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This is a detailed report on that trip: * Panama to Costa Rica: 19 hours, $25, Borders fee $10 * Costa Rica to Nicaragua: 8 hours, $10, Borders fee $10 * Nicaragua to San Salvador, through Honduras 12 hours, $25, Borders fee $20 * San Salvador to Guatemala: 6 hours, $8, no borders fee * So entire bus fee was $68, borders fee was $40 and it takes 45 hours.

Central America (part IV)

Alex Mumzhiu
2006-03-22 18:46:53

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I do not mind long bus rides. I make myself as comfortable as possible. I read, sleep, think. The main contradiction is this: You are supposed to not eat or drink on long bus rides. On the other hand, the alcohol drinking is the best sleeping pills. I still did not find a resolution yet. For really demanding long rides however, I do not eat or drink.

All tour books recommend to skip El Salvador. I did not do it only because one of my readers Teresa T. from Michigan, strongly recommend me to visit El Salvador. I spent one day in San Salvador and visit the so called American Pompey, the place which was buried by volcanic ashes, like Italian Pompey. Well, it was not as impressive as Italian Pompey. Also it was in the middle of work and was not ready for demonstration.

Guatemala City was condemned by all tour books as a very dangerous and crime ridden city. I spent 4 hours in Guatemala City between buses and I have a different opinion. It is probably dangerous, but it is not related to me, due to my way of traveling. But it is very interesting city. I saw a demonstration there. It looked very scary. See the picture in the attachment. They wear masks and KKK looking clan hoods, but it was a student demonstration at the local university. I also saw a beautiful buildings, which any city would be proud of. See it in attachment.

From Guatemala City I went to Antigua. Antigua has a lot of tourists, but it is still nice. When I came to Antigua it was the beginning of Samana Santa (Holy week). Entire huge central plaza was filled with people in purple, wearing Bedouin headset. A huge procession carried platforms of Christ and the virgin Mary. The entire plaza was filled with clouds of incense and it was appropriate music there. Many people came to Antigua especially for this event. Price of a hotel room jumped three times for this week, in my hostel from $2.5 to $7.5

From Antigua I went to Panachanchel on Attitlan lake. ...