guatemala my final thoughts
I was in antigua for 6 days so here it goes.
Women- I already knew there was limited pfp in antigua but I did get laid one night check previous posts for info.Whatever I didn't pay much and I saw more local culture.
Hotel- Do not stay at the villa antigua resort and conference center its a total rip off .The only reason I did is because I bought a package deal from [url]www.pullmantur.com[/url] in el salvador.They do sell bus tickets alone and their bus service is really good.They do all the border crossing paperwork you just sit on the bus and relax.
Do look into this hotel in antigua. Hotel centro colonial antigua 4a calle poniente no.22 502-78321641 [email]juanchew@gmail.com[/email]. I saw this great looking hotel so I went inside to check it out and saw a roomThe rooms are a little small but not by much and they have big tvs with cable access surrounded by beautiful gardens located right where you want to be for $35 single per night.They also accept credit cards.You cant go wrong at least for 1 night to check it out.I would have stayed there if I had known about it and have saved over half my hotel money and I would have been happier.
Bottom line- guatemala is a great place to take photos.Its alot like chiapas mexico rich with culture but costs twice as much.Minus the beautiful old buildings antigua is really dumpy with tons of smog filling the little streets and the food is horrendous.I was mal nourished in antigua and I started getting sick because of it so I only got to see a limited number of towns chichicastenango,pastores and guate.
Antigua is a rip off so only stay as little as you have too.I got tired of dealing with tourist hustle bullshit so I had a bad attitude the last few days.It was just a bummer and the tourist crowd is really boring just average people looking at average shops .Its all geared towards that standard tourist crowd.
Guate seemed a liitle weird even though I was only there for 3 hours on my return to el salvador.I got wierd vibes off the people not as friendly as el salvador.
Antigua Massage Quest Part II
Jackpot! After another depressing visit (with excellent massage) at Antoinette's, at which the massage lady (Toni) got all huffy when I offered her $20 for a happy ending (and there is a chance she thought I meant Q20), I paid a visit to the Nefertari spa at Calzada Santa Lucia Norte #9. It is on the opposite side of the street near the artisan market. This is just a tiny shop, but the massage room is first rate: good table, door, dark, and my masseuse, Maritza, was absolutely fantastic. On the face-up she did the legs with little tucks into the family jewels, and would occasionally brush her breasts on this or that. The old johnson was at full mast the whole time under a towel--the signs were unmistakable.
After a full hour of totally awesome *regular* massage she said she was done, I could rest a while if I liked. Huh? I complemented her on the excellent massage, and said I needed a little more? "A half hour? An hour? " No, I indicated that I needed a little more DOWN THERE and pointed at the indicated region. She seemed truly baffled, and I finally got tactless--"Please, I'm desperate! I'll give you $20 for a massage down there. Why not? It's OK, " and similar begging--except less grammatical in my rotten Spanish.
She gave in, and it did the job, although she didn't show the same skill as she had displayed in every other area. I'll admit I had the feeling that I had seduced a virgin (cad! ), but I asked her if it was the first time that she had given a massage down there and she allowed that it wasn't the first. I'll hold on to that statement to soothe my conscience.
Now I want to go back for straight massage and hope it won't be awkward. I really like Maritza--what a gem. And her shop is fantastic.
Antigua Massage Quest Part III (Conclusion)
I visited several other beauty parlors (with massage, as there are no bona-fide massage parlors) in Antigua before I left this morning.
Here's the bottom line in P4P: You can take your chances at the scary dives on the road to Jocotenango, and if you do GO IN THE DAYLIGHT and make your tuk-tuk or taxi wait. Or you can visit the Nefertiri Spa and let Maritza's magic hands sooth your tired body and work your "intrapiernes" as well. She has the best equipment, darkest room, most relaxing music, and best technique of anyone. On the other hand, I had to coax her EACH TIME and on my last visit she actually held me up for more dough! There I was, my main mast all stepped and ready for tarring, and she wanted MORE. So much for the "gentle virgin of massage" illusion that I had carried until then.
As far as other good massage options, I liked Anne at Claire's, but her massage, although fiercly fast, was a bit hit and miss. The location is great, though. For ambiance (wind chimes, green things all around, fresh breezes blowing through a private sort of upstairs patio), you can't beat the Mayan Spa on Sta. Lucia N. of the artisan market. It was the least intimate, however--even the stomach area was avoided!
So that's that for Antigua. If I ever get back I'll head straight for Maritza's place.
Searching for sex in the back alleys of Antigua
During a business visit to Guatemala (my first time there) I unfortunately had little time for the hobby, but I did my best to suss out the situation in Antigua and I think it's not as bad as has been reported,still not a P4P destination,but if you're there anyway there may be some good hunting.
My first chance came on Sunday afternoon,which I know is not the best day for this in Guatemala,but what the hell, I thought I'd take a look around. La Taverna sounded most interesting although not great, and is described as on the road to Jocotenango. Well I walked to Jacotenango and back and never found anything. That doesn't mean it wasn't there though,as I later discovered that these places have no signs and keep their doors closed. I will say that at least in the day time the walk was perfectly safe.
