hours we have reached Antigua and separated our ways as both of us booked different accommodation.
We have reunited after our check ins and went to explore the city. Rita actually contacted somebody via couch surfing so her friend joined us with a rather funky looking bicycle. He was a cool guy and we were happy to have a local to show us around. There are many historical highlights to visit in Antigua.
The main tourist attraction has to be El arco de Santa Catalina - where we all have actually met. It is the main pedestrian street with artists, street vendors and hordes of tourists taking selfies.
Next of we were to the main square with a tiny little park. I took some of the finest pics of the day there...
If you're wandering about what is the weird dish on the last picture - it's famous Pepian. Local "brown sauce" with chicken, rice, some exotic potato usually served with few tortillas on the side. Good stuff!!!
Before we were able to finish our food it started raining heavy. Guatemala is one of those places where if it rains it is a real shower. So we have split our group again depending on who had raincoat and who didn't. I was in the second and so me and Rita continued the exploration of the local market.
Even though it looks very colorful and diverse after a while one realizes they have almost the same products at every corner...
On the way back to my hostel I have encountered a weird appearance. The water drainage got overrun by the heavy rain and the street turned river. I assume it is not that common, but wouldn't put my arm into fire for it.
Antigua is known for its surrounding volcanoes and I went to bed early to be ready for another adventure...
Sidenote: Travelfeed seemed to delete my scheduled post without publishing it - quite likely after having ten stories stacked in the scheduled category. So just kind reminder to anybody having lot of blogs stacked to be published in the future - keep this in mind so you don't loose your memories and stories.
I had to rewrite this post after two weeks of extensive travel in Guatemala and it surely influenced the vibe of this article a little.
Edit: Travelfeed did not lost my article - it just disappeared for few hours before it was scheduled so here is the original post:
@globallocal/chicken-bus-to-the-old-capital-of-guatemala-smiles-and-floods-in-antigua
All the best,
Global Local