After finally catching up on some sleep, we grabbed some breakfast and then make our way to the bus terminals. Now contrary to what you may of heard or read about Guatemala, it truly is an amazing and safe place outside of the capital. However if you read the newspapers or listen to what the US State Department tells you… well you would never leave your house. Local “camisetas”, otherwise known as “Chicken Buses” are the only real way to travel. Sure we could take a luxury tourist bus that has air conditioning, legroom and is relatively quiet, but where is the fun in that? Aside from paying up to 8x more for the tourist trap, it also lacks the cultural contrast and opportunity for personal connections that you can make with locals while on the longer trips. This of course doesn’t mean you don’t need to watch your gear. My camera bag is always in my lap or in plain sight. Lets face it; I can’t blame someone for wanting to feed their family for a year by indefinitely borrowing my gear. Life outside of the North America, Europe or Australia is the real world and ultimately life comes down to survival.
Arriving in Antigua, we are greeted with cobblestone streets, historic cathedral ruins and stunning views of Volcan de Agua and Volcan de Fuego, both which lay just to the south of the city. After getting hounded by taxi drivers, touts and tourist agency personal, we eventually find a nice quiet hostel on the outskirts of the city that is mostly filled with traveling Mayans. A quick word of advice, if you can get used to living without the amenities you have at home, you can find the best deals and experiences by observing where the locals eat and sleep. Not only will you avoid the tourist’s traps, but you will also be helping out the local economy by giving your money straight into the hands of the local business rather then foreign investors.
Heading out, Sarah and I take advantage of the soft light while exploring the city. I am struck by the amazing colors of the buildings and how the cobblestone streets give off a very “colonial” feel. Sarah is a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to my photography business. She is not only my girlfriend, but also my photography assistant, editor, model and pack mule. We set up a mini studio on one of the street corners and I rally off a handful of shots of her in action. After spending the afternoon shooting throughout the city, we grab a bite to eat and attempt to plan out tomorrows adventures.
