Guatemala's Beggars in the streets

It was just before Christmas in 2011 and I can and I wonder as I pass the beggars in the streets who will help them on Christmas day?  I pass and drop change or a bill into their hand or bowl. I give only to women that crouch with small children now. The men will drink it.

In Xela there is a beautiful (gold adorned) Iglasia. The gold originally came from Guatemala, looted years ago by the Spanish shipped off to Spain and then returned through the generosity of the Roman Catholic church to Igalsias here.

The beggars sit near the Iglasia (church) entrance.

They are invisible to most people.

They are invisible to the church that teaches the Christian story of love and giving... 

Christmas. 

A time of giving and caring for your fellow man or woman.

A time for families to join together in celebration of what they believe in.

 "Beggars why are they left this way?"

Esperanza

Esperanza or Hope can be and is many things to many people.
To a fourteen year old and very frightened little girl hope is something far removed from reality.

I learned about her through a friend I have that helps people that really need help. He is a sort of ordinary man to look at and to speak with, but Roland is a very special person. He is like an angel in the darkness. Searching through newspapers and other sources he finds homes for people, supplies food and medicine and this time through some newspaper article he found this child.

When I saw the photographs I knew that I had to travel with him to see this girl. Her prognosis is not good with the cancer rapidly advanced and she will die without some form of intervention.

I need to help in some way.. and I will update this for you.

Please pray for her.

Updates are sometimes difficult to write about. I wanted this to be a happy update. I wanted to say yes that she is better and be happy saying that. Her prognosis was never very good. But I had hope it would be better.

This story will end soon as she will. Her short life stolen away. She has been sent to a special place to end her days there. She is dieing. She is dieing and I feel so helpless with these words. She is dieing as that beast of a desease steals her future.

Please prey for her.

TODOS SANTOS.. Mayan Skach Koyl

I learn that a special shuttle has been arranged by the tour company that also runs my lodging. Q200 (about $25) will get me to Todas Santos http://www.wikipedia/wiki/todas_santos/ and back.

Todas Santos Cuchumatan in the municipality of Huehuetenago sits in the Sierra de los Cuchumatan mountains at an elevation of 2500 metres.

To get to Todas Santos will take a four hour bus ride.

The inflatable neck pillow I have taken with me is pretty useless except to use as a back support. The seat backs are low and I have nothing to rest my head and neck on. I keep hoping that no one else will share my already cramped double seat space as I need all the comfort my long frame will allow. While I want to experience all the trip, I am tired and want to rest a bit in the beginning.

It is 6:00 am as we all gather to fill the small bus. We are 16 people in total where we should be 21. Five of the group have not shown up nursing sleep from a long night of playing at bars I suppose the night before.There are frantic phone calls by the driver as we wait.

Waiting is fine in Guatemala where time sometimes seems to stand still. So we wait some more. Then that decision and the waiting is over as we leave 30 minutes late. Being late is common place in Guatemala. Being late is accepted. Waiting is part of life.

Morning light is creeping into view as the still empty streets whiz by my sleepy eyes.

People wait on corners for some other bus to take them to other directions and places to be. We pass a market of vendors busy preparing their goods for sales to come. They look weary and their day is just about to begin.

The road twists and turns and meanders. A road plan here that was never planned. The direction the road takes seems to have been catered to the whims and notions of people without that plan and they all seem to connect to some other road or places unheard of.

We stop somewhere for that leg stretch, for some people to smoke and yes for the bano (bathroom) break.

I am amazed, as the altitude we sit at, is nearly 4000 metres. The air is thin and cold but refreshing.

I look about and the view reminds me of something. The landscape triggers memories of a life I knew of as a boy in north Wales. The landscape is stark, with open windswept low vegetation, a barren land with cloud covered memories. I feel as if I am in Wales, my birthplace.

Halfway we stop in Huehuetenango and pick up to two extra travelers.

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huehuetenango.

Huehuetenago is better know as Huehue pronounced (wheywhey).
Huehue is a maze of avenidas (avenues) and calle's (streets) with no planned pattern. Colonial style buildings and other structures with no pattern or regular architectural plan connected in an offset assortment.

I notice that the driver keeps stopping at the side of the road and speaks to passersby. He does it three or maybe four times. It makes me wonder, then I realize he is asking for directions from Huehue to Todas Santos. It is not a comforting thought as the driver keeps stopping and asks people at the sides of the road for directions. I can only chuckle at his malady, which here seems normal.

We arrive in Todas Santos and there is no formal place to park. The road is wet and muddy from recent drizzle and rain. The bus pulls into tight space at the side of a gas station.

We disembark and all take our separate ways following the ever growing crowd of people as it slowly sweeps and glides down through and into the town centre. Mud and rain puddles are everywhere and we walk to avoid getting our feet wet. It is raining a light drizzle, the kind that wets you without you knowing it.

