FAUX PAS

FAUX PAS

Falling and losing ones balance and in the process preventing one self from falling and blundering in the process. That is exactly the truth of the matter. But truth here is not at odds. It is cultural differences. 

What saved me practically has ruined me. In the process of gaining balance flailing arms reach out and the derriere of one of Guatemala oldest virgins is touched. She should have liked it! 


In the process of rectifying everything I have apologized five times, not more than that. In fact it seems a daily event.

Is it something in my use of Spanish or their belief that my grope was intentional?  Perhaps in Guatemala a maidens status as untouched is important. But in to-days reality that is hardly the case or an issue.

So here online I am once again apologizing. 

I am sorry 

 It was an accident

There was no intent to do this

An incident best forgotten to be placed in the bowels of time. The lower realms of reality. Your derriere is just not one I lust after.

Believe me with my experience of life I look to a derriere with more earthly attributes. 

• Derriere's with travel experience. 
• Derriere's with life experience. 
• Derriere's more touched than untouched. 

So getting to the bottom (no pun intended) of this issue, to be perfectly honest your derriere Senorita is a derriere that just does not fit into my idea of a derriere to be touched. 


What binds all this past thinking together, is that machismo attitude that we may always look but never touch before marriage. 

Of course afterwards that does not really change either, with wives as chattel rather than holding any equal status. They must ask their husbands permission to do anything outside of the home. 

To me this is a step into a distant path that our countries (north of Mexico) have evolved from. Women and men hold equal status in Canada. 

A derriere there accidentally touched would have perhaps provoke a slap, a smile or on the first apology everything would be settled and forgiven. 


But not in Guatemala. Here, there are strong cultural differences, that block any equality between women and men. Here a struggle exists for that equality where women and children are brutalized by husbands locked in ancient traditions. 

The slap of a derriere is thus an insult on the very fabric of these people who ideas are held in distant times. It takes change to make more change.


The next step in this archaic attitude will be either a visit from the police or a mob ready to hang me.


Again I am truly sorry for whatever this mishap has caused you.

It was an accident and I had no intent to slap that "untouched" derriere. Yes the very through of doing it is against my lowest thinking. I am now all bottomed out for excuses.

CALMING DOWN in 2012

It has calmed down here a bit. Although here in Guatemala it never ever gets really quiet or calm. This is after-all Guatemala with its own brand of calmness.. a sort of noisy calm. The fireworks still happen.. in moderation. 

Someone somewhere once said everything in moderation. Moderation is good for you. If  you stay here any length of time you will understand what moderation means. 

I am staying at Cafe Nim Suthttp://www.hostalnimsut.com with a claim for the best terrace views in Xela. If you do not visit this place at least once while visiting Xelahttp://www.wicke you are missing out on a lot.  

Aside from the view "Cafe Nim Sut and Hostal" has what few hostels have, thick walls. Quality of sleep can suffer in other places with those paper thin walls. That calmness needed at night.

Xela feels like home to me now. At an elevation close to 8000 feet the air is dry and thin. It does take a little time to get used to the elevation. You can of course while here, opt for a different view by hiking up Santa Maria the now dormant volcano that sits 10 kilometers just outside of Xela. From 12450 feet the view is exhilarating and can give a sense of great calm.


My story with Santa Maria is somewhat odd. Last year while reviewing some pictures that I had taken, I happened upon one that truly amazed me. It actually sent shivers down my spine.  

Thirteen years prior I had painted that volcano without ever seeing it. I had no idea of its existence and in fact I had no knowledge of where Guatemala was except as some place on a map. 

So was I here before, in some other lifetime, or parallel universe, or quirk in time, or was I meant to be here? I have no answer to that at all. But when I look at Santa Maria from my bedroom window it does give me a sense of calm. Perhaps we have a history?


Visit Guatemala as the world is ending soon... The Maya people used a baktun http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baktunt  that measured time on what is called a long count calender. This baktun is the last or thirteenth baktuns. 

The number thirteen played with some importance with the Maya people.  That number 13 has that connection with me as well with that painting I created.  

Fear mongers have it that the world as we know it, will all end December 21, 2012. So if you want to see all of what Guatemala has to offer and yes of course experience Guatemala's calmness, at least do it before the world ends. After 12-21-12 nothing will be calm ever again.