Report from Lynn in Guatemala
01/15/2008 13:15
January 15,
2008
Bob and I took the red eye out of LA last night and arrived in Guatemala
City as the sun was rising. Luckily we could afford to hire Aclash (his
name in Tz’utuhil) to pick us up and take us to our destination of the
Hospitalito Atitlan. As we were pulling out from the airport he said that
there were lots of police around because the day before they had changed
to a new government. The new president is a socialist and the right wing
regime is out for now.
The traffic was so tight and fast that it was all I could do not to
scream. Aclash kept weaving around and barely missing cars and people. No
way could I drive here. I was hoping that the van had an airbag, but no.
We asked for a coffee stop, since we had read that Guatemala is famous for
its coffee, it was good. Then off we went into the mountains, a 3 hour
drive to Santiago Atitlan. We passed gardens that were on the side of the
steepest mountains you have ever seen. They did not appear to be
terraced, I have no idea how the farmers clung to the cliffs to grow their
food. Lots of donkeys with loads. The farther out we got the less cars,
not surprising since gas is $4 per gallon.
I have to mention the incredible cloth that adorned the indigenous people
in the villages. Each pueblo has its own color and we passed from blue to
maroon to purple. Lots of roses and birds embroidered at the neck. I
will be doing some serious shopping.
Lake Atitlan is at 4,500 feet elevation. Marvin said it was one of the
most beautiful places on earth, it’s true. Our first glimpse was at an
over look, it is as big as Clearlake lake with 3 very tall and dramatic
volcanos surrounding. Mostly wilderness, with tropical vegetation, there
are 12 pueblos around the lake. Santiago is the mostly inhabited by Mayans
and has the least number of tourists. It is the place where many died in
the civil war and a giant mud slide in 2005 wiped out a whole village
including the previous Hospitalito Atitlan.
We got settled into our fabulous little house and went on a tour of the
hospital, gawking at the lake and volcanos the whole time. We then came
home and slept for 12 hours. Stay tuned. We love you all.
Lynn and Bob
Bob and I took the red eye out of LA last night and arrived in Guatemala
City as the sun was rising. Luckily we could afford to hire Aclash (his
name in Tz’utuhil) to pick us up and take us to our destination of the
Hospitalito Atitlan. As we were pulling out from the airport he said that
there were lots of police around because the day before they had changed
to a new government. The new president is a socialist and the right wing
regime is out for now.
The traffic was so tight and fast that it was all I could do not to
scream. Aclash kept weaving around and barely missing cars and people. No
way could I drive here. I was hoping that the van had an airbag, but no.
We asked for a coffee stop, since we had read that Guatemala is famous for
its coffee, it was good. Then off we went into the mountains, a 3 hour
drive to Santiago Atitlan. We passed gardens that were on the side of the
steepest mountains you have ever seen. They did not appear to be
terraced, I have no idea how the farmers clung to the cliffs to grow their
food. Lots of donkeys with loads. The farther out we got the less cars,
not surprising since gas is $4 per gallon.
I have to mention the incredible cloth that adorned the indigenous people
in the villages. Each pueblo has its own color and we passed from blue to
maroon to purple. Lots of roses and birds embroidered at the neck. I
will be doing some serious shopping.
Lake Atitlan is at 4,500 feet elevation. Marvin said it was one of the
most beautiful places on earth, it’s true. Our first glimpse was at an
over look, it is as big as Clearlake lake with 3 very tall and dramatic
volcanos surrounding. Mostly wilderness, with tropical vegetation, there
are 12 pueblos around the lake. Santiago is the mostly inhabited by Mayans
and has the least number of tourists. It is the place where many died in
the civil war and a giant mud slide in 2005 wiped out a whole village
including the previous Hospitalito Atitlan.
We got settled into our fabulous little house and went on a tour of the
hospital, gawking at the lake and volcanos the whole time. We then came
home and slept for 12 hours. Stay tuned. We love you all.
Lynn and Bob