Guatemala City

A few weeks ago, with the folks arriving, it was time to make the dreaded journey to the capital, Guate as it is commonly referred to. You can’t help but lack enthusiasm about the trip. It can last anywhere between 4 and 7 hours. On top of that, you have the incessant comments about how you must be extremely careful and alert once you arrive in the capital. The daily headlines in the papers about the rampant violence- that alone can be alarming. You try and tune this out or else you’ll be on edge, looking petrified, and you become the perfect target.

The bus ride from Xela was smooth sailing. Of course from time to time, I feared for my life by the way the driver was taking on those curvy roads and inhaling dust and smoke, but I am building up my tolerance.

I slept most of the way. It was either that, watching a Keanu Reeves movie or observing the landscape, which these days can be sensory overload, as it is saturated with posters, painted trees and rocks, signs anywhere and everywhere imaginable of the presidential candidates for the upcoming elections in September.

Upon arriving in Guate, I ask one of the bus attendants if he could tell me where I needed to get off to take the urban bus that could take me to the airport. What was I thinking? Everyone was very adamant and insisted that I shouldn’t do this because it was very dangerous and on that particular route a lot of robberies occur. I finally gave in to taking a taxi to the airport.

But first, I decided to take a small walk and drink a coffee before heading to the airport. While sitting at a coffee shop, a slight anxiety set in. I wasn’t sure how or where to place my bag- on the counter right next to me, on the floor between my feet or would I be totally paranoid and place it on my lap. I began to calmly drink my coffee with my bag on the floor between my feet. Despite all the warnings and scaring tactics, my feelings of unease eventually subsided.

A man sitting next to me started up a conversation. He told me about his time in the U.S., living in California, Illinois and Florida and we talked about living in Xela- nothing too involved or profound. He proceeded to finish his coffee, asked for his bill, paid and told me he had already paid for my coffee and sandwich and not to worry about it. He gave me his card in case I ever needed anything and politely said goodbye. That was my Guate experience and I was pretty amazed.

I’m sure my next trip to Guate won’t be so dreaded.