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Background: The Maya civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the conflict, which had left more than 100,000 people dead and had created some 1 million refugees.

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By stewartgetslost
September 17th 2008

Guatemala celebrates my arrival

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Antigua » Antigua

Hola! Not much of an entry I'm afraid, mainly for the reason that I'm yet to actually do very much. After a shockingly bad flight (Iberia don't think it's necessary to give you televisions for 11 hour flights) I got into Antigua, Guatemala about 6pm on Monday evening. They must have known I was coming, because I was greeted with fireworks, and other forms of celebration. Bizarrely, the only thing they'd forgotten was the "Welcome to Guatemala Stewart" banner. Some would say that this is because they were not actually celebrating my arrival, but were celebrating Guatemalan independence [View Full Entry]

By heraclio
September 17th 2008

Back to a mellow mood.

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Flores Tikal

Flores, nighttime. We arrived at Flores' sister town Santa Elena just past 18.oo h. tired to dead after our grueling 19 hour bus trip. A bus trip from Guatamala-Ciudad to Flores through virgin rain forest, on a potholed unpaved road. Whenever we would get out during smoke and piss breaks we would sink into the red mud up to our ankles. Both Mary Carmen and Nora are completely out of it. James has to drag her along, her huge backpack looking even more enormous on her small frame, Nora is holding on to me, her dark brown eyes begging me for [View Full Entry]

By heraclio
September 16th 2008

On the Carretera Pacifico to Flores.

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Flores Tikal

On the Carretera Pacifico to Flores. 15 abril 1990. I feel the first rays of an early sun on my right arm and face when I wake up. With the sleep still in my foggy mind I realise We're in an old rusty bus on the way to Flores. All the other passengers are still asleep. The early morning sunlight coming in through the paneless windows gives the interior an eery sight. Outside the landscape is stunningly different from the mountainous highlands where we have been the last couple of weeks. Lush tropical jungle rises up from both sides of the [View Full Entry]

By Lauralee
September 15th 2008

Living the life in Rio Dulce

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Rio Dulce

Sunrise in Rio Dulce

I was a bit apprehensive of this particular stop before I reached Rio Dulce due to news of murders and the like of both tourists and locals in the weeks before. The area is known as a point of entry/departure for the drug trade coming through the Caribbean via Livingston. However, I emerged unscathed and this area (and Livingston) is probably one of my favourite places in Guatemala. Rio Dulce is a unique area with Carribean influence and American ex-pats living in their yachts. Post-Hurricaine Katrina, Rio Dulce and its Lago Izabal are one of the few areas that yachts can [View Full Entry]

By D MO
September 15th 2008

Moving right along....

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Rio Dulce

Hey there!

Hi Friends, Welp... one week down. I´d say things are coming along, as they always seem to do. Painting, painting and more painting. I f¡nally felt well enough last night to have a few beers and let loose a little. It was a blast. I am a bit confused why we are so lacking in the states... but the latin american men sure do make up for it... I am referring to the abilility to dance! Wow... they really do have rhythm. I got plenty of salsa lessons last night. *Amanda... I am thinking of you at a constant... How did [View Full Entry]

By heraclio
September 15th 2008

Waiting for an overnight bus trip.

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Guatemala City

Guatamala-Ciudad, 14 abril 1990, nighttime. We've taken up temporary residence in an obscure bar just behind the bus depot waiting for our overnight bus to Flores which will leave at 01.00 h. in the morning. Our bulky backpacks scattered around the table, local males all around us in various stages of intoxication, hey Jude by the Beatles coming out of the jukebox. Nobody is paying our little band of hippies much attention, we're dirty clothed in clothes that have not seen detergent for weeks, dead tired after day of hiking and bussing to Guatamala-Ciudad and all really on edge because we'r [View Full Entry]

By D MO
September 15th 2008

Casa Guatemala

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Rio Dulce

Hey there! Quick update....Change of plans. I am heading for the orphanage today! I am going to be a ´Orientador´.´ Which basically means I will be doing a similar job like I did at Sunny Hills. Working with the kids when they are not at school...getting them up... spending time with them after school, etc. Don´t know much about the position... but I will find out soon enough! I am about to get a jump start on my Spanish... thats for sure! Alright... going to have a quick meal before I am condemned to beans and tortillas three meals a day...´The [View Full Entry]

By heraclio
September 14th 2008

Mary Carmen's mental demise.

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Chichicastenango

La Zona Librada, west of Chchicastenango, nighttime. We've found an old abandoned one-room house, made out of stone, window panes gone and no more front door. I guess the one single room of this house to be about 60 square meter. The concrete floor is covered with pine boughs and maize kernels which betrays me that this place is probably used by the local campesinos as a scene for religious rituals slightly catholic and a high dose of the mayan spirit world. window sills with half burned candles, candles everywhere and empty liqour bottles, not unlikely the males from miles around [View Full Entry]

By Lauralee
September 14th 2008

Tikal and Tamales

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Flores Tikal

sacred Mayan tree

Tikal is definitely one of the well worn stops on the backpack circuit of Guatemala and rightfully so. To not go to Tikal would be the equivalent of not going to Macchu Picchu while in Peru or missing out on Chichen Itza in Mexico. Although I didn't find the death imagery as prevalent at Tikal as I did at Chichen Itza it was still exciting with the added bonus of howler monkeys roaring in the distance. I was a bit thrown off when I first heard the howler monkey. Having never heard them previously, I thought it would have been more [View Full Entry]

By NathB
September 13th 2008

Volcan Pacaya bis

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Volcan Pacaya

pacaya bis 1
pour aller au volcan Pacaya, nous passons pres de Guatemala City, cachee par une brume. Est-ce des nuages ou la pollution ?

Pourquoi refaire le volcan Pacaya, me direz-vous ? Et bien, en discutant avec differentes personnes, j'ai compris que j'avais manque quelque chose qu'il fallait absolumment que je vois ! En effet, les guides de toutes les agences de voyage ne prennent pas la peine de contourner le volcan - ce qui ne constitue qu'1 km de marche en plus - pour acceder aux coulees de lave brulante. Et ca vaut effectivement la peine, voyez plutot les photos et le film... J'ai donc entrepris cette nouvelle expedition avec les 3 autres etudiantes qui sejournent dans la meme famille que moi. Chouette petite [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Central America Caribbean » Guatemala