This event in Todas Santos happens once a year and coincides with what is known as the day of the dead. It is a very different horse race than I am used to and called in the Mam dialect "skach koyl. There are some 23 Maya dialects in Guatemala and Mam is spoken in the regions of San Marcos and Huehuetenango by close to 500,000 people.

http://newsletter.drachen.org/Jan2007/jan07-guatkites.html

All saints day where kites are flown to honour the ancestors. Where people gather in cemeteries to celebrate there dead families and friends.

Riders in all stages of drunkenness compete in the horse race at Todas Santos. The riders are very colourful in their lavish and brightly coloured outfits.

They are also very very drunk.

The town is very very drunk in a five day long celebration that honours the lives of the dead. For one week before the infamous race of Todos Santos it is customary for everyone in the town to get drunk. They drink all day and all night long, yes all week long and yes everyone is very very drunk.

I spoke to several horses and riders.

The horses seem to communicate better and without a language or perhaps a language of their own. The horses are smaller than what I am used to as we could stare endlessly into each others eyes.

Todos Santos an event not to be missed.
If you only visit Guatemala for a short time.... please take the time to experience Todos Santos..

Todos Santos in a land like no other.

With new friendships made and adventures happening safely, in a place called the "land of eternal spring", Guatemala.










i

Elevation, Bugs, Metric and more

ELEVATION!!!
I used to live at 5000 ft with no difficulty. Is it my age or for the fact that I lived at sea level for so long that I have had more difficulty than usual at close to 8000 ft? Age could be a factor here of course and the fact that prior to arriving here in Guatemala I had a bug of some sort.
  


BUGS!!!
There are bugs here. I am not speaking of the kind that crawl or fly about and become a menace. Yes Guatemala has those as well, but they are mostly on the two coastal or more tropical areas. What I am talking about the kind that invade your very being. The kind that make you ill. You can decide to get all manner of shots prior to coming here, the very fact is that you will have to get your body, your immune system, adjusted to the bugs that live here. 

There was a big decision I had to make last year before my trip to Guatemala on whether I should get the HEP A/B shots. There are arguments both sides,. The one thing that is for certain is that the drug company that makes the drug is very keen on you getting it. The drugs are expensive. This little nasty beastly bugs are famous and have a fantastic marketing program that has one believing that laying on the sand in any tropical country will have you contract the condition. The very simple fact is that you can contract this condition at home.
  


The PHARMACIA!!!
Get sick, get ill, get hurt and need meds??? Solution. Here in Guatemala just go to the Pharmacia and tell them what you need and your meds will be given to with a payment. The danger is of course not knowing what you need. The second danger and bigger danger is not being able to tell them what you need. If you already have a prescription of your drug of choice and need it refilled then that is usually no problem at all. The one thing for certain whatever you get at the Pharmacia will be a lot cheaper than what you are used to paying at home. 
  


KEEPING WARM!!!
While it does get cold here (where I am) in Xela, Guatemala there is no snow. The temperature is temperate at 2330 metres. During November to early February it can get into the low single digits Celsius with signs of frost, but NO SNOW. 

Cold is many things to many people. Here in Guatemala at this elevation cold is felt as a dry cold. Most houses and hotels and hostels do not have any form or source of heat.The windows are single pain so no insulation value there. What the places here do have for that source of warmth at night is wonderfully warm woollen blankets and lots of them. 

What you need to bring if you are going to be here in Guatemala during the colder dry season is warmer clothes. Two items that I was advised to bring and did, was a pair of light gloves and a toque. 
 This was great advice which I followed last year and yes now on this trip as well. A sleeping bag liner sheet can also give you some added comfort. This year I brought along what is termed a tropical sleeping bag. The bag has a sheet on one side and minimal loft insulation on the other side. Depending on the value of warmth needed you decide which side is on the up side, the sheet or the loft.  The difference here in Xela, Guatemala is that while is it on the coolish (brrr) side at night, during the day it will be in the low twenties (C) so really warm.



METRIC MEASUREMENT!!!
All temperatures written here are in Celsius. Most of the world including Guatemala uses the Celsius scale of temperature measurement. Distances are in the metric system here as is measurement of volume and sizes.

So if you are from the USA, which does not use the metric system, get a good conversion table or or device or better still just adapt to the way it is here. 

The MAYA civilization, a people well ahead of their time used a very accurate form of measurement, the decimal or metric system. The Maya were able with closely and with great accuracy chart the stars and constellations, develop both a short count (still used today) and long count calender. Remember according to the Maya calender the world will end in 2012. Or is that the long count calander will end and ready to start again?

The Maya also invented the wheel, but discarded it as useless except for toys for children.



DANGER!!!
I an still astounded by people that think that Guatemala is the most dangerous place to travel to or live in. Yes there is danger. Yes there are killings. Yes there is violence. Yes there is corruption. But all this happens in every country in the world.

