American street seller

11am - I am eating breakfast at Ricassoli. On the street in front of the restaurant, an American has set up a business selling rocks and rocks made into jewelry.

I asked him if he had to obtain a permit to do this business here in Panajachel. "No", he told me. I'm going to ask other street vendors the same question.

Can anybody sell stuff here?

Embarcadero
1:30pm - I've strolled down to the embarcadero. That's where the ferry boats tie up. The ferrying business to me looks terrible! If business is terrible for the ferry boats, it must be a disaster in the smaller lake shore towns.

El Mirador
2pm - I'm at a lake view table in El Mirador Restaurante. I am one of only two customers in this restaurant which has perhaps 80 tables.

I've ordered a "naranjada" [orange juice+water+ice]. I'm using El Mirador's WiFi to post to you.

The lack of business here at El Mirador has got me to wondering what is "the thing" that puts the match to worldwide prosperity? And it comes to me that when things are good for workers in the United States, things tend to be good all over the planet. It's the dribble down economic idea.

Maybe when the geniuses dreamed up exporting American jobs and the stupid mortgage thing, they actually shot themselves in the foot.

Way down that economic line, the result is empty ferry boats here at the Panajachel Embarcadero.

Ferry boats at Embarcadero Panajachel

Coffee with Andy
6:30pm - I had not met with Andy [HoboTraveler.com] for a couple of days. So, I sent him an email. Immediately I received and email back. And we met for coffee at Cafe Kitsch.

I get a kick talking with Andy. He is a very interesting person!

Restaurante Tuscani
8pm - Ever since I first ate supper at Restaurante Tuscani last week, I wanted to return. This place makes really great food. And I like the atmosphere!

Last time here, I ordered pasta. Wonderful raviolis! This time I went for their Rib Eye Steak. I have not eaten any steak since arriving in Guatemala.

When my steak arrived, it appeared to be a great steak! However, when it came to the eating, not nearly as good as the looks.

Taste, less than good. Toughness, not so good either. So, the best part of this rib eye steak was its look!

Good looking, but not good eating steak

Shops close up early
9:30pm - Instead of riding back to Hotel El Amigo in a Tuk Tuk, I decided to walk. Because I was close to my 6500 steps per day goal.

The shops along Avenida Santander close earlier than I had imagined. And that closing made my walk a bit ominous.

However, nothing unusual happened during my walk. And the locals that I saw walking, did not appear to be concerned with their safety.

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Hotel El Amigo Location

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