Quetzaltenango (Xela) & Chicabal

Legend says that the Mayans used to mistreat Lake Chicabal by washing their clothes in it and dirtying it, and so one day the lake disappeared. They then asked their gods for forgiveness, and one day, God blessed them and they found that the lake had shifted to a higher altitude on the same volcanic mountain. Studies show that there were always two lakes in the Volcano of Chicabal, one which dried up and got absorbed by the ground, and the other, which still remains today, and is very beautiful. Laying at the top of the volcanic crater, La Laguna Chicabal is now considered sacred, no one can bathe in it or wash their clothes with its water. Mayan ceremonies take place around this lake.

To get to the volcano of Chicabal, I had to spend 2 nights in Quetzaltenango, also called Xela, which is the second biggest city in Guatemala. I liked Xela because it was more local, much less touristy than Antigua, and I could kind of get a feel of what the real Guatemala is like. This also meant that I could meet the Guatemalan people who have a harder life, and since 6 weeks here, I had my first bad experience. My guide in Chicabal worked his way the whole trip into asking me for money at the end and the agency I bought my return bus ticket from told me there was a blockade between Xela and Antigua, and I couldn’t return to Antigua as planned and had to wait until afternoon to get another shuttle. I had to find from another agency that there was actually no blockade and had to fight to get my money back. Just the way one hopes to start a Monday morning! Finally, as most often than not, public transport can be a lot more reliable and a lot cheaper! And luckily, it was comfortable too! I'm glad to be back in Antigua.

Placed carefully in my cupboard is my ticket to Cuba which I bought yesterday. So exciting! Dreams, dreams, dreams… :)