Guatemala


 * IMPRESSIONS OF GUATEMALA**
 * A week in Guatemala is a rush! We managed to see almost all the major attractions in that time as we were escourted from Guatemala City to Antigua, flew to Flores to visit the Mayan cities at Tikal and Yaxha, the famous markets at Chichicastenango, the lake at Atitlan and the Mayan village of Santiago Atitlán and finally back to Antigua. It was pretty hectic but we had a great guide and driver who were a lot of fun and were understanding when we asked for more time (or really anything)

Guatemala is recovering from a brutal civil war that divided the country from the 1970’2 until 1996. The army were responsible for many atrocities including the burning over 250 Mayan villages and the deaths of over 200,000 people. Over a million Guatemalans were displaced many fleeing to refugee camps in Mexico. Today the country is steadily rebuilding and has had successive democratic governments, the most recent election being November this year.

The roads here are in a little better condition than Cuba (and there is roadwork everywhere) but the traffic is horrendous! Road rules obviously exist but they seem to be an afterthought in many cases as cars, trucks and the terrifying “chicken buses” overtake each other on bends, corners, intersections, wherever! The “chicken buses”, so called as they carry the locals including their belongings and livestock (usually chickens) to market and back, are frightening as they race each other to the next stop in order to claim passengers! There is no timetable so they speed at death defying pace, roof filled with parcels, overtaking anywhere, forcing on-coming cars off the road, barely stopping to whisk passengers on board !!!! Too much for us to hazard a ride on! || ||
 * [[image:IMG_9434.jpg]] || The Mayan people make up about 50% of the 12.5 million Guatemalans. They are a small hardy race many of whom still live in a tradition way. The women especially wear traditional clothing, with each region having distinct colours. Both women and men can be seen walking along the roadside carry huge heavy loads of wood, food or other goods on their backs and heads.

Fields of corn cover steep hillsides where the farmers scramble amongst it picking the dried husks to be crushed and the maize turned into torillas – an everpresent accompaniment to every meal. Also with every meal (from breakfast on) comes a dob of black bean paste, a piece of cheese like unsalted fetta, and a few slices of plantain – similar to banana and usually fried. It makes an unusual mix with eggs! ||
 * [[image:tikalExtra.jpg align="center"]] || [[image:antigua.jpg]] ||