Guided by our host Carlos, me and Danish traveler Christian have started relatively early on to catch our first bus. With a kinda plan we have expected the unexpectable. After fancy breakfast in El Marquesote, Carlos walked us outside the city center where all the buses going our direction were headed. After about an half an hour we were anxious to move on. So we have decided to jump on the first bus that would arrive. To our luck it brought us to Chiantla.
It is a small town on the verge of the mountain range. Our plan to go much further to the mountains had to change from now on and so we have wandered around the town a little visiting local market and checking out some old houses.
The local market was a reality check for me. Even the most delicious dish starts with an act of violence and though represent the vicious cycle we are experiencing in everyday lives. My eye is trained from Morocco though so I wasn't shocked that much to see a cow's head on the table there.
Next of we walked through what is a decent size town and being it Guatemala it was like walking through rally race. I assume most cars don't have any filters - should they run on diesel as black smoke is following every one of them.
Luckily not long after a small bus appeared on the horizon to pick us up.
At this point we knew we will not make it too far into the mountains, however the one and only road led us to the previously mentioned Mirador.
The biggest monument is some sort of communal building which seems to be left to its own destiny at this point. During a rather foggy day that we had a chance to experience the place felt surreal. Kinda like an abandoned witch house. And further on there was actually some locals performing somewhat weird ritual. From what I have heard it sounded like a mix of some local ancient language and Latin or Spanish. Singing and praying both in the name of nature and Jesus was spreading around the mountain in strong sound waves...
After this strong experience other guys tried to get some money out of us as we have headed back to the main road. They were just bunch of drunken workers trying their luck. Actually they might have not worked that much at all as it was about lunch time when we have encountered them.
Back at the crossroads we were almost throwing a coin. Higher to the mountains or back down to the city or hostel to cook something. In about three minutes another minivan was speeding up the hill and it was decided for us.
Another twenty minutes long ride and we were on top of the mountain range. Green flat highland everywhere you look. And in the middle Comedor Amparito. A stylish ranch serving the most traditional food possible. We had some lamb rips and Pepian chicken - a famous Guatemalan sauce usually accompanied by rice and tortillas...
That was the both highlight and a turning point for us. From here another bus drove us almost all the way back to the hostel. Even though we haven't walked that much it was tiring and we have spent the rest of the day preparing our own culinary masterpieces. Carlos is a master chef incarnated. His plattanas in this time sweet Pepian were top class. I have than created my own version of tonic water and we have chatted the evening away sipping over it...
All the best,
Global Local
