We went to Mercado Central. We shopped till we dropped. Every space, tent, dividers, were soooo interesting. Some sold their merchandise on a large cloth which they will wrap their goods at the end of the day, others had little tent dividers with tables. So many of the merchandises were hand made and so inexpensive. I considered how much each item would cost in US.
Afterwards we went to Pizza Hut. Boy oh boy did we need it. All of our stomachs were queasy by now. We were all having diarrhea problems and it seemed we could not carry enough toilet paper rolls. We loved the feel of clean restaurant, clean air, and clean food (trusting American style). Kids washed their hands for a long time under running water. That felt wonderful!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
August 25, 1993
We went to a beach. (I wish I had recorded location). Black sand as far as you could see. After playing and basking in the sun, we went to a nearby restaurant. Lot of businesses do not have walls, just posts to hold the thatched roof. So when stray dogs came in and sat by our table, it was no concern to the owners. It was like 'where else would hungry stray dogs go.' We got a plate full of shrimps...very tasty! They served us water in glass. We knew better. We did not drink any.
We took a boat ride, must be to near by island. On the boat there was a lady with two chickens under each arm and a large round jug which she would put on her head when she is walking to her destination. The little creatures did not seem to be afraid. There was a young man with his motorcycle. There were twenty three people total. Five of us were the foreigners. They probably never saw an Asian like myself.
As we were walking along the sea shore village, a little boy was beating on an Iguana that was hung on a tree. Mario went over and asked him what he was doing. He came back and told us that iguana will be his family dinner and it was his job to kill it.
We came from day's adventure with bad sun burn!
We took a boat ride, must be to near by island. On the boat there was a lady with two chickens under each arm and a large round jug which she would put on her head when she is walking to her destination. The little creatures did not seem to be afraid. There was a young man with his motorcycle. There were twenty three people total. Five of us were the foreigners. They probably never saw an Asian like myself.
As we were walking along the sea shore village, a little boy was beating on an Iguana that was hung on a tree. Mario went over and asked him what he was doing. He came back and told us that iguana will be his family dinner and it was his job to kill it.
We came from day's adventure with bad sun burn!
August 24, 1993
I was still sick. I dreaded the thought of washing clothes by hand. Mario's mom told us there was a lady who will do laundry by hand, dry, and iron for Q25. So we hired her.
Had a flat tire. I was not surprised. Roads are so rough. Q6 to patch a tire. Not too bad!
Went to Art Museum. Very nice and modern art. I still had diarrhea. Amazing to find there are no toilet papers. Fortunately that was the first thing Mario informed us at the air porte. In Guatemala everyone must carry their own toilet paper.
Nest we went to Archaeological and Entomological museum. Old fossils of humans and mammoth tools were extremely interesting. No matter where we walked into we could not escape from dusty air. Sometimes my lungs hurt unless we escape to country side.
Mario went on an errand. He said he will be back at 4:30pm. No Spanish and no Mario...scary thought.
Henna just said "This is a neat museum." Kids don't notice all the dust and old car exhausts.
Had a flat tire. I was not surprised. Roads are so rough. Q6 to patch a tire. Not too bad!
Went to Art Museum. Very nice and modern art. I still had diarrhea. Amazing to find there are no toilet papers. Fortunately that was the first thing Mario informed us at the air porte. In Guatemala everyone must carry their own toilet paper.
Nest we went to Archaeological and Entomological museum. Old fossils of humans and mammoth tools were extremely interesting. No matter where we walked into we could not escape from dusty air. Sometimes my lungs hurt unless we escape to country side.
Mario went on an errand. He said he will be back at 4:30pm. No Spanish and no Mario...scary thought.
Henna just said "This is a neat museum." Kids don't notice all the dust and old car exhausts.
August 23, 1993
We are in our car driving somewhere. Stop light stops us. Mario asks us if we want hot dogs. He raises his hand and a boy runs up and takes order. We pull to the side. Soon he brings everything and when we are done eating, he comes back to collect the money.
We shopped at indoor shopps.
Fruit vendors are everywhere. Pineapples are deliciously ripe always. One pineapple and water melon cost Q4.50
We come home and Chow Mein is ready for us. Mmmm Good but too greasy. Everyone had stomach ache. We are all sick.
I also caught a cold and am coughing.
We shopped at indoor shopps.
Fruit vendors are everywhere. Pineapples are deliciously ripe always. One pineapple and water melon cost Q4.50
We come home and Chow Mein is ready for us. Mmmm Good but too greasy. Everyone had stomach ache. We are all sick.
