I have been here for three weeks now, i think, living in a hotel while we look for a house and eating in restaurants and getting the office organized and generally looking and learning.
Some first impressions
There seem to be either rich people or poor people here with not much of a middle class. I had a thought yesterday that its like looking at first world people living in a third world country. When Paul first tried to drive to the mine the army had blocked the road and he had to turn back. We thought, ‘great, we move from chihuahua and the out of control army to guatemala and its worse’ but then we discovered that the government doesn’t pay them very often and when they get tired of waiting they block the roads and wait to get their money. Police do this also and even other groups like teachers, construction workers.
The textiles are wonderful! I love them and the colours and the embroidery. I have already got a few things and now just need a house to put them in.
To cross the road in guatemala is to take your life in your hands. there are white painted lines on the cross streets but nobody stops, you wait for a break in traffic and run for it. traffic is horrible in the city buses pull out where ever they want, it is up to the car to get out of the way.
there is even more paperwork than mexico (if thats possible). Everything has to go through a lawyer. We rented two apartments for the company… it took two weeks for everything to go through… two weeks!
there seems to be an amazing amount of lakes and rivers and jungles and beaches and I can’t wait to start exploring!
I am in food heaven! every single restaurant here has been delicious. Food from italy, peru, mayan, sandwich shops, sushi.. After two and a half years in Chihuahua and its steak based cusine this is wonderful!
