Hello to all my wonderful readers.
I cannot believe the amount of readers I have and yes from all parts of this shrinking world.
After a long trip.... I space it out, I have arrived in Xela, Guatemala.
Hello as you know my name is Gavin.
But I am also known as Gavino... or Gabino as some locals in Guatemala call me.
Jokingly I am also called Gabino Herrera after the late Mexican revolutionary, which incidentally many B-western movies that where made in Mexico have featured. Gabino Herrera was a revolutionary during the Spanish mexican civil war and womanizer I am told, having had several wives in his colourful past.
Now just because I have had several wives (actually three), wow...those rumours, well he bares little resemblance to me and my lifestyle.
I am not a revolutionary in any aspect of the word, choosing a more solemn life style. I would always fight with the pen and not the sword.
Yes, I have expressed political views from time to time and yes I even did that here and in this blog. But the real purpose of the blog is not for political demonstration or even financial gain. It is solely to inform you the reader what traveling to and staying in or even living in this beautiful country of Guatemala can be like.
Anyway I am here once again. This is my fifth trip to Guatemala and should last a duration of six months tops. The reasons are many.
While living on Vancouver Island seems idyllic to most people with its mediterranean climate, it is that dampness I am experiencing now that is painfully aching to my older bones. Injuries of the past haunt me in this damp sea climate, so I have decided to wait out the winter out in Guatemala. Daytime temperatures where I will be staying will hover in the mid twenties celsius (the eighties in Fahrenheit).
I have also spent the past year and a half writing a book of fiction about a man who leads a double life. He is a nice family man and well respected on one hand but also a very secretive side to himself on the other hand. He is an assassin. The story takes place in England, Canada, the USA and in Guatemala. Being here now in Guatemala I will be able to do further research in certain parts of this country.
To make any fictional story believable one has to have facts that are correct. This process makes the characters in the story appear real.
While the present ailing Canadian dollar makes living in Guatemala a little more expensive now, it is still very affordable, certainly well within my means and perhaps yours. Perhaps with our new prime minister, the economy will improve in Canada.
As I have mentioned in other blog entries, one can live very well, yes very reasonable in Guatemala on less than $500 dollars a month. This is still very true and this amount includes accommodation, food, travel and of course some fun. Yes for $500.00 you are living upper middle class in Guatemala. The one thing you will not have is a vehicle, but since public transportation is so inexpensive, why would you need a vehicle of your own?
The costs I offer here are the ones you would experience in Quetzaltenango. Costs can vary in different parts of Guatemala, of course just like it can in different parts of the USA, or Canada or in other parts of the world. Soon my plans are to check out the lake as it is known. The lake refers to lago Atitlan and is about an hour and a half away by chicken bus. Parts of Lago Atitlan offer a cheaper way of life and a little warmer with lower elevations (1800 metres).
Not certain what centre In shall live in while at the lake... but I will et you know when I arrive.
Most of my journies to Guatemala have me staying in Quetzaltenango or as the locals call it Xela.
Xela is a derivative of the k'iche Mayan word Xelaju.
The actual wording is Xelaju noj, which translates to "below ten spiritual leaders." The city is surrounded by ten mountains, thus the spiritual leaders. There is one active volcano called Santiaguito also called the angry baby as it spits and fumes from time to time. It sits directly behind volcan Santa Maria. Santa Maria has been mostly dormant since 1902, when a huge eruption levelled the city of Xela.
Xela with a population of approximately 250,000 people it is the second largest city after the capitol in Guatemala. A good fifty percent are indigenous.
It is also termed the "Cradle of Culture" because of its many (10) universities and several more (30) trade schools. Also within Xela are about thirty Spanish language schools and now some English language schools.
I originally chose to travel to Xela back in 2010, because of the large indigenous population and for the fact that the people do not cater to English speaking tourists.
Learn some Spanish or stay confused and disconnected.
I also really like the elevation 2330 metres (7600 feet), which gives you warm sunny days, cool nights and yes no bugs. So (for me) perfect.
Yes I am going to be in Guatemala for several reasons. Since I am there and a part of my journey will be to examine where the main character of that book I mentioned I am writing about, and his experiences in Guatemala.
His name is Jack and he spends time in Panajachel (Pana) on lago Atitlan which is about an hour and a half away by an exciting chicken bus ride away from Xela. So yes I shall also spend a quantitative part of my time in and around Pana and take lots of pictures while there that I will upload here to this blog.
I also want to travel if time allows to El Mirador an architectural pre-columbian structure north of the El Peten area in northern Guatemala, Lastly I want to visit parts of Quiche.
