Guatemala,
atitlan - 21th of march 2002
"Incredible mariage between lakes and
volcanoes"
|
> A road built in the
Guatemalan's nodes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click on the pictures to enlarge
|
The border crossing
Our arrival in Guatemala is made through a small border station lost
in the high Guatemalans nodes. No apparent difficulties. We discharge
our rights of entrance and the temporary importation license of our
car. We change in the street our last Mexican pesos by Quetzal (local
currency) and take the road. It is broadly in good state. However,
there are still some sections where the road gets eaten by impressive
crumbling caused by the heavy rains during the rainy season. We will
stop at Huehuetenango, a typical stage for one night before setting
out again at dawn to Atitlan.
An amazing road
Awaked with the first rays of the sun, four hours of road await us.
For lunch, a rich cocktail, slopes, radical curves, incredible landscapes,
alternating freshness and heat according to the altitude, intense
fog and indigenous villages. An ultimate slope, this one, more vertiginous
than the previous ones and here we are: on the edges of the Atitlan
lake, at Panajachel.
|
> Some traditional market
scenes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click on the pictures to enlarge
The magic of the place misses
The lake and the three volcanoes which border it have been absorbed
by the clouds. The whole site is plunged in the most total fog. Thus,
the place appears to us with a large banality, without any interest,
boring. We will spend one night, nothing more, hopping the sunrise
will be imposing.
An hostel quite unusual
We all choose a camp-site, dear reunion with our good old men hammocks
kept away since more than a week in the bottom of the car. Bargained
for a few Quetzals, the spot we chose to spend the night is in reality
the garden of a luxurious hotel with swimming pool, located at the
edge of the lake. So to speak, we find ourselves again "the feet in
the water". Thereafter, this site will reveal to be the best point
of view of the entire city.
A great spectacle awaits us at sunrise
The eyes between opened, we awake us very early, seeking for a good
surprise. The thick bed of clouds seems almost to have disappeared
to be substituted by a fog quite as undesirable. It is 6am. Time to
make boil a little of water, have a cup of tea. Finally, the nodes
of our three so much awaited protagonists volcanoes, emerge gradually
from the fog, by their size. The combat is won. A few minutes later,
the sun, absent until now, finishes its rise behind the mountains.
It directs all its light intensity on the 3 majestic volcanoes. Cracks
are splendid, the blue color of the lake is intense. The spectacle
is fantastic!
|
> Some pictures of a
rare beauty |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click on the pictures to enlarge
|
copyright © surforange 2002. Email
|
|