El Breve Espacio en Que No Estas
I am so unbelievably hungry right now, i think i might as well just start eating my socks or something. Im waiting for my Swiss friend, who right now has lots of emails to write… i guess i dont really mind spending a lot of time on the internet, but not if its already 3 pm and i havent eaten anything all day, and i was up partying all last night.
So ive gotten to a weird state in my travels. Seeing new cities has gotten very repetitive, and quite often i dont have the energy to go out and walk all day or approach random groups of people to make friends. Therefore, i find myself chilling quite a lot. And partying, of course.
So im in Antigua, Guatemala, and i think it is a bit of a shithole, absolutely packed with tourists… it is a pretty place, ike everywhere i go, but it is also one of these “gringo hangouts” and “backpacker stops” that can be quite frustrating. I hate going to a bar and hearing only english, or walking down the street and seeing only blond hair and blue eyes. It is fun to meet people from all over the world, but that really isnt the reason i came to Guatemala.
Guatemala is frustrating because bars and clubs have to close by1 am, and so every night i have to look for some illicit after party. Ive been successful here and found an afterparty every night, but often they charge a cover and are almost empty.
I had a fun time in Guatemala city, and i didnt think it was quite the hell that other tourists described. I stayed with a nice girl from www.hospitalityclub.org, who lived about 45 minutes from the city center. I saw the center and the university there, and i feel like i got a much better sense of Guatemala as a modern country. Many tourists just come to the pretty cities and go to museums, but by only doing that I think it is impossible to understand the true state of the country and its people.
I saw this girl from Xela on Monday and Tuesday last week, and though we spent only several hours together each day, i think we each got fairly attached to one another. I may go visit her at some point in the next few weeks. The problem is that she is only 16, and her parents aren`t ok with her going out at night or anything, so im afraid we`ll see each other for very little time.
I`d really appreciate some comments… or just shoot me an e-mail… let me know whats up.
Rock on. At your next party, drink a shot for me.
Dan
Tags: Guatemala
Neocoltrane
December 12th, 2005 at 12:36 pm
We actually took shots for dan reedy at a party kirill and I threw last week. He got written up for alcohal and I then got written up for calling the RA who wrote him up a dick. AHAHHAHAH America sucks my testicles Email me some updates and stories when u get a chance homie and make sure to dedicate a shot or two for kirill and I.
December 12th, 2005 at 4:36 pm
reedy, do you look like a local yet? like are u all tanned and are you fluent yet? u should dye your hair negro like mine, then you will the ultimate fexican (fake mexican).
reedy, my spanish final is coming up and its like all based on the subjunctive. how often do you EVER speak in the subjunctive?????
haz proteccion mi amigo. es todo que yo puedo decir.
December 13th, 2005 at 1:02 am
Whats up Dan!? Your parents sent me an email today which was pretty cool but I will reply to them tommorow. Yeah, Im back in England basically because I failed getting to Palestine. Dude, I never expected the difficulties here of getting the proper paperwork and visas to get into both Amman and Israel. They claim to have agreements with each other but the security is up the ass and its really expensive to get across borders. The harassment from the border police is pretty bad too because not only do they go through your shit, but they ask intrusive questions and carry assault rifles and assorted hand weapons that make you want to get the fuck out of there. Has it been like that for you Dan? Is security bad there and is getting permission difficult?
Dude, I will try to get to Palestine again but not from Egypt. I just have to go back to the drawing board for now and cook up a badass plan. I’ll have a shot of eggnog for you Dan, Christmas is coming up. Stay safe and do something sporadic.
Farid
Ps- I will send you an email later, I know exactly what you are going through.
December 14th, 2005 at 10:48 am
hey abuelito!! how are youuu?
once again, glad to know ur trip’s goin smoothly!!
over here its gettin friggin cold i cant believe it!! i almost fell off my roof the other day cuz there was ice on it and i was hangin out there lol i love hangin out on my roof 🙂
im at skool now lol i always go read ur journal when im at skool cuz it makes me go off into dreamworld of latin america 🙂
te extrano muchoo!! 😀
dont forget my pipe (or u can get a bong if they’re nicer or cheaper)!!! get a niice one i’ll pay you back wen u get back no worries 🙂
spend a nice Xmas!!! and happy new year (if i dont talk to u till then!) it must b weird counting down the big 3 2 1 in spanish no?
besitos!!!!!!
Alix
December 15th, 2005 at 8:08 pm
hey dude… hows it going with the “shapins” (guatemaleans) lol
hey i didint realy drunk a shot for u….but i was reading ur journal and thinking about the good time of trips… and acctualy drunk a whole f* botle of vodka for u man….
im in florida…still not having that much of fun…but its all cool.. got some cold here too…. something about 50 degrees lol…. sucks for ppl in the north lol
i hope to talk to u b4 xmas….
ps. as far as u reach south things get more dangerous… u prob notice in ur last ride… but still gotta say to be carefull
December 17th, 2005 at 10:45 am
Dan,
Good to hear from you again!! I don’t have much to say, everything here is ok I guess. Things are a little boring as usual!
Have a good christmas… we miss you!
-GVT
December 20th, 2005 at 12:18 pm
Hey Dan, hope you’re doing OK down there. Any plans for Christmas, or just more partying? I love the story about waking up with the two girls and hiding from the grandmother… it reminds me of a story Gaby told me about how when she was little, they hid her grandmother’s saints on the roof and then she hid under the bed.
You shouldn’t feel depressed if you don’t get out every night… the point of the trip is to get a feel for the land and the people, so some chilling should be in order in your scedule. Cuidate como siempre; bebere pa’ ti si bailas esta noche pa’ mi!
TO FARID: Good luck getting through the border gaurds!! Knock one of them out, pull the body behind some boxes of cargo or something, and put on his uniform. Ta-da, you’re through! Don’t get yourself shot or anything, I miss my boys enough already.
December 21st, 2005 at 3:40 am
Yo, I feel bad dropping messages on Reedy’s blog so if any of you would like to send me an email feel free. My email is farid_q87@hotmail.com and I’ll do my best to write to you when I get the chance, especially GVT and Hannah. Dan, you gotta write more regularly cause these long pauses make me worry that raging alcoholic finally caught up to you and made love to your ass without your consent. Allinson is right, the farther south you go the more bad shit you’ll come across so make sure you practice breaking off the end of a beer bottle and making assorted improvised weapons. Watch out for the Juaritos, I heard they are a pretty hardcore gang and also MS-13 but they are in El Salvadore.
keep safe Dan