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Published: December 2nd 2011
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Guatemala City
Flying into Guatemala City Just a quick update from Guatemala. Well I got here on Saturday and could tell just from the flight over Guatemala City how different this country was going to be to Mexico. First thoughts were of sadness at the obvious poverty that exists here. Was picked up from the airport for the drive 40km west to Antigua. Driving through Guatemala City was a real experience again from the shock of seeing just how bad the coditions for the populace are and just the crazy roads and lack of rules in general, but that makes driving fun I say!
Got into Antigua at nightfall so didn't really get an appreciation for where I was till the next day when I met up with my volunteer/Spanish school who took me for an orientation of the city. Just wow. The city is beautiful! All the roads are old cobblestone and the buildings look unchanged from when the conquistadores first set Antigua up as the capital of the Central American Empire before a few major earthquakes and volcano eruptions forced them to move the capital to Guatemala City. Talking of volcanoes, the city is surrounded by three of them. Volcan de Agua to the
Chickenbus
The famous chickenbuses of Guatemala! south (great for when you get lost) and Volcan de Fuego and Acatenango to the west. These two are both active and Fuego daily has ash spewing out.
On Monday got started with Spanish lessons and most importantly headed out to my volunteering in a town named with the volcano Acatenango its namesake. To get there I have to ride the bus or to be more appropriate the chickenbus. These are old school buses from the US, Canada and Mexico that have been stripped, put together and decorated. The rule for how many people fit on these buses is always one more so its pretty packed. And yes chickens are allowed on the bus apparently, yet to see it though! Teaching two classes, first young kids and then early teens-early 20s. Its definitely going to be a challenge when I start the lessons myself on Monday. Will blog about that experience in a few weeks!
I'm staying with a local family and a few other volunteers. The host Mum is the best cook in the world (sorry Mum she kicks your ass) and has made me some great vegetarian food which I was severely lacking in Mexico. Found
Volcan de Agua
The Volcano of Water. Great landmark when you get lost! a great Irish bar here as well which has cheap food, cheap beer and English speaking staff which is nice after struggling to communicate in Spanish all day! The city is a city of walls (you'll see from the photos) but its surprising what you'll find behind each wall, from gardens to cafes to warehouses, they have it all!
Anyways I'm about to hit the road for an 8 hour (most likely longer) drive to Flores which is about 45km from Tikal National Park to see the Mayan ruins. Will also be caving, swimming in hot springs in Rio Dulce and spending an evening in Livingstone on the Carribean coast with views of Belize and a culture more like Jamaica than Latin America apparently. Apparently they don't speak Spanish here either but a local Mayan language which will be interesting. Anyways miss you all and all that and update with lots of pictures from this weekend soon!
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Josh Martin
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Travel Blog
I Like Your Blog About Week One in Guatemala!.I Am Very Happy To Read Of Your Blog.Really Great Post.Its Brilliant. www.maitravelsite.com/ Thanks.