Your country is dangerous. Your country has murders. Your country is violent. Your country is corrupt.



GUN CONTROL!!!
Yes Guatemala has a gun and registry law. Purchasing a gun here in Guatemala is relativity easy even for a tourist. You can purchase a gun and carry a concealed gun here in Guatemala. The gun just needs to be registered. You will have to undergo a criminal record check to get a gun. You CANNOT carry a gun in plain sight. You CANNOT own or use any form of military gun or ammunition that is armour piercing. Ammunition for guns has a restriction on the amount of ammunition you can purchase for that particular gun. 



GUARDS!!!
There are more armed guards than there are police officers. There are more guns in the hands of private people than the police forces have. Am I speaking about the USA or Guatemala? The fact is the situation is the same in both countries so I am speaking about both countries. 



SPANISH!!!
Spanish is the official language of Guatemala. Saying that the Maya people have a language collection of their own. There are approximately 23 different Maya languages used in Guatemala. Each is specific to a different areas. There are also a spattering of other world languages spoken here by tourists and travellers. 

Spanish and the relevance of the language is important here in Guatemala. Yes you can get by with a few Spanish phrases and words. Yes you can adapt parts of Spanish and mix that with something termed Spanglish. What you will miss by doing this is an amazing culture and people of Guatemala. 

If you want to get by on just English or just a little bit of Spanish, then go to either Belize or Costa Rica. The latter, Costa Rica is now over run with English speaking expats. What happens to a country when that happens is that so much of the value of the country is lost in the process.  What also happens is that the cost of living goes up and housing becomes so expensive that only the expats can afford to live in some places there. What also happens is that crime increases.

Speaking only some Spanish here in Guatemala  mans that you miss out on so much. Yes I am still struggling.



ADJUSTING!!!
It takes time to adjust to many things here in Guatemala. You will need time to adjust to the Elevation, the Bugs, the Climate, the Metric system (for some), the chatter about Danger, the need for a Gun, the observance of armed Guards everywhere and yes learning Spanish.

Adjusting is also about slowing down. 

Adjusting is about not rushing off to do everything right away. Adjusting is all about about getting into that "lets do it tomorrow" attitude, about not planning for everything. 



GUATEMALA
Remember you cannot see Guatemala or experience what Guatemala is in few days or weeks. 

If you are planning a trip here to Guatemala and only have a couple of weeks to do that in, it is important to keep in mind that Guatemala is just so special a place that just two weeks will not do it justice. 

Do some research, choose a few locations within Guatemala (or let me help you there) and yes please come here and experience what this amazing country has to offer. 

What you really have to do when you come to Guatemala is just chill out, learn to smile a lot and yes relax and have fun. Most importantly though please learn to adopt the feeling of  if we cannot do it today.... "lets do it tomorrow."

Guatemala!!! 

"land of Eternal Spring" 

I love it here.

Retire in Guatemala....IT JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT BETTER

GUATEMALA 

The LAND OF ETERNAL SPRING

Just imagine retiring in a country with no winter. 
Guatemala has two season, that dry one and that wet one.
It has several geographical zones from the temperate Highlands to the tropical coasts

Retire in Guatemala??

Well NOW You Can!!!!

Why not..

 NOW... It is so possible 
And at 
Less than half the price or either 
Costa Rica or Belize

Now is the best time to be here. If you are thinking of retirement..... well yes why not RETIRE right here in GUATEMALA.

The recession has actually lowered real estate and rental prices.

A downside in any economy is never good news
but for you a retiree, it will mean 

Incredible savings,

Incredible opportunities

An incredible chance to retire in a lifestyle you have always wanted. Check out Expats exchange  http://www.expatexchange.com .

People always shy away from Guatemala. People always think that Guatemala is a dangerous and unstable country to be in, let alone retire in. People listen to gossip. Gossip that usually comes from someone that has never been to Guatemala. I am here and know and see this gossip and am appalled when I read this nonsense.

Did you know that there is more violence in the city of 
Los Angeles than in all Mexico and Guatemala put together. 

Yet no one ever says.... do NOT go to Los Angeles. 

WHY?? 

Why, because people listen to the wrong people. It is just easier to do that... and sometimes people feel they believe in what they think is the truth.

I have been in Guatemala now on five extended trips and I can guarantee you that it is as safe, if not safer than most places in the world.

Most of my true friends are Guatemalan. 
My connections are with the Guatemalan people. 
That is what makes this opportunity that I can offer you so rewarding for you. 

It is important who you know in any country. 
It is important that you have a reputable person who will work with you to show you the opportunities.

I have the contacts, the legal people the resources to make this work for you.

So please set aside all those rumors and all that wrong information.  

The time is right. 

The opportunity is right

Together 

we

can make this 

work for you.