I also caught a cold and am coughing.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
August 20, 1993
The second day of our visit, I already feel like we had so much adventure. I hope to dig up lots of old photos & upload here.
1. Amatitlan Lake- Mario took us to the top of the hill. We saw Amatitlan Lake.
2. Antigua
3. Old City
1. Amatitlan Lake- Mario took us to the top of the hill. We saw Amatitlan Lake.
2. Antigua
3. Old City
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Next Few Days
The next four days (August 19th to August 23rd) were a whirlwind. I could not believe that we could have fit in so many activities. Mario's dad was a fireman. He decided that he will drive us in our rented van. In his profession the faster he drove to a site of accident or fire, his opportunity to pick up that job (as in taking the patient to the hospital or quenching the fire) was greater. Interestingly several firemen would be notified and the first one who arrived at the site would get the job. What a way to handle an emergency! His driving habit would keep my eyes closed in many occasions...
I still remember the cost of renting a van for one week was almost $700. That is a lot of money when we could have rented the same van in US for $200 for one week. Car rental was done mainly by Americans and it seemed they figured that Americans could afford any fee they charged.
We drove through the town. There were potholes everywhere. It was expected that your tire would blow once a week. Well we had a flat tire within days, but repair cost was only $2.00. The city was heavy in pollution. I could feel my lungs longing for fresh air. As soon as we left the Guatemala city, I was keenly aware of wonderful and fresh air.
A group of church members took us out to eat. We were special. It was not everyday that an American family visited the local church in Guatemala. There must have been twenty of us. After a meal, the waiter made a bee line to Tom. He was the only white man at the whole table. So Tom paid the bill. And wherever we went, no matter how small or large the crowd, it was the same. Yet everything seemed to be so inexpensive that it was really OK.
I still remember the cost of renting a van for one week was almost $700. That is a lot of money when we could have rented the same van in US for $200 for one week. Car rental was done mainly by Americans and it seemed they figured that Americans could afford any fee they charged.
We drove through the town. There were potholes everywhere. It was expected that your tire would blow once a week. Well we had a flat tire within days, but repair cost was only $2.00. The city was heavy in pollution. I could feel my lungs longing for fresh air. As soon as we left the Guatemala city, I was keenly aware of wonderful and fresh air.
A group of church members took us out to eat. We were special. It was not everyday that an American family visited the local church in Guatemala. There must have been twenty of us. After a meal, the waiter made a bee line to Tom. He was the only white man at the whole table. So Tom paid the bill. And wherever we went, no matter how small or large the crowd, it was the same. Yet everything seemed to be so inexpensive that it was really OK.
Still August 19, 1993
What a beautiful morning! Mario's mother made us scrambled eggs with tomato and onions. We had it with their bread, hot milk, pineapple juice, cheese and ham. Oh so good! She would not allow me to help her clean up.
We also had very tasty potato seasoned and wrapped and cooked in banana leaves. On our dining table she placed a basket of hearth baked bread and cookies. mmmmm soooo tasty.
Later we stopped at a street vendor (I was thinking we should not be doing this!) We got hot corn drink...sweet...along with fried tortilla. Tom had what they call 'a little dog.' It is like tamales, cornmeal, meat, seasoned & wrapped in corn husk. So tasty. After our outing we picked up fried chicken, much like Kentucky Fried chicken. We had them with Guatemalan bread and home made orange juice and pineapple juice.
A few sights we saw: A lady carrying a huge basket on her head, a man pulling a cart filled with lumber; a man riding a bicycle with a big load on his back held by a strap around his head to the load.
A neighbor lady was washing her children in a big plastic bowl, then later she was washing her laundry in the same large bowl.
When we were driving through down town, men approached our car rubbing first and third finger meaning "Do you have US dollars? I can give you a good exchange." They buy dollars from travelers and sell it to businesses for profit.
We also had very tasty potato seasoned and wrapped and cooked in banana leaves. On our dining table she placed a basket of hearth baked bread and cookies. mmmmm soooo tasty.
Later we stopped at a street vendor (I was thinking we should not be doing this!) We got hot corn drink...sweet...along with fried tortilla. Tom had what they call 'a little dog.' It is like tamales, cornmeal, meat, seasoned & wrapped in corn husk. So tasty. After our outing we picked up fried chicken, much like Kentucky Fried chicken. We had them with Guatemalan bread and home made orange juice and pineapple juice.
A few sights we saw: A lady carrying a huge basket on her head, a man pulling a cart filled with lumber; a man riding a bicycle with a big load on his back held by a strap around his head to the load.
