The Return to Guate
Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008Day 58
So we are near the end of our time in Guatemala and heading south to El Salvador but before we do we are stopping once again in Guatemala City, yes the same city I referred to as a shithole previously. Why? Well everyone we meet has also asked us why. So here is our dirty backpacking secret to our return to Guate. My lovely sister Melissa has given us a night at the Radisson in Guatemala City as a christmas gift. Shhh don’t tell the other backpackers, we’ll lose our street cred.
We left Jaibalito at 7am with a vicious wind howling outside. It had knocked out power and that meant no hot water in the cool morning air. I skipped the cold shower and Jordana braved the icy water to wash up. Cold showers in cold weather don’t make much sense to me. We walked down to the dock to catch one of the small motor boats back to Panachael for the bus to Guatemala city. The lake was angry today and looking at the small boats it made both of us a bit worried. I’d guess the wind was blowing at 80km/h. Waves crashed against the dock and mist blew off the lake in swirls. We made it to Panachael safely and relatively dry. After a typical breakfast of beans, eggs and tortilla we caught a bus back to Guatemala city. The same city we couldn’t leave fast enough just a few weeks ago.
We easily got a taxi from the bus station to the Radisson, the driver first quoted us a crazy high fare. Obviously thinking since we were staying at this nice place we were able to pay over the standard price. As we pulled up to the hotel we were both surprised. This part of Guatemala city was nothing like the centre of the city where we had stayed before. Zona 10, is named the Zona Viva or life zone for its abundance of nightlife. I still think its really because you are less likely to get shot here. I’d change the name of all the zones here to reflect the neighbourhoods situation. For example, the centre or Zone 1 where we stayed before would be the Danger Zone.
Right, so we checked in and they surprisingly treated us well. Usually at places like this once they see your pack you are looked at differently from the other guests. Our room was incredible, a huge suite with seating area, a kitchen, and then the sleeping area. It was about the same size as the condo we lived in back in Toronto. We were on the 15th floor so we had a great view and the city almost looked nice from up here. We walked out on the clean streets which were remminicent of suburban Florida and had some great Italian food. At night we took advantage of our 100 channels of cable and got a pizza from Pizza Hut, microwaved some popcorn and settled in to watch a movie on the comfy sofa. The intense wind storm continued outside and knocked out power to the entire city, except us. We had backup power at our luxury hotel. It was quite a sight to see such a large city in darkness.
It was a nice break staying at the Radisson (thank sis!). It was also interesting to see the contrast of rich and poor in the city. Zona 10 was another world from what we first experienced in the city. Some say its not the “real” Guatemala, but sure it is. Its just another aspect of the country. A very important aspect, the issue of class division is huge here and it was a good experience to see it first hand. Although we were both very ready and eager to move on to El Salvador. We hadn’t met many people going to El Salvador and the ones we told that we were going there next warned us about how dangerous it was. I could never understand that though, none of them had ever even been to the country. Well we would find out first hand soon enough.
Michael Coroneos