Highway of Hell & Poptun

The next day we started on the Highway of Hell, aptly named. We're back on those colourful powerful buses and only slow down once - to look over the edge of a canyon at the now famous bus that didn't make it! Part way along this 15 hour journey we stopped at a commune style farm in Poptun. Finca Ixobel was a great place for everyone to recharge their batteries, enjoy a spot of caving, western style horseriding or just lie in those very comfortable hammocks. The farm is run on an honours system, where money is only needed on the last day when you leave and the great book is opened to reveal your purchases, all noted down in your own handwriting.
Animals and birds are ever present here, including a tame Spider Monkey (who is a kleptomaniac), several tame Macaws who like pancakes and a Honey Bear (a bit like a nice possum) that will eat anything it can lay its hands on.
 
 

Oh dear, back to the last part of the Highway of Hell, and those who went horseriding are really regretting their decision now. I, however, did not and proceeded to display my wonderful ability to sleep anywhere - much to the consternation of other passengers whom I very nearly landed on a number of times. Yes, the journey was long but definitely not to be missed, the scenery was even better than before and the close companionship of the locals was even closer this time. One word of warning - try not to sit at the back of the Guatemalan buses, they have a short wheelbase and a large overhang of the bus's body at the rear. This just serves to accentuate the bumps even more, so sit near the middle if you can.