A neighbor lady was washing her children in a big plastic bowl, then later she was washing her laundry in the same large bowl.
When we were driving through down town, men approached our car rubbing first and third finger meaning "Do you have US dollars? I can give you a good exchange." They buy dollars from travelers and sell it to businesses for profit.
Still August 19, 1993
Now at 9PM while I am writing this Tom is playing guitar. Tom and Mario are singing. It is so restful and relaxing. Their condominium is very American and contemporary. Decoration are in black and white. One large room is divided in 3 sections: living room, dining room ,and kitchen. Further back there are two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Downstairs is Mario's mom lives. When you walk into her home, the feeling is we are walking into old Spanish hearth with litter modernization.
Mario said he put second floor onto his mom's house. He said we should consider building a home in Guatemala. Average building would be $4,000.00 and that could be our vacation home or retirement home.
Mario said he put second floor onto his mom's house. He said we should consider building a home in Guatemala. Average building would be $4,000.00 and that could be our vacation home or retirement home.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Ana
Guatemalan Trip 1993
Ana was not able to be with us. She was in the hospital. A while ago doctor found a tumor 2mm wide in her brain. She is waiting to have surgery performed. For a couple of months Mario drove Ana every Tuesday and Thursday waiting several hours to see if they would have an empty bed.
Finally two days ago there was a bed. She claimed the bed and is waiting for the surgeon to have an open spot in his very busy surgery schedule. Mario told us of a woman who waited for a bed and stayed in the hospital for fifteen days and she was sent home because the doctor could not fit her in his schedule.
Mario said, "This is a public hospital. Private hospital would be so expensive that they would not be able to afford it. Brain surgery would cost $10,000.00 US. Same surgery done by same doctor would cost $80.00 US at public hospital. There is no such thing as hospital insurance. Either you have the money and go to private hospital or use a public hospital.
Ana was not able to be with us. She was in the hospital. A while ago doctor found a tumor 2mm wide in her brain. She is waiting to have surgery performed. For a couple of months Mario drove Ana every Tuesday and Thursday waiting several hours to see if they would have an empty bed.
Finally two days ago there was a bed. She claimed the bed and is waiting for the surgeon to have an open spot in his very busy surgery schedule. Mario told us of a woman who waited for a bed and stayed in the hospital for fifteen days and she was sent home because the doctor could not fit her in his schedule.
Mario said, "This is a public hospital. Private hospital would be so expensive that they would not be able to afford it. Brain surgery would cost $10,000.00 US. Same surgery done by same doctor would cost $80.00 US at public hospital. There is no such thing as hospital insurance. Either you have the money and go to private hospital or use a public hospital.
August 19, 1993
Today is September 30, 2011. As I was cleaning my book shelf, a little notebook fell out. This is my log of our trip to Guatemala. We took lots of photos but it will require scanning, storing, and loading onto this site...all the process that is extremely painful for me because I have no patience for such things. So I hope my husband Tom will be gracious enough to designate some time for that eventually. Trip comes alive when there are photos. If I have any emotional memories or comments, I will enter. Here it goes....
August 19, 1993
Our advanture began yesterday at midnight at O'Hare, Aviateca Airline. All those in line before and after us spoke only Spanish - already I felt we were foreigners...Tom, myself, Henna (11), Christian (9), Seth (6) and Elizabeth is not born yet.
The plane which lifted at 2 AM, I was hoping we would get ...oh 3 hours of sleep. Well half of it got interrupted by their extremely good food service; juice & pop cart, followed by wine, champaign & beer cart, followed by gourmet dinner. It is incredible trying to eat steak or fancy pasta at 3:30AM with wine. By 4 AM all the lights were out and we are to go to sleep.
It was 5:30 AM when we landed in the airport of Guatemala city, we walked down the steps to the concrete outdoors with dust flying from planes landing. As we entered the building, it did not seem less dustier than outside.
There was no familiar face waiting for us. Tom had told Mario some days ago the date we would arrive and that was all. We looked out to the street where cars were buzzing around. They all looked like junk yard, rusted, old cars that somehow got revived. The air was dense with car exhaust. None of us spoke Spanish and we did not have Mario's phone number or his address. I imagined us being stranded here at the air port not being able to get connected with Mario. It was sickening feeling. Tom said, well, if all else fails, we can call dad. He should have Mario's address and/or phone nunber.
Some observation at the airport was a bit frightening. There were so many people dressed shabbily and obviously not bathed for a while. There were no place to sit down to wait. I saw two or three men-obviously homeless, who ran down the stairway with a sleeping roll hung over their shoulder. When they reached ground level they went under the stairway and threw down their sleeping roll.
