They stole my damn dental floss...

...and almost everything else of value that I own. Thus, my first day in Guatemala wasn´t spent admiring volcanos and talking with locals. Rather, it was spent at the American Embassy applying for a new passport, canceling credit cards, and grieving over the loss of all my camera equipment. Oh well, I was bound to happen sooner or later. I have covered way too many miles over the past several years not to have been robbed. I am just upset because it was aviodable and will prove to be extremely expensive. Live and learn. On the bright side, a number of gracious people helped me yesterday. The man and his family who offered me money and lunch was more than touching. The nice Guatemalan girl who gave me her e-mail address, phone number, and a recommendation for a place to stay proved very useful. And all the people at the Los Lagos Bed and Breakfast for trying to cheer me up. I thank all of them.

Now I find myself in the back room of a small paper store in "Chi Chi" Guatemala. I arrived here a couple hours ago via a chicken bus from Guatemala City. Chi Chi was my second choice, the first being Xela, which did not occur due to my stupidity on the bus yesterday. I would love to post pictures of this rough highland town, but I can´t, as my camera was lost in the fiasco. The bus ride was very memorable. Think elementary school bus, but with 3-4 adults to each seat and a driver who was trying to beat his own personal Guat City to Chi Chi land speed record. Did I think we were going to make it safely? Sort of. But did we? Yes.

Anyhow, this is going to be a short entry. As I write I realize it I am not really in the mood to do so. I will spend two nights here before heading back to Guatemala City to pick up my friend Tayllor. From there it will be off to Antigua, with many more stops throughout Guatemala to follow. I must say, while I have only been here for a couple days I am ready to see a familiar face.