In Defense of San Pedro

I started this post from Guatemala and just got around to finishing it....

Here's the deal with San Pedro. It's kinda like that girl that went a little wild in college but is trying to pull it together to become more grounded and sophisticated and she can't quite shake the reputation.

But there are some really wonderful things in San Pedro - yummy mochas and hot spring pools to start. If you want to find the pools though, you better have a sense of adventure - they are halfway between the two ports, down a winding, rural path that doesn't seem like it will lead anywhere.

And then of course there's the cool way that you get there, by boat!

While it's not pretty, the area near the eastern port is fascinating, providing up close views of the devastation the rising lake has caused.

Near the center of town, the church grounds are beautiful...gardens, manicured greenery, statues, and of the course the beauty of the church itself.

And because much of my business is with schools and education, I couldn't help but snap a shot of the equivalent of their district office.

There are carefully constructed paver roads as well as single person paths that start in cornfields (like the one below that we took to the hot pools.)

There is also a very European-feeling part of town that boasts fantastic restaurants like La Puerta with it's yummy food and beautiful spaces.

As well as a lovely bakery with the most delicious macaroon cookies and chocolate croissants. The price you see, 10Q, is the equivalent of $1.25.

You have to suspend your western sensibilities to truly enjoy San Pedro. The roads won't necessarily look like roads, and the signs won't exactly use correct grammar,  but at least they attempted.

San Pedro isn't perfect. There is an incredibly steep climb to get to the center of town (much like half the towns around the lake.) It has a reputation for attracting the party people and staying loud into the early morning hours. We wouldn't know, we visited during the public boat hours (with the exception of the night we didn't make it to the port on time and had to hire a private boat - not recommended.)

It's not the cleanest town, not the biggest either. But it has a great daytime vibe - many different cultures that mingle more here than other lake towns, art galleries, tasty restaurants, a great farmers market that is open every day, and a pretty extensive health food market. WHEN we go back, we won't be staying there, but it will definitely be a regular visit.