Arrival

First of all, I should have started this thing BEFORE I left the states so I wouldn´t have had to struggle with setting it up in Spannish (or `Castellano´ as it´s call here. Why didn´t I know that?).

Jan. 15: On arrival, Guatemala City is warm and muggy, but pleasant, like Oregon in late spring. My shuttle ride to Antigua costs twice as much as it should because the driver says he needs at least two passengers to cover the trip, but no one else is heading to Antigua. I´m already in the van and I´m a sucker so I say "Esta bien." The rolling, green hills on the way out of the city make for a beautiful view, despite the decrepit houses and trash on the side of the road.

Pulling into Antigua, the narrow roads turn to cobblestone and there are no traffic lights. The small city is surrounded by the same rolling hills, as well as three great volcanos in the distance. My hostel, The Black Cat, caters to a young, international hippy/hip crowd... if they were hip in the late 90s. Bands like Incubus and early Radiohead are played constantly in the cramped bar that serves as the entry for The Black Cat. My dorm has bunk beds for 5 guests. I get the top bunk. My debit card doesn´t work in the two closest ATMs and I´m exhausted from only getting 2 hours sleep on my flight, so I get to bed early, reading myself to sleep.