Trip Report

Back from 2 weeks or so in Guatemala;

Daughter wanted to do a week in Spanish school so we did a week at La Union. Still a good school. Lot of friendly people. Daughter stayed with family; I stayed in Guest house--both were fine. My teacher apologized on 3rd day of school for over estimating my intelligence. Fooled her!

Did weekend trip to Coban--so-so--nice but wouldn't bother doing it again. Left night before the flood hit killing 9 people.

Volcan Fuego near Antigua erupted one night--VERY impressive--locals said it was best show in 35 years. Numerous tourists signed up to go on closer tour of Fuego the next night to take pictures and no eruption--of course.

Antigua; Nice as always but I miss the guys with automatic weapons. Couple guys with shotguns and a few soldiers with M-16s loafing near the Parke Central but just not the same as a few years ago when if something happened, all of Parke Central would have been knee deep in empty brass cartridge cases.

Locals were bitching because the Mayor won't blacktop the cobble stone streets.

Lot of extremely big gringas walking around with pet Guatemalan kids they adopted.

As always, Antigua was full of extremely good looking young women in town for Spanish School.

Walking around I saw loads of notes stapled to doors offering 2 bedroom apartments for $250 a month. Talked to several Europeans who found nice places with breakfast for $10 or $11 a night. Walked around checking out hotels and found that if you want a courtyard/fountain, it's going to cost about $25 a night more. Still hard to beat Santa Lucia--Oh--- so many tourists in town that all of the Santa Lucia Hotels were open--thought that only happens for Easter.

Lynching in nearby town--couple guys stole a car from a local. Towns people caught them, beat them up and immolated one guy. Lot of pictures in the newspaper--looked like a Bhuddatist monk back in RVN. Paper interviewed locals who said it was the fault of the police--if they won't do anything about crime, the locals will. Explained to me that the locals are getting very tired of local crime and are going to clean up their problems themselves.

Horror story--After a week in school, we got a hotel --Colonial-$45 a night with paper thin walls--because my cousin was flying in from California. United managed to lose the luggage of about a third of the passengers. United promised to deliver her luggage to our Hotel by noon the next day. No luggage by 11 so we called United. Yes, they had her luggage and No, they don't deliver luggage. Said we would be right down to pick up her luggage. Was advised that United will only let you pick up luggage between 9 & 10 in the morning. Had to stay an extra day in Antigua because of United. She got her luggage the next morning and her prescription medication and cosmetics were missing. United Rep. said, "tough shit".

Cosmetics--teachers at La Union said that the women teachers always like a small gift of perfume as it is extremely expensive in Guatemala. Gave them Spanish books, since I don't use perfume.

Off to Pana: Shuttle took the short cut because of road construction--took 4 hours to get there. Came into Pana along the Rio Pana rather than going thru Solola. Stayed at Utz Jay--prices are now $37 rather than $20 like last year. Hotels in Pana were Full. Didn't realize how thin the walls were at Utz Jay because last time there was no one there. Still a very nice place to stay; friendly staff & dogs.

Pana: "Jesus, King of Kings Tacoria" was no where in sight. However there are signs all over San Pedro in Spanish saying that Jesus is coming. Suppose he is wheeling his cart around the lake--must have forgot how to walk on water.

Internet Cafe in Pana has wooden computers. Guess someone beat the customs duty by only bring in the guts to the computers and building them in wooden boxes--they work great.

Lake Atitlan--for some reason the lake's currents seem to have driven every float-able plastic water bottle in Central America into the middle of the lake. The locals don't carry plastic water bottles, so it's the tourists who are at fault for not drinking the local water. Speaking of water--In Antigua locals were bitching about the high amounts of CL2 in the drinking water. Said it's killing their house plants. Only smelled it a few times while drinking from the tap & it didn't smell unusually strong to me.

San Pedro--The coffin store was closed so I couldn't get a picture of me laying in one. Not sure if a 6 ft male would fit in a Mayan coffin but I suppose they could cut off my legs at the knees and tie shoes to the stumps.

Weather--3 days of very heavy rain due to Tropical storm in Pacific--that's what I was told. Rest of time the weather was great even though locals were saying it was the hottest "invierno" on record.

Montrrico--ran out of time and didn't get there---But there was a picture in the Revue showing a paved road in Montirrico!!! They probably don't let the pigs in the restaurants now or burn their garbage in the Cemetery! Progress sucks!

All in all, it was another great trip--But the sense of danger is gone. Friendly people everywhere; no military road blocks; no Death Squads cleaning up the drunks; no cars with bullet holes, etc.

Flew back by going South to CR & Panama border then heading East to get around the Hurricane. Never expected that--thought we'd be sitting in the airport a few days waiting for the hurricane to pass. Airport--It is completely different from last year! No place to change money now!