Day 14: Antigua to Comitan - Sunday 11/21/10

The enthusiastic knock at the door at 7 AM announced the arrival of Carol, Anisa & Julia. Happy hugs & kisses! The ladies took a little nap and showered. The Finca’s Guatemalan breakfast included fried bananas, tasty bean paste and sweet breads.

With everyone refreshed and very excited, with sad hearts, we bid Steve a fond farewell. Despite oral directions and a map that had no street names, we had to ask directions at least 5 times and had to turn around twice before leaving the little Antigua neighborhood. Thus it took about 15 minutes to go 2KM to catch the only major highway near town (CA 1W is part of the Central American leg of the Pan American Highway.)

The magnificent drive through Guatemala at 7-10,000’, especially through the steep gorge region, was like going through the land that time forgot. Lunch was at a popular roadside mariscos restaurant. The border crossing was relatively easy since we had done so much paperwork already.

Although we targeted reaching San Cristobal de los Casas, at nightfall we picked a pleasant hotel in Comitan – about 90 KM shy. What a lovely and prosperous town. Carol & I walked a couple of blocks to the zocalo. A terrific marimba band was playing for the crown in the park. Across the park couples were dancing polkas on the sidewalk. Clearly, this is what a live town center feels like. The Mayan Medicine Museum in San Cristobal awaits us tomorrow and then on to Palenque. This was another demanding and rewarding day.