John and I decided to spend a night in Guatemala City in order to purchase tickets for the four of us to cover the first leg of our planned journey which will commence this coming Tuesday. We caught a shuttle which we shared with two others just a block away from where we live. It took us perhaps the better part of an hour to go the forty kilometers. Before we reached our destination in Zona 10, we lost one passenger whose destination we reached before ours. Then we circled into the Zona Viva where our hotel, the Stofella is situated. The final passenger was heading for the Teligua bus terminal where he was going to catch a bus which would take him on the five-hour stint to Puerto Barrios. He would then catch a water shuttle to his hometown in Belize, Punta Gorda.
Our driver left us at the gate and we felt we were in pretty familiar territory. Zona 10 is perhaps one of the safest and enjoyable places in the capital city. We checked into the hotel where we had stayed many time in the past and were shortly in our room. We had not eaten anything since breakfast so we were ready to hike to Cafe San Martin which was just a short block away. They have a bakery connected to their establishment so we of course had to look at the case. We settled on salad and sandwich and John had a pasta dish. We did finish it up with coffee and tea with some sweets from the case! Then back to the room for a good night's rest.
The next morning after the hotel's buffet breakfast we set out for the Intercontinental Hotel where we talked with the concierge to gain knowledge about ticketing for our trips. We found that the only ticket it was wise to purchase in Guatemala City was the one we would be using on Tuesday for travel from the capital to El Salvador. The reason being that Guatemala would impose taxes on purchases for travel outside of the country and El Salvador would not. So, we have tickets in hand for the first leg and will attend to the remaining three in El Salvador and Costa Rica.
After ticket purchase we found Cafe Barista a branch of which is also in Antigua and had coffee and tea. Then to the hotel for check out and a short ride in a taxi to the terminal of the chicken bus that would take us back to the door of the Philippi compound. Our fares for the taxi and chicken bus rides totaled $11.49 to make the 50 kilometer ride. Of course it was necessary to hang tightly to the chrome bars above the backs of the seats in the bus to stay put in our seats.
After about an hour we were at the gate and here we are for a spell.
The next morning after the hotel's buffet breakfast we set out for the Intercontinental Hotel where we talked with the concierge to gain knowledge about ticketing for our trips. We found that the only ticket it was wise to purchase in Guatemala City was the one we would be using on Tuesday for travel from the capital to El Salvador. The reason being that Guatemala would impose taxes on purchases for travel outside of the country and El Salvador would not. So, we have tickets in hand for the first leg and will attend to the remaining three in El Salvador and Costa Rica.
After ticket purchase we found Cafe Barista a branch of which is also in Antigua and had coffee and tea. Then to the hotel for check out and a short ride in a taxi to the terminal of the chicken bus that would take us back to the door of the Philippi compound. Our fares for the taxi and chicken bus rides totaled $11.49 to make the 50 kilometer ride. Of course it was necessary to hang tightly to the chrome bars above the backs of the seats in the bus to stay put in our seats.
After about an hour we were at the gate and here we are for a spell.
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