Back on the north end of town and still horny and with just a little time left I decided to ask a Tuk Tuk driver whether he knew where La Taverna was. Roberto said he did,but if I wanted chicas there were better places,that if I liked he'd show me them and if they weren't what I wanted he'd then take me to La Taverna. Somehow I believed him and said fine. We zipped off to a neighborhood in the general direction of Jacotenango but well off the main road (south of it).
There were three places within a bout a block from each other. Only the second had a sign (Divas) and unfortunately I never got the names of the others. All used a double locked door system for entry and one patted us down thoroughly. All also sported signs that they take credit cards,but in Guatemala 7% or more is always added when you use a card, so I'd take cash.
The first place looked clean but not upscale and had about four girls working, given my low expectations for Guatemala (and a week without sex) I'd say they were doable:fairly young but with the typical thick midsections of the Mayans - I'd rank them 4-6 in Guatemala, but probably 3-5 if I were in Medellin. I tend to favor thin,young and European features. The second place, Divas was sort of catty corner from the first,very large and almost swank inside with lounge type seating and a couple of stripper poles,the rooms were clearly upstairs. The girls were similar,but there was one I'd give a 7 to. I asked if there were more girls than what I saw but was told not on Sunday. Apparently they are open seven days a week,but Thurs through Sat are the big days with stripshows. Monday's okay,Sunday's the worst.
The third place,down an alley from the second had at least a dozen girls, no stunners but some doable, I saw one gorgeous face marred by an odd belly,and okay mid sections marred by sad faces or saggy boobs. I doubt you'll find a pure hispanic working girl in Guatemala,but these were not pure indians either. The problem was they all looked bored and put upon,no one acknowledging my presence even though I was probably the only customer. So I told Roberto we'd go back to Divas because the 7 there had at least smiled at me.
Inside we sat down and I ordered a beer for myself and a club soda for Roberto,the tab was about 30Q which seemed reasonable. I asked Roberto what the price for the girls should be and he didn't know but asked the waitress who appeared to also be available. She said 150-200Q,which is the same as I heard La Taverna is. I checked out all the girls and still felt my 7 was the best,a little thick in the hips for me,but pleasant face,smaller boobs which suggest maybe less children/less sagging(they looked firm in a bra anyway). She turned out to be 23.
When she was walking to the bar I caught her eye and asked if she'd like a drink. She said yes but she wanted to program the juke box first. Bad sign number one, she spent a good ten minutes on the juke box completely ignoring me (I did like her taste in Reggae though). She then sat down and I asked her what she wanted to drink. Bad sign number two,she ordered a Pina Colada, by now I was ready for another beer and the tab for the drinks came to 94 Q,not a fortune,but more than it should have been. She held my hand and stroked my legs,but nothing too sexual,called me "mi amor" and said I had beautiful hair...yea sure.
I was running out of time,so decided to cut to the chase and asked how much to go arriba, bad move as I should have staRTED WITH A NUMBER. She said 300Q for 25minutes, I laughed and said 200Q if it included a BBBJ. She made it quite clear that nothing would be sin condon and then reiterated that it was 300Q. this was annoying me so I waited a bit drinking my beer,but feeling horny finally proposed 200Q and an extra 100Q after wards if it was very good. She re-insisted on 300Q paid up front, so, much to her and my driver's surprise I got up and said we're leaving. Now a hundred Qs is only about $12, not having been laid in a week that really wasn't a big deal,but I knew she was ripping me off and felt there were too many signs that it might be a bad experience,plus she wasn't THAT hot.
If I'd had time I would have gone back to the third club,but needing to meet my business associates I decided to try again on Monday when the pickings should be better. Roberto took me back to my hotel on the far side of town and charged me 50Q which i thought was quite reasonable given his time and help so I gave him 60. He gave me his number for Monday. Monday morning I needed to work,but we wanted a Tuk Tuk so I called Roberto, he got there promptly, and again was quite helpful (he speaks passable English). He was with us for 3 hours,mostly waiting,and charged 350Q...that I thought was steep. Nonetheless,I paid him and told him I'd try to call him in about an hour to go back to the clubs. An hour and a half later I found a two hour window and called Roberto. He was obviously at home (many children in the background) but said he could come immediately. I asked him to meet me in front of the church on the central square. I waited 25 minutes and he never showed. By this point time was getting short: If he didn't show up immediately I wouldn't make it. I could have hopped in another tuk, but didn't want to bother with it if the girls weren't going to be any better than the first time,of course who knows, there might have been a stunner or at least a young slimmer thing (18+). Anyway,I decided to have a really nice lunch instead (contrary to earlier reports, Antigua has superb restaurants).
Conclusion: someone else will have to find out whether there are better chicas on other days and report, I suspect there are,but probably Friday/Saturday. You will not find these places the first time without a guide,but I suspect all the Tuk Tuk and Taxi drivers know them. If you want to try Roberto Cualio his phone number is 43541577 and his tuk number is 138. If you have a good sense of direction and time to spare I think it would be safe to walk back from the clubs in the daytime (usual cautions apply). At night you should have your driver wait,he can come inside and help negotiate.