Retirement 

in 

Guatemala

never got so easy

You may never get another chance 

FRIENDSHIPS

Friendships.

Last year I went tio Guatemala to learn a language and instead learned about myself. The experience changed me and for the better.

I met many people on my travels. There is though one singular subject that I found to be confusing. This came from travellers that I met that where seeking "expats." Expats to me are people that are living in a country and from somewhere else. Expats speak English mostly.  Expats for me would be either Canadian or people from the states.

When I look back at that time wonderful  in Guatemala and ask myself who are my friends there, the word "Expats" doesn't enter the equation. All my friends in Guatemala are Guatemalan.

Why would I purposely seek out groups of people and friendships that are Canadian or from the states? The pleasure and the joy of experiencing Guatemala is advancing my knowledge and my understanding of the Guatemalan culture and the people. Associating myself only and primarily with people from Canada or the USA, cancels out that experience.  

Mi amigos son gente Guatemala

"STARING AT WALLS"

I was reminded recently of how many people when they retire just sit somewhere and "stare at walls."
Fine I guess, if you like just turning off who you are. But not fine for so many people that have so much in them to share with others.

Sharing something you have, something you know, something you delight in and allowing someone else to gain from that sharing is nothing short of magic.

Hola, mi nombre es Gavino...(hello my name is Gavin).
I am offering anyone that opportunity to share with others what you know and understand. With a group of professional Guatemalans we are going to build homes for people that cannot afford homes. Yes, there are many well known names out there building homes. The catch is that a candidate for that opportunity first has to have land. Their land of course becomes the equity for that arranged loan.

What happens to those with no land? Who will help them?

We want to. Will you help us to help them?

There are many plans to generate that cash flow needed.
An alignment with a recognized Spanish language school is one, where participants would learn espanol part of the day and the rest they would (physically) build homes.


Another is me being a retirement consultant for people that wish to retire in the land of eternal spring. Here I would offer my knowledge and connections for people to see the advantages of retirement in Guatemala. Believe me when I say that a couple can retire in a great and comfortable lifestyle for less than a thousand dollars (CAD) a month.

Another is your idea...

Or would prefer to stare at walls?

Take a look at my blog for contact info and more information. There are NO WALLS there.
 http://www.heartquest-guatemala.blogspot.com

Gracias,
Gavino

Guatemala, Please Help the People..

It was a reminder, something I felt.  I was laying in my warm comfy bed and the rain was tapping its dance on the tin roof above. There was something in the shadows, a stir from my memories.

Pasaje Enriquez is a long high arcade passage with wrought iron facades at either end. It is situated on the west side of Parque Centroamerica in Xela Guatemala. Originally designed and constructed in 1898 for high end shops it's high partly glassed covered roof, with restaurants and bars is the hang out for university and the tourists crowds.

Now it was raining memories.

Puddles in the mall had grown to impassible lakes of wetness. Dripping rain everywhere as it collected below, from far above where the towering glass met the rusting metal roof above. The party crowd were there, it was loud and happy.

At one end in the shadows I felt a stir. People, children, a family huddled in some shadows. Huddled for dryness, for quiet, for safety in the dark marauding night with its ever wetness. Huddled on the cold dark concrete.

Building homes for people, is a purpose I cannot put down. While there are many organizations doing this, helping, there is that catch that money is possible to help them, if they have land.

What then happens to the people with no land?

What happens to the family huddled in the doorways and the shadows .

Who will help them?

I want to.

I want to build these people homes.

Give them new hope, away from the shadows and the fears of survival.

Help me to Help the People.

ANGELS WANTED

I am looking for people that are Angels

I ask "Angels Wanted".. and people always ask me what do I mean? As in  what is an angel?

It is a fair question and yes one that deserves a fair answer.

An Angel is a person that wishes to be involved in assisting a project. This could be anything from donating funds, to providing marketing assistance, to promotions, to book keeping, to arranging trips, to just talking to everyone they know about a certain project.

An Angel is someone that gives their time and talent and energies to better the lives of someone else.  Angels asks for nothing in return. Angels understands the true meaning of love. 

Angels give love without conditions.

When I was in Guatemala last year I met several people all with similar if not the same passion I have and that is to give back. To provide for instance housing for people that cannot afford housing. While there are several groups doing that in Guatemala, what I/we want to accomplish is a little different.

 

Some well known organizations provide housing opportunities, but it is not for free. Someone pays that mortgage, or someone is responsible for that bank loan, someone provides that labour. Some organizations will only deal with people that have titled land. 

What about those that have no land holdings?

Who will care for them?

Who will love them enough to provide a home for them?

 Angels Wanted

I went to Guatemala 

to learn a language. 
What happened instead 
is that I found

my heart.

The experience

of being in Guatemala 

changed me

&

for the better 

Angels Wanted

Angels wanted... Yes I am looking for people, very special people. They are Angels, people who have a need to give back, to help in some way. 

