Now that I've probably worried our parents, I'll pause to tell you that living on a fault line within Guatemala these chances always exist but really only 2 tremendously damaging earthquakes have happened in that last 30 years or so. And perhaps the most positive part of all this was that my spanish has become so much better that I could understand and respond to the details of conversations like this rather than nodding and replying ¨Si¨or ¨No entiendo¨.
We have a TON of pictures that will keep us busy downloading upon the return from our vacation (a view from our hotel balcony of Lake Atitlan) but while we are now here relaxing in Antigua let me say that we've had a great time, thus far. We've probably spoken more english than we could have during our trip with each other but the break was most likely needed as well. Initially we went to Lake Atitlan and then briefly to Guatemala City where flew to Tikal. I'll write more on the places themselve later but first something more to worry you all...Returning from Panajachel by ¨chicken bus¨(dubbed the name by the great possiblity that other animals who didn´t have to pay may enter or be walking around the bus) we sat on a near empty bus with some other travelers (one of which looked Guatemalatecan) who spoke English as well. After striking up a conversation with them we heard the consistant warning about watch out for robbers as they frequently enter these buses and being gringos we would always be targets. Later in the small town of Solola (only 20 minutes or so from Pana) those same two individuals came up to the front of the bus to talk to the driver and conductor. The then turned to us to whisper that two men in the back of the bus where acting strangely and they did not feel comfortable and wanted to switch buses. They invited us to switch with them and where going to ask for some of the money back. We decided to switch as well however the bus wasn't stopping any time soon and we had Melissa's big pack on the top of the bus. The other two individuals got off the bus leaving us to try and haggle with the bus driver about getting our lugage off the bus. He paid us little attention seemingly intent on leaving the crowded streets of Solola behind him.
The conductor was out on the streets and later climbed onto the bus so Melissa and I were left standing near the enterance of bus sidestepping new comers to the bus. If we would have left the bus there was a 100% chance that our pack with all of our supplies would have sped off with the bus to Guatemala City and we would have needed to add a lot of shopping to our plans. Not knowing what else to do Melissa and I sat back down exchanging nervous and confused looks occasionaly at each other (but trying to look like nothing was wrong even though we had thousands of questions swirling through our heads). Not more than 10 Kilos outside of Solola (although with all of nerves of confusion it felt like hours) the bus came to a stop on the roadside and the bus driver and conductor left the bus, and a police officer stepped on and greeted us and slowly walked down the row. He asked the man Melissa was sitting next to to get up and patted him down and looked through his bags. The man looked very nervous but was allowed to sit back down. The two other men that the orginal English speaking travelers (who left the bus in Solola) had decribed were led off the back of the bus and there belongings were looked through on the side of the road. Now those two men distinctly looked different as they had some ¨bling, bling¨jewelery on, a couple golden teeth and some darker clothes. One of the officers re-entered the bus and asked us all if we knew any other information and a couple of the passengers spoke to say they didn´t. He also asked if any of us lived in Pana, (as I believe the other two said they did) but no one spoke up to that. He described several other things that I couldn't make out and then the driver and conductor later entered the bus and we were on our way without the other two men.
I don't know if they found anthing with those two men or just singled them out due to stereo-typing which is quite commun here. Nonetheless it seemed very strange that our bus trip started with the two travelors who seemed weary of thieves (in fact the man stated that 50 out of 100 buses get held up by theives, a fact that seemed LARGELY exagerated as we had heard from other travelers that risks were small), and later they had either saved us all on the bus or created a stir for nothing. Missy and I still aren't really sure what to make of all that but honestly I felt myself feeling a little bit safer that the police had come onto the bus (and later checked the bus in Los Encuentros again) . Knowing the police and government system is largely corrupt as well I can't help but have mixed feelings about those two men that were pulled off the bus... were they discriminated against or was it justified? What about those origanal two travelors... were they to be trusted...or were they nuttier than squirrel shit? So many questions and I´m sure that will not be the last of our encounters with these events...
With all this said, when the taxi driver that was taking us to the bus stop Friday night in Guatemala City (after returning from Tikal) offered to take us to Antigua we bartered with him for a little bit but in the end were very greatful that we could avoid the most crowded and dangerous bus terminal on a very very busy last Friday night.
-posted by Tom
