ESCAPE WINTER OF 2006-2007

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To Xela

I spent a week in Guatemala City which didn´t produce any of the horror stories I anticipated. The chance of problems is a lot less if you stay away from the bus terminal and bar area at night.

The Guatemaltecos tell you that their Spanish along with that of Spain and Peru is the most pure. Xela (Quetzaltenango) is reputed to have less gringos than other popular learning centres, but you´d never know it. It has lots of bars and restaurants for western tastes. Even Wal-Mart has bought out Central American Retail Holding Company to put its mark here as Hiper-Paiz Supermercado.

There´s lots of towns with weekly markets nearby to visit.

The place I stayed catered to trekking in the area. The profits go towards charity groups. Most students of Spanish live in a home-stay, ie. with a local family. This is a cheaper way to get by because the food is provided.
For awhile I went to an official school which included activities in the afternoon like a trip to Zunil or the hot baths nearby.

Zunil is a Mayan town not far by bus and noted for a brotherhood which harbours San Simón.
But the school routine was too much like .. well, like school. So I hired a private teacher for a couple of hours each day. Patty was a great teacher and became a dear friend.


Because its in the mountains at about 2000 metres the temperature at night could go down to 5° C but normally it ranges between 10° and 20°C for its daily hi and lo.
There are no furnaces.
When I asked what the temperature would go up to when the ¨summer¨ came I was told 20°C.
I said, ¨That´s about what it is now.¨
¨No, it´s only 18°.¨

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Photos

Mayan town of Zunil
Teachers and students from school on an outing.

San Simón in Zunil
A Mayan saint that is guarded over year round by a brotherhood. Offerings include rum and cigars to the effigy.

Zunil Children
Women and young girls tend to dress traditionally as do some men

Quiché-Mayan kids
Zunil, but children are the same everywhere

Evangelist meeting, Guatemala City
Band blaring, women jumping around in a frenzy and ministers hitting crowd members on the head with the bible, it was an all day event worth watching. Evangelists are gaining ground on Catholic predominance in the region because husbands can´t get drunk.

home for awhile
Casa Argentina / Quetzel Trekkers

Patty
It was more comfortable to get a private Spanish teacher than sit at a school desk.

Comments

[Tomas. (Ireland)]

All sounds like fun. No daily grind. What about money? Is it hard to finance such a trip?? Any housewifes club thereabouts?

[Alex]

Marlon Brando
John Do you know what you look like Marlon Brando