July 19, 2008 - Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

"You say you want a revolution
Well you know
We'd all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well you know
We'd all want to change the world..."
~Beatles

In Guatemala, Lake Atitlan is known as the center of the Universe, where the "God seeds of mankind evolved". Located high in the mountains, surrounded by three major volcanoes and 13 distinctively different Mayan villages. No one knows exactly the depth of the lake. Some believe there is no bottom, instead an underground passage linking the lake to the Pacific Ocean.

After a morning hike to the village of Santa Cruz, a boat ride back to Panachel, and a walk around the Solola Market, I ate lettuce. Panachel is nicknamed Gringotenango ("place of the gringo") due to American hippies whom immigrated to the region in the 1960's.

While in the Solola Market decided to buy a handwoven place mat to match my red themed kitchen. The man first quoted 130 Quetzals (about $17). The U.S. Dollar is weak, but that's more than the same place mat in the states. After comparing other shop prices and a little haggling, paid 50 Quetzals (about $7). Still more than in the U.S. From talking with locals, market business in Central American is poor, because the American gringos aren't liberally spending in traditional manner. Apparently, travelers from other countries don't spend like Americans.

On Mr. Toad's Wild Ride back to Antigua, due to heavy rains from Hurricane Dolly, we took a longer driving route on safer roads. The bus contained travelers from six different countries, half English speaking. At one point the three dissident Dutch at the back of the bus decided to drown out the traditional Central American music by playing a Beatles Anthology, brought to us by Ipod. Regardless of native language spoken, when Revolution began to play, the entire bus sang in perfect chorus. It felt like the whole world was asking for change.