El Fuego
We reach the place that all camping-car drivers in love with volcanoes pass on.
It is located a few km from the volcano " El Fuego " and the view from the hotel terrace is sublime.
The road is paved on most of the way.
However, to reach the village, we need to take a steep stretch of road where two vehicles cannot cross.
It is our worst driving experience. Even worth than the one we had in "Baja California".
First challenge : Our "faithful GPS" tells us to take a road to the right and barely 100 m after, two young girls tell us that it is impracticable ... we are forced to go backwards ... then to make a start in a slope (more than 20%) ... the motor growls .... the wheels are spinning .... but we manage to leave.
Second challenge: a car in front of us climbs the road at 2km/h ... we are forced to stop ... the hand brake has a lot of difficulty to retain the camper ... we put a wedge to maintain it ... try to start in the slope .... we try several times .... There is no point !!!
We are afraid of damaging the clutch and of not being able to start again ... Anxiety rises …
What to do: either go back down to the last crossroad or try again ...
We opt for the second solution .... the clutch smokes and the wheels spin .... Miracle : the camper starts .... but without Jean Pierre removing the wedge ... To avoid stopping in the slope Christophe drives up to a flat section .... Jean Pierre joins him after "climbing" 30 minutes .... ouf ! We are out of this drag.
We reach the hotel by a superb asphalt road ... !!!
The sky is overcast this early afternoon and there is no view of the volcano.
We didn’t go through all this to see nothing !!!
But we’re lucky, by nightfall the sky clears up and the show begins.
We are witnessing an extraordinary representation ... one of the wonders of "mother nature"
Christophe sets his tripode and adjusts his camera ... He stays from 7 pm to 11 pm on the terrace to catch beautiful pictures.
Lake Atitlan
We’re heading to Lake Atitlan.
The lake’s vast expanse of water reflects the majesty of the three volcanoes that surround it.
The daily life of the Indians " cakchiquels" and tzutuhils " of the coastal villages takes place in a sumptuous setting. Everyone wears their traditional costume.
We set down at " Panajachel ", known in the pre-Columbian era as "Ahachel" or " Place of reeds and healers ".
At the time of colonization, the village was placed under the protection of Saint Francis and was then called San Francisco Panahachel, then Panajachel.
At an altitude of 1573 m and on the edge of one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, we appreciate the very pleasant climate.
We stay 4 days and take "lanchas" to visit the surrounding villages ... very nice tours.
We celebrate "Christmas" with other campers we have met before:
"Doris and Hans" "Lisa and Stef" "Suzanne and Jens" and "Angelika and Michael"
Everyone prepares a dish that we share outside, overlooking the lake and the volcanoes ... very beautiful evening. We do not attend Christmas Mass which takes place at 8 o'clock but appreciate many fireworks.
Every church, hotel, restaurant and private citizen celebrate the arrival of Christ in an explosion of colors but also with the sound of firecrackers
ROAD BOOK 079
MAVROS ODYSSEE