First impressions of Guatemala

Translated by Google, hopefully is readable :)

From Mexico passes through Belize to the Guatemalan border. Everything is initially other than in Mexico. For the last money I buy pringles at the border, of course, as a gringo I pay three times more.Everywhere armed young boys, soldiers, most of them have probably not even 20 years. They are all over Guatemala. Protection of banks, shops, cafes as well. In one hand, shotgun, the other mob.Even those things You are able to see here.

Young woman sitting on the street with her two small kids asking for some money. Wonderful old shop assistant, who asks me how much it costs the cookies that I want to buy. 4 Q I said, I was paying that much yesterday. She nodded and return me 1 Q from Q 5 bill.

Travelling in chicken buses which are old American school buses still good enough for Guatemala. However, not yellow, but painted in all possible colors, symbols and patterns. At each stop enroll childrens and trying to sell us fruit, chewing gum, chocolate covered bananas for a few Q. Young man give us probably half-hour lesson of the geography of the world and then offer maps around the world for 1 euro. Other children try to outwit us.

We leave kayaks on Lake Atitlan, when the hour after we return, we miss one vest. One of the boys "accidentally" find the vest under the bridge and defame their friends, thieves. For finding it, he is asking money, of course, that we know about them "organized criminal group", but we also know that we wil not miss those few Q and they will be happy that they get some money from gringos. Other kid, a little older, selling drugs, cocaine, weed, mushrooms. After a short conversation we reject everything offered. He just get very angry saying he is gangster of the city and he has friends who kill us. Its funny, teen child threating us with dead. We prefer be quiet, you never know if he doesnt hold any knife or something.

In the village of San Marco we re watching the local soccer league. One team wear jerseys Inter Milan and play only the eighth compared to team of yellow with 11 players. In the middle field of puddle and little green grass in the corners. Some funs, but cops should not be missed. Walking down the street and looking for a restaurant, on each side of the swarm us waiters shouted over one another, fighting for every tourist.

In San Pedro in Lake Atitlan is restaurant overlooking the lake. We order a burger, fries, steak, pizza, more fries, vegetable salad. To drink, we give a Cuba Libre, drink only costs about 10 cents more than a bottle of water. We have six of them, bill is 12 euros and we look forward to how well we purchased.

In Quezaltenango we found a market. Fruit here is like a tile, avocado and mango for that at home we pay quite a lot here grows everywhere. Of course, tastes much much better than ours "Slovak". Amnother morning after a trek to Indian Nose I m waiting for connection to San Pablo. I see some pastries. Tag price is 3Q but old woman asking 3.50 Q. Angrily asking why. I m getting clear answer, tu eres gringo! I'm white and therefore I ve to pay more, that's fair. From the town on the hill of Santa Clara heading down by old pickup. We stand on the back of the car with 7 other people hold the bars along the hull of the car and watching the deep gorge below us. Down we go very slowly. When finally we get to San Pablo, we find out that the brakes do not work out.

In school which I m visiting I m getting some knowledges about Guatamala. The country has problems with racism. Mixed Mayans and Europeans spit upon traditional Indians. The average salary in the country is abou 200 dollars and there are 35% unemployment. But people have to work. Guatemala , like other countries of Central and South America do not support the sick people, the unemployed, mothers on maternity leave.The street is therefore doing business. Food carts, household products, shop, market with fruit, vegetables, inexpensive burned movies, electronics, shoes, etc. etc.

Guatemala is controlled byt 20 rich families that control everything important in the country. There is a big corruption, if you want something, you have to give something to s well. In the hotels in Antigua, we ask the bus to Lake Atitlan. Shuttle costs 80 Q and not a penny less. Thus, we give a guy a beer and suddenly he give us tips how to get to the lake about half the price. My homestay family the same, I bought some fruits for them, the next day I already have for breakfast twice as much as for dinner the day before. The family includes a 4 year Miss Deborah, this incredible girl. Every morning she checkes if I brush my teets enough and properly and she get very angry if i leave my spoon in coffee cup.

#Antigua #Xela