Too Many Pana-gringas! Oh wait, that´s me!

Now, I do not want to alarm my dear friends and family, but I was unsure if I would make it to Panajachel (Pana). In fact, the "flu" I had in Santiago was the most intensely ill I have ever been. I was pretty sure that I would die in the hostel room. Sounds a bit pestimistic and morbid, but with all the bugbites I had covering my body...well...it seemed very possible.

Malaria is not really present around the lake; it seemed to make perfect sense. The stomach cramps, the vomiting, the diarrhea, the cold sweats, and the fever...sounds like death to me. Yet, here I am, alive and well.

The stomach cramps, the vomiting, the diarrhea, the cold sweats, and the fever...sounds like death to me.

Pana was very different from Santiago and I guess I was a little disappointed. It seemed a lot like the States in all the worst ways. There were so many tourists in such a concentrated area and they were all wearing the same wool purse/bag that had "Guatemala" written on it. It felt a little silly and kind of planned; it was as though I were on a movie set. really

I still stayed in the town for over a week. At first I was not able to get any of the tourists to talk to me and then they would not leave me alone. I was ready to leave after the fifth day, but I would go get breakfast or lunch and then spend so long chatting with folks that I would miss the last lancha (boat) across the lake. It was nice; I was not in any hurry to get anywhere.

I spent most of my days walking around down by the lake or up out of the tourist zone. There was an entire city that was free of tourists and home to fantastic locals above the lake area. This area was actually the center of city so there was lots to see. The food was much better in this area too. There were not as many veggie options, but I got great local grub.

While in Pana, I gained a new appreciation for futbol. Guatemalans love futbol! There was a big game with the US against Guatemala and the whole city was going nuts. It was quite exciting. I had just spent the night before watching a game with the family at the guest house I was staying in and was really in the spirit. I could only listen to the game on the radio, but it was crazy. I was a little afraid to speak and have someone ask me where I was from. I did not want to say USA and get picked on or worse! Yikes! I just sat, listening intently to the very quick broadcast.

Traveling without a guidebook was turning out to be more trouble than it was worth. I decided to cross over to the darkside and buy one. It was actually nice without one because I was forced to chat with the people when I entered a new town. You need to ask about shops, services, lodging and such of you don't have it all written down in a book. The guidebook is nice, but it weighs a ton!!!

Pana was a great place to visit and a nice place to recover from my "flu" from the weak prior. It would have been better to leave after only a few days since everything other than my hostel was very expensive.

I loved the lake so much, but I think I will take Pana out of my itinerary next time I visit.