Hurry up and wait.

Just a head’s up…the following is a bit of a rant.
I already talked about our crazy driver from Antigua, Guatemala to Panajachel, Guatemala. But, what I didn’t say, was why he might have been such a maniac.
When we finally arrived in Panajachel, on the shores of Lake Atitlan, he took us to our hotel. We were basically thrown a room key and remote control, and told to be back at the van ASAP.
Well, before either of us has had time to do anything (go to the bathroom after a long and very stressful trip maybe), the driver lays on the horn of the van.
We rush out, and we’re driving (crazily again) to the dock. The dock is only 4 blocks away. We could have walked.

The driver opens the door, and tosses us out. We then stand at the dock and wait for 30 minutes.
I don’t know what we’re waiting for.
Eventually we’re told that our boat has arrived, and it’s time to get on. The challenge with the marina in Panajachel is that it’s crowded.
So crowded, in fact, that the boats literally stack on top of each other. We had to board one boat, and crawl over 2 others to get to our boat.
We then sat on the boat…for another 30 minutes. I don’t know what the driver was doing… we had paid for his services for the whole day. (Part of the tour package.)
I’ll skip talking about our day for now, and just talk about the waiting, because that’s what this post is about…
After our last stop of the day, we’re told that our boat will leave promptly at 2:00pm. We’re on time.
Our boat driver takes us to the boat, and puts us on. Then he leaves.
He’s gone for AN HOUR AND A HALF.
If we’re not leaving until 3:30pm, that’s fine. That’s great in fact. I want more time to explore.
But don’t tell me 2:00 and then sit around shooting the breeze until 3:30 when you feel like leaving.
I know I’m not alone in this, but I also know that there are many people who disagree…
However, when you’re late for a time you’ve set with me, what that means to me is that you think your time is more valuable than mine.
Take your time, just please don’t take mine.

Related posts:

1. 3 city boat tour around Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
2. The Most Terrifying Ride Of My Life…(So Far)
3. Wanted: Great Travel Agent
4. Posts you may have missed
5. Podcast #5: The Northern Part of Central America