5 Things

So, I was saying to my sister that I wanted to post on my blog, but I didn’t know what to post- so she suggested that I write 5 things that are interesting about Guatemala or that surprised me. So here is goes. . .
1. Guatemala is really beautiful! I know I have talked about this before, but it really did surprise me. I hadn’t expected it to be this beautiful and breathtaking. Okay, I should say Antigua is beautiful, I don’t know about the rest of Guatemala. We don’t have many clear days as we are in the rainy season, but when it is clear you can see the volcanoes all around us. Most of the bulidings in Antigua are brightly colored and very old. There are many ruins around the town caused by one of many earthquakes they have had in the past (don’t worry, most of the volcanoes around here are inactive or are semi-active, which don’t cause quakes). All the streets are cobblestone- which makes for a very quaint feeling but a very difficult walk or Tuk-Tuk ride. There are many beautiful churches that are huge and feel awe-inspiring. It seems like everytime I am out and about I see a view or a picture in my mind that is simply gorgeous.
2. There are hardly any signs on buildings. The businesses in town may or may not have the name of the store painted on the buiding by the opening in the wall. All of the buildings seem to be connected and as you walk along you have to look into each opening to see what kind of business it is. It could be a restaurant, a bakery, a book store, an office, or something completely different! : ) I am so used to each business being clearly defined and usually separate that this took some getting used to. It is neat how you usually eat or buy bread or something in a bulding that is a few hundred years old. Many restaurants have the back-story of how the restaurant got its name. It is amazing to know that some date back to the 1600’s.
3. When we went to Guatemala City on Monday I saw a whole different side to Guatemala. The city is huge and very modern. You still see ladies dressed in traditional fashion and there is still that ‘no-flushing’ dilemna, but for the most part it reminded me of cities in the states. There were business men and women all around and we waited while the interview was going on at the Westin Hotel. It was so beautiful and refined. I guess when I was home and thinking about going to an ‘underdeveloped’ country, I didn’t expect such a modern city. It was nice because all the restaurants were open-air and it was very easy to walk to where we needed to go.
4. However, on the way back from Guatemala City I saw still another side of Guatemala. The traffic in the city was horrible so our driver, Cesar, took a different route home. This route took us through small villages and into the country. This is where you saw the ‘houses’ (I put quotes around houses because they were like no houses I had ever seen) that are made out of tin, with no roof and no door. The streets were horrible and the poverty in those areas was very apparent. There were clothes lines hanging through houses and on roofs, because there were no yards or outdoor areas. This was also an agricultural area but because this part of Guatemala is so mountanous and hilly, they cultivated on the side of mountains. I can’t imagine how difficult that would be.
5. Another thing that surprised me about Guatemala is the climate. I expected it to be very, very hot here- we are closer to the equator right? It makes sense to me! So I packed only one jacket and I brought all short sleeved shirts. But I get down here and the warmest it has ever gotten is the low 80s. But many times it is in the 60s! I am just guessing about the temperature- because I have yet to see a temperature gage- or a clock outside of our apartment! My sister and I finally realized the other day that it is because we are at such high elevation- and surrounded by hills, mountains, and volcanoes- it kind of insulates us. Plus we are in the rain season- their winter. Many people wear sweaters and people tell us that Lucas is cold when he is wearing a long sleeve shirt, jeans and a sweatshirt jacket! It usually rains from about 7pm to sometime in the middle of the night. But there have been days where it rains the whole day. It gets really chilly at night and in the morning.

Okay so I did it- 5 things that are interesting or surprised me about Guatemala. I am so glad I was given the opportunity to come. I was able to help and be with my sister and Lucas, and I was able to experience this country. It is kind of a paradox with its feel of hundreds of years ago, while still being quite modern.

I hope that all of this was interesting for you guys back home!
Love you all, janie