Thursday, February 7, 2019
Knoxville to Guatemala City
Tom and I left the house muy temprano, then took the following flights:
Delta 1390: Leaving Knoxville at 8:15 a.m., arriving in Atlanta at 9:16 a.m.
Delta 904: Leaving Atlanta at 10:55, arriving in Guatemala City at 1:26 p.m.
We arrived at Guatemala City's La Aurora International Airport at 1:30 p.m., hit the ATM, immigration, and then on to customs. At customs, you give the official the arrival/departure form you filled out on the plane, then press a button that randomly generates either a green or red light. I got green and was good to go, and since Tom and I were together, he got to pass through as well. Those with a red light go a different direction to undergo further scrutiny.
We'd made reservations through Booking.com at Mariana's Petit Hotel, near the airport, and had requested a shuttle. They sent someone to pick us up, who was waiting right outside the airport door with my name written on a whiteboard. On the drive to the hotel, we made arrangements for the driver, Alberto, to pick us up in the morning for a ride to the bus station. We checked in at 2:15.
Our grande room at Mariana's Petit Hotel
Mariana's Petit Hotel is a six-room hotel in a gated colonia (neighborhood). We were in room number 1, a nice, large room with two double beds, a private bath, and a fan. None of the hotels we stayed in in Guatemala had air conditioning. With the year-round springtime temps in this part of the country, they don't need it. There was also a nice terrace right outside our room.
The airy terrace
At 334 quetzales per night (about $44), it was one of the pricier hotels we stayed at, but it is in the big city. Breakfast was included. The hotel owner had some eclectic collections displayed around the place. He saw me admiring his train sets and turned them on. Very nice.
Delightful diorama
We were hungry when we arrived but couldn't find anywhere to eat within walking distance, so Tom inquired about either ordering in or getting a taxi so we could go out. He was told there was a restaurant right next door, but mysteriously, we couldn't find any sign of it. Tom also asked what kind of food they served and was told “good food.” Well, that's vague. Even though the proprietor spoke English, we seemed to be having a communication gap. Tom told the gentleman of our inability to find said restaurant and was told, well, it doesn't open until 7:00, which still really didn't explain why we couldn't find it, but we decided to snack and wait.
The gated colonia is very safe, but there is next to nada to do. We walked all around, visiting a nearby tienda two or three times for dirt-cheap cervezas and snacks. A can of Brahva cost only 4 quetzales (about 55 cents). Score! We enjoyed them on the terrace.
Looking for something to do...
55-cent beers!
At 7:00 we went outside again and STILL couldn't spot this alleged restaurant, so we returned to the hotel and found the proprietor, who then walked us, yes, right next door, where he rang a bell (like a hanging hand-bell, not a doorbell). A side door immediately opened, and we were escorted into what seemed to be perhaps a walled-in porch area with hanging ferns everywhere.
Tom at the off-license restaurant
Jana looking skeptical
There was one table at this “restaurant.” The owner/host/cook moved his computer, and there we sat. We had a few beverage choices and naturally opted for beer (Gallo). We were not given a menu, but rather were presented a plate of food, consisting of spaghetti casserole, three sausage balls (2 chorizo and 1 longaniza), roasted potatoes, broccoli, and, at the end of the meal, candied orange peel. 140Q total ($20). The food was good, and the place was GREAT. Just when we thought we weren't going to do anything today but travel, we had an interesting experience!
Today's special
Earlier we'd bought some rum at the little tienda, .375 liter (about a pint) of Botran Ron Anejo for 60Q. It was good and gave us something to do after our dinner at the unlicensed restaurant.
Tom
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