It was the longest one hour wait. We saw Mario running towards us. We were so happy to see him. We struggled with our luggage to his car. To our dismay it was a small Volkswagen beetle. There were six of us plus luggage. He offered to run two trips. I don't remember how we did it. We managed to squeeze in and made in one trip. It felt like the small car could burst.
Cars, my I've never seen so many cars. It almost seemed like a junk yard came alive. Mario drove a twenty-eight years old Volkswagen. Mario says even very old cars are very expensive. For example 1979 Toyota Corolla (14 years old) goes for $2000.00 US. In the states the same car may cost $100.00 US.
Drive home was very interesting. Concrete homes everywhere. People were every where....sidewalks(?) if you could call it that! Roads were paved but no repair has been done for a long time. It was a very rough ride home due to unavoidable pot holes.
In the afternoon, after a long needed rest, Mario took us for a ride. Close your eyes when you come near an intersection or when ever an old cranky bus tries to pass you. It is scary. The scenery was filled with crowded bustle. Going through downtown one can see fancy shops lining the streets. But one could hardly see them because what is visible is the sidewalks filled with vendors trying to sell their goods in their home made, cheap clap board or aluminum planks, and wooden stands. Their only protection from rain was sheets of plastic. How easily their merchandise could be ruined if there is only a slight rip in the plastic. I saw a vendor who had spread his goods on the ground. It was raining hard. He was trying to hastily to cover his goods with a plastic sheet.
August 19, 1993
Our advanture began yesterday at midnight at O'Hare, Aviateca Airline. All those in line before and after us spoke only Spanish - already I felt we were foreigners...Tom, myself, Henna (11), Christian (9), Seth (6) and Elizabeth is not born yet.
The plane which lifted at 2 AM, I was hoping we would get ...oh 3 hours of sleep. Well half of it got interrupted by their extremely good food service; juice & pop cart, followed by wine, champaign & beer cart, followed by gourmet dinner. It is incredible trying to eat steak or fancy pasta at 3:30AM with wine. By 4 AM all the lights were out and we are to go to sleep.
It was 5:30 AM when we landed in the airport of Guatemala city, we walked down the steps to the concrete outdoors with dust flying from planes landing. As we entered the building, it did not seem less dustier than outside.
There was no familiar face waiting for us. Tom had told Mario some days ago the date we would arrive and that was all. We looked out to the street where cars were buzzing around. They all looked like junk yard, rusted, old cars that somehow got revived. The air was dense with car exhaust. None of us spoke Spanish and we did not have Mario's phone number or his address. I imagined us being stranded here at the air port not being able to get connected with Mario. It was sickening feeling. Tom said, well, if all else fails, we can call dad. He should have Mario's address and/or phone nunber.
Some observation at the airport was a bit frightening. There were so many people dressed shabbily and obviously not bathed for a while. There were no place to sit down to wait. I saw two or three men-obviously homeless, who ran down the stairway with a sleeping roll hung over their shoulder. When they reached ground level they went under the stairway and threw down their sleeping roll.
It was the longest one hour wait. We saw Mario running towards us. We were so happy to see him. We struggled with our luggage to his car. To our dismay it was a small Volkswagen beetle. There were six of us plus luggage. He offered to run two trips. I don't remember how we did it. We managed to squeeze in and made in one trip. It felt like the small car could burst.
Cars, my I've never seen so many cars. It almost seemed like a junk yard came alive. Mario drove a twenty-eight years old Volkswagen. Mario says even very old cars are very expensive. For example 1979 Toyota Corolla (14 years old) goes for $2000.00 US. In the states the same car may cost $100.00 US.
Drive home was very interesting. Concrete homes everywhere. People were every where....sidewalks(?) if you could call it that! Roads were paved but no repair has been done for a long time. It was a very rough ride home due to unavoidable pot holes.
In the afternoon, after a long needed rest, Mario took us for a ride. Close your eyes when you come near an intersection or when ever an old cranky bus tries to pass you. It is scary. The scenery was filled with crowded bustle. Going through downtown one can see fancy shops lining the streets. But one could hardly see them because what is visible is the sidewalks filled with vendors trying to sell their goods in their home made, cheap clap board or aluminum planks, and wooden stands. Their only protection from rain was sheets of plastic. How easily their merchandise could be ruined if there is only a slight rip in the plastic. I saw a vendor who had spread his goods on the ground. It was raining hard. He was trying to hastily to cover his goods with a plastic sheet.
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