To Guatemala from Honduras
To Guatemala from Honduras
Today was my last day of working at Copan, my last day of hanging out with the archaeologist campensinos, unearthing the Maya, and dreaming my way through the stone chiseled corridors and byways of a truly ancient city. I have learned much from this archaeology project - chalked up another mark on the old curriculum vitae - but it is time to be moving on. I offered my farewells to the cowboy hat wearing campesinos at the site, shook hands, got a little choked up, and made my final bows to good old Copan. For Guatemala calls.
As well as a meeting with the Hobo Traveler.
Andy made Antigua yesterday. I am excited to cross his path.
The world turns, times change, but rivers still run to the sea. Guatemala is the place where I may soon meet the Hobo Traveler.
I am thinking over the ways that I can get from Copan to Antigua. The Guatemala border is only 12 km from where I am standing, and I think that Antigua is only a few hours beyond that. I am close. There are tourist shuttle buses that leave from Copan and go directly to Antigua which I could hop for $12. Or I could go my usually route and take the local bus and maybe keep a few more dollars safe inside my pocket. Though it is looking like this route is full of potholes, as I will probably have to transfer local buses twice before getting to Antigua. The bus from Copan goes to the border, where I will probably have to catch another bus to Guatemala City, and then another bus from there before getting to Antigua.
I am thinking that it may be almost the same price and less of a hassle to just ride the $12 tourist shuttle rather than three different local buses. I will have to look into this. If I can get a local bus to Antigua from the Honduran border then I will definitely take it, as it is usually a far more interesting ride. I also enjoy being able to ride out the day without being able to fully understand what my fellow bus mates are saying. But if it would be silly to not take the direct shuttle - if the locals will cost about the same - I will pack up my pride and pile in with the rest of the khaki-clad tourists for the joy ride to Antigua. I am hoping for a straight running local bus, but from looking at the maps, I do not think that this is a possibility.
I have no need to go to Guatemala City, even if it is just to change buses.
Wade from Vagabond Journey.com
Copan Ruinas, Honduras
March 28, 2008
3 comments:
From reading your blog I was really impressed with all the places you have been. I was a bit surprised though that you had that negative reaction about your visits to costa Rica, quite frankly am now at wits end as to who i should believe about Costa Rica you or this site http://www.costaricahq.org You make it sound so horrid and they make it sound so good.
Hey Wade,
Copan - Antigua 12 bucks? You'd be hard pushed to do it on local busses for that price (when u consider the little tranferry bits in between and the 'admin fees' levied by guatemalan officials at the border etc when you cross on your own.
Only one border did i not ever get asked to pay for the privaledge of entering or leaving the country - and i must have gone in and out through various different borders at least 14 times last year. Obviously the more touristy ones are the worst - and the one on the route between copan and guatemala city must be 'numero uno'
That said - in the end i got sick of it (even though it was usually only a dollar or 2) and just refused to pay. In the end Id have been prepared to stand at the kiosk all day and argue the toss. I had the patter sorted after a while and then enjoyed the free crossings after that. :)
Also with the transport its a bit of a pain in the ass when you get to guatemala city (where you will have to change for antigua). I ended up walking about 20 blocks through some right iffy places their (and i mean iffy by my dubious standards), asking people every few blocks where the station was. I found it eventually but it was pretty unpleasant. Normally it wouldnt be a problem, im used to walking with my pack - but the dudes in this back street market i cut through watching me whilst tapping machetes on the sides of the stands, nah, didnt like that one little bit.
Anyhow - its just my two cents. everyone has different experiences of certain transits.
Haha, Thanks for the advice. I figured out the cost to take the three locals and it comes out to 10 dollars. .. so I would only be saving myself two dollars by going this route.
My pride would have to save more than that!
Riding the Khakis!
Haha
Wade
Post a Comment