I was on my way to an airport again, as Maggie, who had crossed Africa with me was flying into Guatemala City from Ireland for a month of riding through Central America. She looked very relieved to see me waiting for her - the last she had heard I was still in California and partying a bit.
Maggie and I had previously crossed Africa together on Thelma so she was ready for anything including the hell raising ride out of Guatemala City in the dark. We stayed in Antigua, Guatemala for a week, attending Spanish school; I took Thelma in one day for a lesson on the Spanish words for the bike parts. A Cuba Libre or two was also part of the educational experience!! The national drink and an essential part of our Guatemalan experience or so everyone assured us.
We explored the countryside around Antigua and headed out to Lake Atitlan, and had a memeorable day with our friend Tobias on Thelma with us - the local guys just stared at Tobias, riding through town with two chicas on one bike. I should add that it is actually quite comfortable on Thelma with three people (as long as none of them are fidgeters) and we had previously travelled three-up for a couple of days in India.
We explored Guatemala, going first to Tikal to see the Mayan ruins in the jungle, we camped close to the ruins, and as the night drew in the mysterious jungle noises started up around us increasing in volume and intensity, or was that just the disco in the distance?