Guatemala a hidden gem in Central America is the poorest country next to Haiti in the region. As in any developing country, there is no plan for any future as the struggle just to survive is a survival for a now. Survival is that basic need.   

Angels wanted

Many people do not have a home, or if they do it is not a safe one. Safe in a country that sits on eight fault lines.

 The plan I have will enable safe housing for those that cannot afford housing.

There are many groups that do this in Guatemala.They build cheaply constructed houses out of cinder block just like they built houses in Haiti.

Angels Wanted

I want to find Angels to help me build SAFE housing.

While in Guatemala I was blessed with meeting several professional people that all share my same vision. I call these people Angels.

Help us Help the People

Angels Wanted

We are presently in the planning stages setting into place an NGO that will handle this seemingly immense project. Land is being sought out in areas where housing need is critical. Support is always ongoing. 

Under this umbrella of hope and with your support, the realization of this project will go from a dream to help, to the warmth and comfort of love that a home can supply.

Angels wanted.. please help.

gavjonessm@gmail.com

GUATEMALA RETIREMENT

Retirement?

Escape the rat race?

The economy?

Just traveling?

Want to have a different experience?

If you are considering an alternative living arrangement, that early retirement or just plain want to get away from it all.... please read on.

Guatemala land of eternal spring is truly a hidden gem in Central America that could be perfect for you. 

 Hola, mi nombre es Gavin

 (Hello my name is Gavin)

  En Guatemala se me conoce como Gavino

 (In Guatemala I am known as Gavino)  

I am here to help you....
and while a lot of other people might say that to you, I am actually in Guatemala. 

I have all the right stuff and the right contacts that will allow you to retire and/or live in a style of comfort that you will easily become accustom to. 

Everyone has their different lifestyle and needs... and while that determines your costs and budgets is is possible to live a decent, relaxing life on a lot less than most people are accustomed to...

  As a couple

Just imagine living on less than

$1200.00 per month

As a single person

Imagine living on less than

$600.00 per month

Just imagine that.

Being able to live a comfortable lifestyle on less than $1200 per month (for a couple). 


This amount would cover all your living costs in a furnished complex with everything you need in it, including TV and High Speed Internet. 


Most gated complexes come with maid services and 24 hour security. 

Now that $1200 a month for two people would include all housing, food and your basic transportation. 


I know that it all sounds so unbelievable. 

The fact is it is not!!

It is an actuality!!

The fact is that a lot of people are able to live on a lot less and still enjoy a great lifestyle.

I am here to assist you

To show you how 
  

I am here to show you the options and the choices available that will enhance your living experience at incredible inexpensive costs.

What I have to offer you is invaluable information and those special contacts and a knowledge of a lifestyle that could be yours.

I am not a tour guide...but can put you in contact with the best Guatemalan tour people. 

I am not a real estate person...  but again can introduce you to people like this. 

I am not a rental agent... and nor do I benefit from your choices of living. 

********

When I first arrived in Guatemala it was to learn a language. I had no intention of staying in Guatemala or in calling it my home. I actually had no idea where Guatemala was...

When I am away I miss it... 


The experience of being in Guatemala changed me, changed me for the better...


The experience allowed me to see and understand what is really important in life...

******** 

I am a 

Retirement Consultant

I am here to assist you

to show you options

You make all the decisions not me... I will just guide you...

You make up your own list of places you would like to visit and whatever else you want to see and experience on your trip into Guatemala... 


I will make all the arrangements for you ...
Including... 

meeting you at the airport 

arranging your comfortable transportation 

advising you

and

look after your needs 

to make it so easy for you 

Imagine living in a tropical paradise, the sounds of the ocean lapping on the shores. 

Guatemala has two coastlines.

The smaller Atlantic with its lazy sun drenched lifestyle. 

The Pacific with long black sand beaches and waves that attract that surfing set. 

Perhaps you would prefer the peaceful tranquility of Lago Atitlan rimmed with cone shaped mountains and quaint Maya villages. 

Then there are the rolling hills and mountains of the western Highlands. So many options.

Whatever you want, I can assist you with the right choices, the right options for you.

I have such wonderful contacts and people that I trust. 

Professional people all available for your benefit. 

Moving to paradise should be non-stressful. 

I am here to help you and to allow any transition you need, to be an easy one.

Living in paradise should be inexpensive.... or cheap...

Paradise 

for less than a

 $1200 per month 

per couple

Paradise

for less than

$600 

 single person

Allow me to show you 
a better way.. 

join me...

Here in Guatemala

Time to stop thing.... time for action and the rest will just fall into place...


 

Travel Tips - packing my way

Packing Tips.

Packing as everyone knows takes time and practice.

My trip was somewhat defined, yet I wanted to travel with an open ended schedule rather than something fixed.

