I entered Guatemala together with Matt on the 10.01.2006. (I met Matt a couple of days earlier). The border crossing was a bit confusing with about 10 different cabins to pass by. We eventually got in and first had to deal with some money exchangers for a good exchange rate! We then headed up the hill to Coatepeque.
left: (10.01.2006) The market place seen from the hotel room in Coatepeque. Coming in from Mexico it is shocking to see the extreme poverty in Guatemala. It breaks ones heart but the people are so extremely friendly and helpfull and they always have a smile on their faces!
The woman selling bread in huge baskets on their push-bikes. (Coatepeque).
left: Matt enjoying his first local Guatemalan beer. It is tradition that after entering in a new country, we need to taste the local beer first! Note the size of the beer bottles in Guatemala. 1 litre! So if someone tells you he has had 4 beers then he will probably not be walking straight!
right: Matt on his bike. The panamerican highway in Guatemala passes banana plantations and sugarcane fields.
Matt and I were accompanied by police and 2 heavily armed soldiers for a long stretch along the Panamerican highway. After Matt and I separated, the police guided me all the way to the next town. It was quite a lot of pressure on me, whenever I stopped they asked "are you sure you do not want a lift". "no, not at all but I do get thirsty and need a rest every 20 to 25km" Then they took note of all my details. They needed to know where I was going, when I will leave the hotel etc etc. Apparently it is their duty to guide cyclists along the dangerous 'drug route'!
left: (11.01.2006) A retired Guatemalan couple invited us for beers at a roadside restaurant. Guatemalan hospitality! Matt and I also separated on this day, Matt continued up to Quezaltenango to study Spanish while I continued on along the panamerican highway.
right: Cocales with volcano 'Atitlan' in the background. I stayed in a cheap hotel in the village of cocales for one night before leaving the next morning.
I rode on to Escuintla. A very lively but poor city. The church was the only impressive thing to look at and so instead of my planned rest day, I continued on the next day. During the night, slight earth tremors woke me up 3 times!.
right: The panamerican highway leaves Escuintla and passes a series of volcanoes. Volcan Pacaya still being active, always spews gases out of it's summit! In the foreground are the sugarcane fields!
left: Lago Grande near the El Salvador border. The scenery in Guatemala is amazing!
right: Near the end of another hot and humid day of riding. Sweat runs down my face while climbing one of the last little hills of the day! El Salvador here we come!
left: (10.01.2006) The market place seen from the hotel room in Coatepeque. Coming in from Mexico it is shocking to see the extreme poverty in Guatemala. It breaks ones heart but the people are so extremely friendly and helpfull and they always have a smile on their faces!
The woman selling bread in huge baskets on their push-bikes. (Coatepeque).
left: Matt enjoying his first local Guatemalan beer. It is tradition that after entering in a new country, we need to taste the local beer first! Note the size of the beer bottles in Guatemala. 1 litre! So if someone tells you he has had 4 beers then he will probably not be walking straight!
right: Matt on his bike. The panamerican highway in Guatemala passes banana plantations and sugarcane fields. 
Matt and I were accompanied by police and 2 heavily armed soldiers for a long stretch along the Panamerican highway. After Matt and I separated, the police guided me all the way to the next town. It was quite a lot of pressure on me, whenever I stopped they asked "are you sure you do not want a lift". "no, not at all but I do get thirsty and need a rest every 20 to 25km" Then they took note of all my details. They needed to know where I was going, when I will leave the hotel etc etc. Apparently it is their duty to guide cyclists along the dangerous 'drug route'! 
left: (11.01.2006) A retired Guatemalan couple invited us for beers at a roadside restaurant. Guatemalan hospitality! Matt and I also separated on this day, Matt continued up to Quezaltenango to study Spanish while I continued on along the panamerican highway.
right: Cocales with volcano 'Atitlan' in the background. I stayed in a cheap hotel in the village of cocales for one night before leaving the next morning.
I rode on to Escuintla. A very lively but poor city. The church was the only impressive thing to look at and so instead of my planned rest day, I continued on the next day. During the night, slight earth tremors woke me up 3 times!.
right: The panamerican highway leaves Escuintla and passes a series of volcanoes. Volcan Pacaya still being active, always spews gases out of it's summit! In the foreground are the sugarcane fields!
left: Lago Grande near the El Salvador border. The scenery in Guatemala is amazing!
right: Near the end of another hot and humid day of riding. Sweat runs down my face while climbing one of the last little hills of the day! El Salvador here we come!