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| *Travel Tips>>>Guatemala Travel Tips |
Who has visited Guatemala? How was it? |
Travel Info I lived there almost all my life, and I wish I could go back. Travel Tips Hola Helena, I lived in Guatemala for many years and loved it! I traveled all over the country and gave seminars in many of the major cities, from Xela to the Oriente, Rio Dulce and Coban to Esquipulas, even Panajachel. My wife is from Guatemala and my two children are Guatemalan-American. Guatemala is a great choice for just about anybody! I was in the Peace Corps there and later returned to live and work on two different occasions for a total of over 8 years. Guatemala has a unique cultural mix of Hispanic and Indigenous cultures, over 50% of the population is of one of the many Mayan ethnic and linguistic groups. The geography is diverse so one may start in the capital, Guatemala City in the center of the country and travel to beaches on either the pacific or Caribbean side, forested mountains, river valleys,the jungles of Peten, or the dryer southeast. From Guatemala you can easily visit neighboring Mexico to the north, Belize to the northeast,or Honduras and El Salvador to the south. Guatemala definately has some of the best language schools in all of latin America. You could study in either the capital, Guatemala City, the colonial city of Antigua Guatemala, or the Indian highlands of Quetzaltenango, also known as Xela. A Guatemalan is called a Chapin and "Chapinlandia" has very unique and delectable cuisine! Comida Guatemalteca is delightfully different from other latin american countries because the most popular bean is the black bean, one of the highest in protein and flavor, served either whole when cooked with garlic and onion "parados" or more popularly liquefied in a blender and served as a thick liquid "collados", or then sauteed in onions and served re fried "volteados". Also unlike most other countries, Guatemala is the land of El Hombre de Maiz, corn rules and corn tortillas are usually hand made and cooked on a clay surface "comal". Corn is even served roasted over open charcoal and corn tamales are soft and succulent, almost like a mush with bits of meat and vegetable! Guatemalans love barbecue, especially beef, and have several exquisite and complicated dishes such as Pepian (pork,ribs/brown chili and spices sauce), Jocon (chicken/green sauce) or Hilachas (beef/red sauce). Musica! Marimba is the tradition and classical music of Guatemala but everything goes, especially salsa and cumbia. Guatemala city has a lot of disco and night clubs where you can find every type of modern music. Arjona is one current recording artist from Guatemala. Que Vivan los Chapines! Source(s): Personal Experience Other Travel Tips I loved it!!! The people are great and have so so much character! and the country is so stunning I can't explain it!! I wish I was still there! The best in N & C-Am! One of the BEST in the world (I've been around)! I was there in the 70's and have forgotten nothing. I'll go again probably July-August this year. My best friend lives there as head of the UNDP. http://www.aybloc.com Guatemala is the shiznit! My favorite places sre Tikal & Semuc Champey! If you go, make sure you visit those places! |
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