After waiting a few minutes, a huge horn was heard later in the village. Then the sound of a large diesel engine which has reached full speed. The school bus colors chattoyantes pointed the tip of his nose. In turn crowded with people and vehicles, he made his way. In the limit de l'accrochage. On nous fit de grand signes pour sauter dedans. Il était clair que le gros véhicule ne s'arreterait quasiment pas! Sylvie embarqua avec une meute de gens pendant que je lançais les sacs a dos au placier qui était perché sur la galerie. Le moteur grondait. L'embrayage était sur le point de faire décoller le mastodonte. Et aussitôt avais-je mis le pied sur la plateforme que le chauffeur élançait sa machine dans les petites rues encombrées. On ne rigole pas avec l'horaire des bus au Guatemala! Apres avoir réussi a traverser la ville-marché, le chauffeur descendant de Fangio fit chauffer les pneus. 6 vitesses courtes passées avec double débrayage suivies de 6 longues. Le turbo hissed the Traviatta. The exhaust pipe has full spat. The landscape parade. I could not think of the song''reckless driver''of Sinatra. The white band that runs ... Mounted in the winding, a blow horn before turning blind knowledge has allowed those who would cross our path that we will not stop ... and they had better settle. In downhill, we turn to excluding from diving to the inside and take the rope to better stimulate the bus exit. I told you Fangio, is not it? Perhaps a more Alain Prost for the sharpness of its path!
At the appointed hour, we arrived in Guatemala City. The usher cried''Tikal Futura'', named after the huge mall that was presented to our right. It was the owner of the guesthouse told us to go down to take a taxi to the bus station. The bus braked suddenly. The usher was passed through the back door of the bus and was already on the roof in the process of detaching our backpacks. By the time we left, we were ready we started. And once they did they hit the ground as the bus set off again. Also saw that he had stopped. With a huge plume of black smoke and nauseating and more!
Before taking a cab, we returned to the Tikal Futura'''' something to eat. It is well known, all malls have a food court offering all sorts of things to eat. And like everywhere else in the world, we had a choice between McDonalds, Subway, Pizza Hut or a local fast food. In spite, nmous chose the latter. For an amount equivalent to one night in a guesthouse and 2 meals in comedores, we had barely enough to satiate our appetite. And definitely not our taste (is not it Annie?). All around, the middle class of the capital we staring eyes. Not to judge us. But surprised to see 2 aliens in backpack in this high place of consumption. Actually, we do not really feel in our place. Amazing when we know that we frequent the same places every week with us to do our shopping there.
After swallowing our beloved and dear food, we put our bags down on the back to take a taxi. In the escalator, a little girl looked at us and spoke to his mother who seemed Gene ... His daughter had just asked if we were competing in the reality show''The Amazing Race''or teams backpacks are racing around the world. In other words, it allowed us a good laugh!
The taxi driver we sailed for a price quite correct. We set out to cross the city has bad reputation by directing us to the zona''1'', which is the historic center of Guatemala City but also one of the''déicats''(do not worry Annette, we pay attention). Most streets were deserted (normal, we were on Sunday in a very Catholic country). A single artery seemed more animated. The taxi driver stopped before a huge metal gate guarded by an officer with a shotgun. Behind, 3 buses labeled DNA: we had arrived. We dropped our bags inside and bought our tickets. We were left with only 6 hours to wait, since we took a night bus to get to Flores, 8 hours drive from. We're
emerged from the bus station to dive into the unknown in this city stigmatized for its dangerousness. Without backpacks. Just a little money to eat something and buy something to cool us. About 10 blocks away, we skirted along the boulevard that led to the central square of Guatemala City. Desert. Neither more nor less than the streets of a French town after a Sunday afternoon ... On the sidewalk, we proposed to change money. Without animosity. Other people we would smile crossed by sending us a smile back decorated with a buenos dias''''most courteous. Finally, our journey passed without incident until the site. The
, Life had returned to his right. This huge space was surrounded by a church, the presidential palace, a small park and a building along the sidewalk covered by arches. There was an air of carnival. Street performers. Music was full speed. Street vendors. Stalls o eat and drink. Kiosks or have their picture taken in front of monuments or the most money possible kitsch. And the world. Many people. As if to Guatemala City, Sunday, people would break into two groups: one in the malls and the other on the main square! We spent nearly two hours at this location. As we stroll. By sitting and watching the air of madness that reigned there.
around 18:00, the place began to empty. Quickly. Almost as soon as the sun was setting. So we quietly made our way back to the bus station. But instead of going through the deserted boulevard we made was the go, we went through a pretty street that served as open air market. The 2 sides of this street market had moved from street vendors, mostly shoes, clothes and CD and DVD pirates. An industry which offered a rather lively animation. Of the 10 blocks from the return repeated the same scenes. All with the utmost respect.
We stopped at the bus station before going to eat. Around 20:30, the streets had become dark and deserted. A 2 blocks away was a''''Pollo Campero, the local fast food chain serving chicken. We've been close. Returning to the bus, we recrossed the street still dark and still empty. But without really having the feeling of being there in danger. Again, everything was very well spent. 22:00
accurate, the bus rushed. We chose the company because DNA although the more expensive (we're talking about a few dollars more than other companies), it was deemed to be most comfortable. Our travel experiences bus d enuuit nous ont apprises que vous etes parfois mieux de payer ces quelques dollars de plus et d'avoir une petite nuit de sommeil que de vouloir économiser ''un gros 2 piasses'' et arriver le lendemain matin toutcourbaturé et sans avoir fermé l'oeil de la nuit...
Les rangées étaient de 3 confortables sieges tres inclinables et proposant aux passagers un maximum de dégagent pour les jambes. Tout juste avant le départ, une hotesse nous avait remis a chacun un petit sac en papier contenant une bouteille de jus d'orange et des biscuits. Belle attention. Apres avoir traversé la ville, nous avons pis la route principale en direction de Flors, dans la région du Peten, au nord du pays. Et c'est la que la route s'arreta pour moi. A 6h00, alors que le soleil se levait, nous ouvrions les yeux. Quelques minutes plus tard, notre chauffeur s'engageait sur un pont qui menait a un village formant une presqu'ile sur un lac. Une sorte de Mont Saint Michel gautémalteque. Il imobilisa l'autobus, se leva et nous lança ''Flores'': nous étions arrivés!
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