Hey there, I just came back from Guatemala myself a little while ago (solo female traveler) and had a really great time. I have to say, like you, I was a bit nervous after hearing all the stories, but to tell you the truth, I think things were are hyped up. Aside frm Guatemala city, which I found to be a bit sketchy, the rest of guatemala was simply amazing- no problems, great people, great times!! Offcourse, as when traveling anywhere, you watch your valuables, don't go out walking alone at night down darkk alleys; the usual spiel for any country. And as for all those people that report being mugged etc, it happens most often when they wander off the paths while hiking and are completely alone (or at least was the case with people I spoke with). So just don't go off by yourself hiking on paths that people tell you are not safe, easy as that:) So I wish you a fantastic trip, try not to worry now, once you're there you'll what I mean. Happy travels!
hermes
THe warnings are a holdover from the Conflict. The Conflict is over, though there are certainly people who come on TT wanting to dredge it all up...over and over. One or two of them report having lost family members during the conflict and are bitter about that. WHile their bitterness is human, it is a shame they will never realize that Guatemala has gotten better. The quality of life for almost everyone has improved since the Peace Accords. Tourism has flourished. Services and roads have improved and income has risen for people who accept paid work. Even life among the indigena has improved in many areas due to family members sending remittances from the USA and tourism in their areas among their families taking in homestay tourists.
What is happening in GUatemala is what happened in Europe and America generations ago.....a shift from an agrarian economy to a commercial one. THose who have made the shift, increase their standard of living dramatically.
Those of us who love aspects of the indigena culture and romanticize it , mourn the losses this shift entails (the Mayan artistic sensibility as exhibited in their weaving is but one example). But for many of the indigena, the earning of an income is a step forward out of the milpa. This process of ladinization has only accelerated since the Accords. Money, tourism, and emigration is doing what generations of Spanish effort could not.
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