In my first trip to Central America I was going away for an undisclosed period of time knowing it could be up to six months in duration. That fact alone made packing and what to take, how to take it, what to carry it in, all a daunting task. 

I was not going to be staying in any luxury hotels where someone else carries your bag or there would be an elevator present. I was most certainly sometimes going to be in hostels and possible renting an apartment as well. But I just didn't know. When I travel, I plan so far ahead and leave some details to fall into place for themselves.

I needed to be versatile. I was going to Guatemala for a month followed with a trip south to Nicaragua and who knows where else.

I had two choices. 
Well maybe there where more than two choices, but there were two main choices.

One was to pull my very large rolling bomb proof world travelling suitcase with me. Or two, carry what I thought I would need in two packs, one on my back and the other on my front. 

That sounds heavy and uncomfortable I know, but what actually happens when you carry two bags this way, they counter-balance each other. The big bag on my back would become balanced and seeming more comfortable with the one on my front.

You have to experience that to really understand what I mean, but it does work.

Both system of travel, the rolling bag and the backpack bag system both have great advantages and both have some problems.

The rolling bag would hold so much more, but did I want to be hauling and pulling it everywhere, even though the wheels are what they call skateboard wheels. These wheels are rugged and able to take a lot of abuse. They are totally different to spinner suitcase wheels which are designed for smooth surfaces. 

I knew the roads and sidewalks would be somewhat rough. But there maybe sand or earth or rough gravel to deal with as well.
Dragging a heavy bag over that would be a nightmare. 

Spinners.

Spinners are suitcase bags usually hardshell with four wheels instead of two wheels. They are great for airports and hotel lobbies, but not much else. Spinners are easy to handle as they glide easily
in airports or places with smooth sidewalks or smooth surfaces roadways or some sidewalks. 

Where I was headed Spinners would be a nightmare.
I have seen people trying to get spinners moving over rough ground. The wheels get easily torn off and sometimes will toss the bags away all together..

.Everyone takes too much stuff anyway, me included, so I opted for my backpack. My backpack is smaller and classified as a climbing pack as it is smaller than your regular backpack. It is a top loader so everyting has to be pushed in from the top, but it does have a waterproof zipper down one side for easier access to items stowed in the bottom. It also has what is called an expandable lid, which mean it can be expanded for more items.

Being a small pack I was now really limited to what I could take. My front pack was a carry on, that could be converted to a day-pack and yes not hold much. 


I was not going to carry a laptop, something I did regret later on. I had no room for a laptop anyway.
My plan was to actually write my journal long hand just like Ernest Hemingway used to write, dreaming with hopes of churning out some success in the process. The problem with writing it that paper gets very bulky after a while. You end up having more paper than the space that a laptop has.

Cameras.

My large bulky digital (Nikon) SLR camera, I would also leave behind along with that lightweight tripod I really wanted to take with me. 

I had picked up a cheap point and shoot digital camera and four SD cards. The logic behind four cards is that I would rotate them, so that if I physically lost one, well I would still have the others. 

I have seen some people and they have one huge capacity card and yes when they lose that card well then of course they lose everything.


Locks.

Some people will place a lock on their bags or suitcases to prevent tampering at airports or on buses. At any border crossings if they cannot get into your bag they will cut that lock. So what I do instead of using a lock is to carry several Zip Ties. These are those plastic gadgets that slide into each other. They are used in automobiles under the hood in the engine compartment to keep wires tidy. 

That meant to me that if a border official needed to get into my bag (and if they want to they will) well the Zip Ties can easily be replaced. They can even be purchased locally in hardware stores and markets practically anywhere today.. even were I was going to, Latin America hardware stores.


Repairs.

I always carry a small sewing kit with me with a variety of sewing needles, pins and thread, a cloth measuring tape along with a small scissors. Feed the sewing needles through some stiff patching material and wrap them up so the points are protected. The best repair material for a quick fix is good duct tape.

You can also purchase duct tape in local hardware stores and marketplaces. There are different qualities to duct tape and I try to find the best quality to take with me. Duct tape can and does have an incredible number of repair uses. I also carry a small amount of electrical tape with me as well. 

Instead of taking a whole roll of duct tape or electrical tape with me what I do is I roll off a few of metres (yards) and wrap it around a water bottle.


Zip-Lock Bags

I also take lots of Zip-Lock plastic bags with me. They have such a variety of use. If it rains heavily and my pack gets a little wet, then the socks and underwear kept inside Zip-Lock bags inside my pack will be dry. My toiletries and first aid kit are always in a Zip-Lock bag. I keep one for my camera to keep it dry. I have used them as water carries, for snacks and yes you can always buy them locally.

Clothing options 

My clothes also had to be versatile. I knew that I had to plan for staying in several climate zones from arid hot highlands to tropical utopias. My clothes had to be both practical and versatile. 

