I went back to the hotel for some kip at 06:30 hrs. but Declan declined to join me as he wanted to take his chances and go to El Salvador for the weekend with Byrn and Pedro. I was too drunk and tired to be bothered.
I slept until 14:00 hrs. and got up and stumbled into town feeling light-headed and seeing odd spots of light in front of my eyes. I needed to change some money for the weekend, but the queues a the banks were massive.
I went to the corner of the plaza where, as usual, there were men offering change. It was an exchange rate of Q2.45 Guatemalan Quetzals per American Dollar, which was worse than the bank rate but was quick and convenient.
I had a couple of much needed Pepsi Colas and a chicken curry on the way back and felt a lot better. Back at the hotel I found Declan who had failed to get to El Salvador. He had got to Guate (Guatemala City) but the car hire place had been trying it on by ramping up the previously quoted price by saying that only bigger, more expensive cars were available today. They told them to shove their hire cars where the sun don’t shine and left in disgust to return to Antigua.
He went straight to bed and I had my daily Spanish lesson at 16:30 hrs. We talked about the gringo Spanish students’ proclivity for getting drunk, partying all night and neglecting their studies. I now understand why the Spanish Language Schools ask for non-refundable full payment in advance.
They start off keen on Monday but by Wednesday they are led astray by the nightlife and the demon drink and think “sod it” and piss it up all night. Lety had Laars and Tamara as Spanish students during the day. Often, they would turn up late in the morning because of the effects of what Byrn called “Quetzal Killer”, the white rum that they use in the Cuba Libres.
The national bird of Guatemala is the Quetzal. It is a bird with a long very delicate tail, a red chest and green feathers like the weeds where it inhabits, with blue hues like the sea.
The national bird of Guatemala is Quetzal was declared as National Ave (bird) by Decree No. 33 of November 18, 1871, by the then president, General Miguel Garcia Granados. It was established on September 5 to enhance its value and meaning.
The Quetzal is part of the Trogon family and is the national bird of Guatemala. It is found both on the country’s flag and coat of arms as well as lending its name to the national currency.
The national bird of Guatemala is Quetzal symbolizes freedom. It is the only bird in the world that, losing its freedom and being caged, dies of sadness. In Guatemala, the authorities protect it because it represents their democracy, freedom, and sovereignty to which, by free decision, are the most important rights chosen by all Guatemalans. Not only does the quetzal represent freedom in traditional Mayan culture but quetzals are also one of the spirit guides, or nahual, of the Maya.
According to the ultimate rum guide at http://ultimaterumguide.com/guatemala/ if you are looking for rum from Guatemala then you have come to the right place, as you will find a great deal of them here.
That evening I went out alone as Declan was still dead to the world. I had dinner in Zen’s Japanese Restaurant and met the English contingent (Kevin, Ann etc.) in Mio Cid’s along with the two Australian girls, one of which had dyed her hair black because Guatemalan men pester blondes.
We sat on the cobblestones outside Mio Cid’s while some locals serenaded the crowd with guitars. We went on to the new bar, but I was tired and went back to the hotel and bed at 23:00 hrs.
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