Into Guatemala

What a great first day in Guatemala!

I must admit to feeling a bit of trepidation last night and this morning. The Guatemalan borders are renowned for being burocratic and the necessity for bribes. Also in recent years there have been a high number of armed robberies on some of the roads around the popular tourist areas. So although this is one of the countries I'd been really looking forward to on this trip my excitement had been tempered slightly. This day has allayed that.

I got a reasonably early start to the border and in no time at all I was done with the formalities and on my way cycling down Guatemalan Highway 2. This was the quickest and easiest crossing I've had and if the 20 pesos I did pay for the privilege of my 90 day visa was a bribe it's the best one ever as that's less than one pound and significantly less than the 20 dollars for the US or Mexico. The most difficult thing was convincing the emigration officers that I didn't need them to give me free water and drinks :)

The people here have continued the open curiosity and friendliness I'd come to expect in Mexico Almost everyone I pass on the road gives me a wave or a word of welcome and when I stop there's always someone to ask where I'm going, where I've come from and so on. Tomorrow I turn inland and head into the mountains to Quetzaltenango and then spend the next few days heading through the highlands on my way to Antigua.