Hola/Hello January 13, 2016
We've had a safe landing in Guatemala. Yay! I had been a bit dubious when Bruce booked a flight from Boston to Guatemala City, all in one day, with an arrival time well after dark. In previous trips we had been very careful to arrive in broad daylight. Were we getting complacent? He assured me that the hotel that he had booked in Guatemala City was upscale, and that a hotel van would meet us at the airport. And he was right on all counts!
In fact, Hotel Barcelo was so upscale that it was a bit out of our comfort zone - and certainly like nothing we'd seen here before! There was lots of security, but rather discrete, as one would expect in a place like this. We were greeted by a massive lobby with soaring, gilded ceilings, a wide curving staircase, and a quiet orderly presence that reeked of privilege. An elevator whisked us up to our fifth floor room with balcony. Bottom line: it felt very safe and I was very happy. The lovely outdoor swimming pool was an added perk that I took advantage of the next morning, just before we began our trek to Antigua. I fantasized about our Safe Passage boys joining us for a swim.
Our trip to Antigua was an experience that I'm much more familiar with in Guatemala. Back at the airport, we arranged for a van ride for the 25 miles to Antigua. The van initially appeared to be taking about 6-7 passengers. But gradually, more and more tatooed and pierced, casually dressed young backpackers squeezed into the vehicle. Soon, luggage was taken out of the back storage area and lashed to the top of the van so that an extra seat could be used. Eventually there were 14 of us. It turned out to be a small scale version of a chicken bus - and reminded me of the children's folk tale, The Mitten, in which more and more animals improbably squeeze into a mitten - until it explodes!
Our van didn't explode, nor did it lose its brakes (our bigger concern on the steep highway inclines). We arrived in early afternoon and alighted a few blocks away from our AirBnB, Casa Menta. It felt so comforting to see familiar landmarks and know just where we were and how to get to our accommodation - a little like a homecoming. Miwa and Kohei, our hosts, were waiting for us before they rushed off to their nearby organic Japanese restaurant, Origami. We soon set out for smoothies at one of our favorite leafy spots. That evening we strolled the few blocks to Cafe Porque Non (Cafe Why Not?), run by a warm young couple whom we had met 4 years ago when they were just starting up their enterprise, now highly rated on Trip Advisor. Carlos and Carolina greeted us with hugs.
When planning our winter adventure, Bruce and I are always a bit torn: do we head for an exciting new destination? There are so many places that intrigue us. Or do we return to places where we've made connections and have put down some tender little roots? Well, this year is the "return to familiar people and surroundings" year. So far, it's working out. And, of course, there are always new people to meet and new experiences to be had - even in a place that we know. On the van from Guatemala City on Saturday, we met a young man from Alberta, a carpenter there most of the year - and a world adventurer when the snow flies. He has no debt and saves his money all year so that he can explore the world, frugally, for a few months. Yesterday we met a couple from Washington, DC, retired after a career with the IRS. They have done lots of winter travel in the Americas, from Mexico to the tip of Argentina - and are saving the Alaskan cruises for their dotage :). At home, they are gardeners and she teaches ESL. When we're on the road, we seem to encounter people with whom we share a certain approach to life. And then there are our housemates at Casa Menta, all three female and very interested in Mayan textiles. One of them has a business in Michigan in which she has 750 customers for her eyebrow styling skills! Really? 750?? Now that is totally out of the realm of experience for this Maine girl! Stay tuned to find out who else will share our journey this year!
Here are a few scenes from this city that we enjoy so much!
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