The ups and downs of travelling

I think I have had my first few days where I felt wouldn't it be better to be back at home in bed? Most of this has come from being ill. I have had a bit of a cold, nothing major but made it at least 5 times worse by drinking too much. So the last couple of days have not been the best fun. I am now back in Casa Esthela in Antigua and though I still feel rather sick at least I am in comfortable and familiar surroundings and can just relax this evening and be well enough to enjoy tomorrow which is new years eve.

Illness aside, the last few days have consisted of a trip to 2 of the villages/towns around the beautiful Lago Atillan, in my opinion the most beautiful setting I have come across in my trip so far. We visited San Marcos first which was a peacful hippy village but not a whole lot was going on so we got the boat over to San Pedro. We bumped into Brendan and Bianca our friends from Orange Walk and then the said amount of alcohol was consumed. I did enjoy San Pedro because it has 2 sides, there is the touristy side which you are in danger of only seeing as it consumes a whole area around the dock which is the main route into the town. The other side as you head up the hill is a lot more typical of Guatemala. Markets and women selling genuine Mayan goods. I think in all the craziness of the last few weeks id almost forgotten to appreciate local customs and everything that I came travelling for. It was nice to take a step back and watch these beautiful, kind people going about their lives. I have heard so many bad things about Guatemala and whilst you can't ignore the fact that bad things happen I have really fallen in love with this country. It is beautiful, diverse and wonderfully chaotic.

Future plans then, I will be continuing to travel with Caroline for the next few weeks starting with a trip to Copan, Honduras on the 2nd January. Its been a tough few days but hopefully will be a cracking new years party here and then a new country to start the new year with.