I do a lot of shopping  at MEC, a Coop style equipment store in Canada for a lot of my gear and clothes. http://www.mec.ca/

I ended up with the following....  (trip # 1)

Five pairs of both socks and underwear fast drying.
Three short sleeve cotton shirts.
Two long nylon sleeves fast dry shirts with sleeves that could be rolled and buttoned up.
Three pairs of nylon pants fast drying.
One pair of cotton cargo pants.
One pair of nylon fast drying cargo convertible to shorts pants. 
One T-shirt, 
One zip tee shirt.
A rain jacket.
A full zip light fleece sweater.
One pair of sandals.
One pair of approach (running) shoes.
My heavy leather hiking boots.
One pair of lightweight fleece gloves.
One toque.
My Tilley hat.

Shorts 

Only the gringos wear shorts, unless one is in the hotter tropical areas. They are fine for the beach and those hot humid tropical resort areas, but look out of place in the interior cities and towns. You will be noticed when you don't want to be noticed. 

At higher elevations the UV rays are always extreme, so best to cover up. In the jungle areas again shorts are a no no, unless you enjoy being bitten to death. Bitten to death by more varieties of mosquitoes than I know about.


Footwear

I like light weight approach shoes which are really below the ankle hiking boots. 

I also like the low cut hiking boots that support the ankles better than lower shoes. Sandals and the closed toe variety can also double as a shoe. Flip-flop sandals are a must and especially necessary in hostel showers that you share with strangers. You do not want to share anything they may have and are carrying about on their feet..

Any travel in jungle areas, you should be wearing just under the knee rubber boots. All the locals wear them. Their one intent is of rubber boots is to protect you against snake bites.


Cold days

A toque, a pair of gloves, a thin lightweight synthetic vest and things you can layer up with.... a pair of lightweight long-johns (yeah really) and don't forget your "hot water bottle.." 


My kit. 

My travel kit also included a pair of hiking poles, a combo first aid and personal care bag,  headlamp light, sunglasses and a whistle.

On my next trip this was modified and the heavy leather hiking boots (worn very little) would be changed for the weight of a netbook computer and my SLR camera. I would also take the tripod.

Since my next trip will be more centrally based, I will be planning on renting an apartment ($ 75 to $150 a month) and therefore I would be taking the rolling suitcase with a climbing pack tucked inside it. 

I will be taking the climbing pack to use on smaller trips such as a visit to El Mirador an incredible Maya ruin site in northern Guatemala.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Mirador

There are always limitations wearing the same clothes over and over. Yes you do actually do get used to wearing the same clothes, but for practical purposes certain items wear out faster. I went through three pairs of pants and two shirts, all my socks, the T-shirt and my approach runners.

Sizes

It is though, very cheap to buy anything in Latin American countries for most people. Many of the things you take with you can be purchased locally and and at a fraction of the cost or at home.

Check out Megapaca a sort of cross between Goodwill and Value Village... Clothing, footwear, household goods, furniture and all at incredible cheap prices... 
http://www.megapaca.com.gt/

But being my height at 6'3" that made it impossible for me to buy any kind of shoes. 
I did though visit several tailors to find out what a pair of pants would cost for me, to be tailor made. I was shocked on how cheap it was.

Megapaca is a chain of used clothing mostly sent down from the USA is an excellent place to purchase clothing at a fraction of normal costs. Here I was able to buy shirts and pants...
I bought two shirts, a pair of pants, a pull-over style fleece sweater, two t-shirts and it cost me the equivalent of $5.00. 

The downside of shopping for me was my large shoe size at 13 or 46 European. I looked in countless markets and shoe stores looking for a fit. The fact is people in Latin America are just smaller and have smaller feet than I do. I think that most people generally have smaller feet than I do.

So next time neatly tucked inside my large rolling bag I will be taking a few pairs of spare shoes along. The only restriction is weight on planes, so light shoes.


Packing.

Socks and underwear get tucked into shoes you're not wearing. Roll everything and pack that way, more gets in. Remember in packing, you will be wearing some of your clothing on that list. I wore the heavy hiking boots on the plane, to save space and weight.

Choose clothing wisely

The best type of clothing is wrinkle free, dries fast, wears well and has a high UV protection. 

High UV protection because at high elevation, the UV rating is always extreme. 

In Quetzaltenango or Xela you will be at an elevation of 2330 metres (7600 ft) and here you will need that extra UV protection. 

All of my shirts and pants as well as my Tilley hat, have a high UV protection rating.  http://www.tilley.com/

Clothes that dry fast are great for hand washing and drying over night.  Being caught in a sudden rain downpour (and you will experience this) , if your clothes are the fast dry kind of clothes the wind will dry them and you out, pretty fast. 

The broad brimmed hat I have been wearing for thirteen years now is made of nylon, wears exceptionally well, is water resistant, dries fast, has a safe UV rating and is guaranteed against loss (two years) and comes with a lifetime warranty (against wear).


