Panajachel

Panajachel is a town on the edge of Lago de Atitlan in Guatemala. The lake is worth mentioning because it has no outlet, so what water flows in is there until it either drains away through the ground or evaporates away. Apprently it rises and falls on a seven year cycle.

When we were there is was up, so a bundle of stuff along the edge of the lake is currently underwater, which is quite bizarre. We had breakfast at the lakeside hotel and looking into the water looks like something from Atlantis, big, ornate balconies, stairs, patios and you think they're ancient, until you notice lights and power points... all under several feet of water.

We did a trip out to Chichicastenango Markets, the biggest markets in Central America. They are huge and hectic and busy and packed with people who want to sell you table runners. There is a fascination with tables runners which is kind of scary.

On that note, a funny story. I was walking around with Christopher and this lady adopted us, following us for ages trying to sell us a table runner. The standard spiel goes something like: "For you, for your wife, your girlfriend, your mistress?" Christopher looked at it and went: "but its ugly." To which she replied: "For your enemy?" I was tempted to buy it from her just for that.

We did a trip to the other side of the lake and visited a small village which has a sort of cultural exchange thing. We had breakfast there, got to see the weaving co-operative, got a tour and then bought a bundle of paintings, as you do.