Good Bye Guatemala

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The journey continues south through southern Guatemala and crossing the border into El Salvador at La Hachadura along the pacific coast. Just a few months ago four of the Central American countries (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua) signed a travel agreement which allows its residents to cross the borders of the participating countries with ease. For people from outside the region (like myself) nothing has really changed (you still have to show your passport but no longer received a stamp) only the 90 day visa now has to suffice for all four countries rather than previously for each country.

But before entering El Salvador I had to first leave Guatemala and my departure was to be accompanied with a scare. I exit the bus at the border crossing along with only a few additional passengers that had remained on the bus until the last stop. I proceed to retrieve my backpack from underneath the bus but the luggage compartment was empty. I ask the conductor who had placed my backpack there where my backpack is and he only looks at me like it was none of his business. Shaking his head he says: “If it is not there then I don’t know either.” I am in complete disbelief about what looks like the theft of all my things. After a few minutes of searching the bus without success the bus driver finally shows up and tells me that he locked my backpack away into another compartment to make sure nothing would happen to it. Sighing a big breath of relief I am on my way to El Salvador.