I spent the majority of the time in Guatemala at a high hot elevation with an arid landscape, but when that rainy season hit it was really very wet. I purchased a cheap umbrella's locally and in the rainy season (May to October) that is a must. 

Cold

When I first arrived early in February the nights were cold not cool and where hovering around 4 to 5 degrees Celsius (40 F). I was glad to have the fleece jacket, toque and gloves with me. I also had a sleeping bag sheet liner which added some warmth in unheated rooms. I slept some nights under four wool blankets with just the top of my toque covered head peeking out.

I say the following with caution. Some things you actually do not need to take with you. If you do take these items, try getting smaller size containers. The reason is that they can be purchased locally and a lot cheaper.

Cheaper

You can purchase cheaper sun lotions, cold medicines most prescription drugs, soap, toothpaste, band-aides, shampoo, denture aids, etc and all a lot cheaper. The one thing that is difficult to purchase I found is an antihistamine (diphenhydramine) an allergy drug such as Benedryl. 

Buy a large supply or get generic ones before you leave.

Prescription Drugs.

If you run out of a prescription drug you are taking well all you need to do to replace that is visit a pharmacia (drug store). No doctors visit needed. In fact if you need any drug (except narcotics) all you do is ask for it and they give it to you over the counter. Well you do have to pay for it.


Mosquito's

On a visit to Monterrico on the Pacific Coast side of Guatemala, I was bitten at least a couple of hundred times by mosquitoes. It felt like 2000 of the critters had bitten me, but it was probably just a couple of hundred. Two tabs of the allergy pills with a topical antibiotic cream applied to the bites and everything and that itchy sensation just vanished.
Mosquito nets are especially good in tropical locations and in most heavily invested places are supplied in hotels and hostels.


Cell Phones

I did not take an alarm clock with me or a cell phone. I purchased an inexpensive pay-as-you-go cell phone that came with an alarm, camera, the works. The cell phone structure there down south is very much cheaper than here in Canada. Texting is even cheaper. 

Flashy

I tried to take clothing that looked neat but not flashy. I dressed down, made my pack look older and even stuck a strip of duct tape to my pack to make it look like it was damaged. I wore a cheap watch and no jewelry.


Be discreet

While most people are honest, you have to realize that you are travelling or living in a very poor country and the expensive watch, or gold chain or high tech camera or electronic toy you have with you is worth more than most people earn in a year. So travel discreetly.



Safety

I believe that Guatemala is safe to travel and live in. Danger is always present in any large city in any country. 

I never carried a lot of money on me. ATM's are everywhere. I was always aware of people around me.
Money belts and dummy wallets do not work. If someone wants your cash, they will take it, period. It is better to just give it to them, so don't carry a lot of cash on you. For one thing you will not need much on you.

I never carried a wallet ever. I always carry a small locally made zippered closure purse that I carry my cash in. Some people carry what is termed a dummy wallet. A dummy wallet may have some out of date credit cards or debit cards and a small amount of money. If you think that will work, think again as it will not! Thieves in any country are not stupid and they will treat you worse if you try to fool them. 

Don't invite violence into your trip.
Carry very little cash at any time and if for some reason you have an unfortunate experience of being robbed, give the thief what they want. 

You life's not worth losing... 



Hold-all wallet

When I first went to Guatemala I carried both a money belt and a nifty hold-all wallet. The hold-all wallet had a place for everything... my passport, my wallet, my money, credit cards, debit cards, the works. A nice tidy and organized package. The problem here is, that if you lose that or someone takes it from you, you lose everything. It is better to split everything up...

Keep money in different places on you in different packages. If you have to travel with your passport and credit, debit cards put them in different locations on your person.


Going Out

I was told to not go out after dark. Since it gets dark at about 6:30 pm every day that was going to be difficult. 

If I went out for the evening I never carried much cash on me. I would carry small amounts of cash in several pockets and once I even put some in my sock. I also always carried a coloured scanned copy (not a photocopy) of my passport on me and left everything else locked up where I was staying. Photocopies fade and are affected by heat. Scanning while more expensive is more permanent.

The one thing to note here is that I never had any problems at all.
I never once have ever felt physically threatened.

Choices

Whatever your own personal choices are for travel, what you think you need to take with you, that amount can usually be cut in half. It does though all depend on how long you are going to go for. If you you will be travelling all the time, you will need a smaller pack or bag unless you really enjoy lugging a heavy load bag about all the time.

If you will be located with a fixed base you may need additional gear.

Remember you should leave some space in whatever your baggage is, for all those wonderful and incredible bargains your eyes will be screaming out for. Of course you can always mail them back home.

Dress smart, pack well, travel light, have fun and enjoy the land of trees, the land of eternal spring.....enjoy Guatemala. 

Gavino