After filling up nicely with a huge breakfast (you never know when your next meal is in these type of trips : ), we took possession of the motorcycles, signed the papers, loaded our panniers, checked the routes and gear ... and we were off.
The first day in a new country is always a joy! It is all about observing and learning, as fast as possible, the driving style and unspoken etiquette rules of the road ... every country is different ... Guatemala is a bit strange ... nice cars and very old cars together ... some moving fast others very slow ... big powerful motorcycles (BMWs, Triumphs, Hondas) together with small Chinese motorcycles ... good drivers, and terrible drivers ... all coexisting on the same roads ... with no real rules (i.e., pass anywhere, do anything, but be careful) ... like I said, always a joy!
After a brief ride up the mountain to Juan's house (two up, me driving, Juan in the back, on an automatic motorcycle ... a very weird and powerful 1200 Honda Africa Twin), we stopped at Juan's house to pick up his motorcycle.
The road to the border was typical Central America ... video game style ... buses, people, tuk-tuks, dogs, farm animals... but it was a wide road and with little traffic. We dropped from an altitude of 8,000ft to around 1,000ft at the border. Temperature rose from 60 degrees to 80 quickly.
The mountains around here are always beautiful ... so many unspoiled green spaces ... so many high mountains and perfectly formed volcanoes ... population centers are dense which leaves nature outside them largely untouched ... no sprawl.
Crossing borders is always an adventure ... it may take you 15 minutes or 12 hours. The Guatemala-El Salvador border is demarcated by the Paz River and a nice long bridge over it. This border was odd on both sides ... everybody was in a good mood ... everybody was helpful ... not bureaucratic at all ... everything was clean ... easy in ... easy out. Yes!
Our first stop in El Salvador was at the famous Las Pampas steak house in the Ruta de las Flores (the route of the flowers) which goes through coffee plantations, farms, great twisties, valleys, mountains, and great pavement. Amazing beef broth to warm up!
We then headed to our destination for the night on the rim of the Coatepeque volcano's caldera ... what a surprise this whole part of the day was ... huge caldera which forms the huge Coatepeque lake, great roads, great views ... and at the very top of Cerro Verde (a national park), hundreds of cars and motorcycles there to see the sunset. Looks like we timed our arrival perfectly : )
Our hotel is on the edge of the volcanos's rim with views and balconies to both sides or the rim ... to the inside of the volcano, Coatepeque Lake, and to the outside the Santa Ana volcano and the Pacific Ocean beyond. A truly unique location with great architecture.
After a great pupusa dinner at the hotel we all went to bed early ... a long day full of things to remember!
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