On my first trip to Guatemala in 2010 I met and discussed a project with some local professional business people in Xela. This is a project that would provide housing for people with no land or hope. While there are several organizations and groups that help people with building housing, the majority require that the people have free-hold land. This is usually to secure a bank loan to purchase building materials.
Along with some professional business people I personally know in Guatemala, I would like to help those with no land and no hope of ever having help. Who will help them? We want to.
We want to get this going, at least started. It will include the possible startup of an NGO to operate, plan and gain the funds they will need. As an NGO (non-government organization) has to consist of at least seven Guatemalans, so I will take a back seat to this group. It also needs a fixed address.
Then there is that needed dental work, um yes. Yes we all really do not like that dental experience. Mine is softened with a huge difference in costs.
Did I mention that the cost of dental work is one tenth the cost of what it is in Canada... 1/10 the cost, imagine that!! ... with the same procedures and well trained dentist and surgeons.... That sure works for me.
So if you need some dental work done, contact me as I can set you up with great professional dental services and along with that show you how to have a great holiday at a fraction of the costs of anywhere else.
It is going to be a busy and exciting time...
I traveled light, so hey why not come down and join me?
I cannot believe the amount of readers I have and yes from all parts of this shrinking world.
After a long trip.... I space it out, I have arrived in Xela, Guatemala.
Hello as you know my name is Gavin.
But I am also known as Gavino... or Gabino as some locals in Guatemala call me.
Jokingly I am also called Gabino Herrera after the late Mexican revolutionary, which incidentally many B-western movies that where made in Mexico have featured. Gabino Herrera was a revolutionary during the Spanish mexican civil war and womanizer I am told, having had several wives in his colourful past.
Now just because I have had several wives (actually three), wow...those rumours, well he bares little resemblance to me and my lifestyle.
I am not a revolutionary in any aspect of the word, choosing a more solemn life style. I would always fight with the pen and not the sword.
Yes, I have expressed political views from time to time and yes I even did that here and in this blog. But the real purpose of the blog is not for political demonstration or even financial gain. It is solely to inform you the reader what traveling to and staying in or even living in this beautiful country of Guatemala can be like.
Anyway I am here once again. This is my fifth trip to Guatemala and should last a duration of six months tops. The reasons are many.
While living on Vancouver Island seems idyllic to most people with its mediterranean climate, it is that dampness I am experiencing now that is painfully aching to my older bones. Injuries of the past haunt me in this damp sea climate, so I have decided to wait out the winter out in Guatemala. Daytime temperatures where I will be staying will hover in the mid twenties celsius (the eighties in Fahrenheit).
I have also spent the past year and a half writing a book of fiction about a man who leads a double life. He is a nice family man and well respected on one hand but also a very secretive side to himself on the other hand. He is an assassin. The story takes place in England, Canada, the USA and in Guatemala. Being here now in Guatemala I will be able to do further research in certain parts of this country.
To make any fictional story believable one has to have facts that are correct. This process makes the characters in the story appear real.
While the present ailing Canadian dollar makes living in Guatemala a little more expensive now, it is still very affordable, certainly well within my means and perhaps yours. Perhaps with our new prime minister, the economy will improve in Canada.
As I have mentioned in other blog entries, one can live very well, yes very reasonable in Guatemala on less than $500 dollars a month. This is still very true and this amount includes accommodation, food, travel and of course some fun. Yes for $500.00 you are living upper middle class in Guatemala. The one thing you will not have is a vehicle, but since public transportation is so inexpensive, why would you need a vehicle of your own?
The costs I offer here are the ones you would experience in Quetzaltenango. Costs can vary in different parts of Guatemala, of course just like it can in different parts of the USA, or Canada or in other parts of the world. Soon my plans are to check out the lake as it is known. The lake refers to lago Atitlan and is about an hour and a half away by chicken bus. Parts of Lago Atitlan offer a cheaper way of life and a little warmer with lower elevations (1800 metres).
Not certain what centre In shall live in while at the lake... but I will et you know when I arrive.
Most of my journies to Guatemala have me staying in Quetzaltenango or as the locals call it Xela.
Xela is a derivative of the k'iche Mayan word Xelaju.
The actual wording is Xelaju noj, which translates to "below ten spiritual leaders." The city is surrounded by ten mountains, thus the spiritual leaders. There is one active volcano called Santiaguito also called the angry baby as it spits and fumes from time to time. It sits directly behind volcan Santa Maria. Santa Maria has been mostly dormant since 1902, when a huge eruption levelled the city of Xela.
Xela with a population of approximately 250,000 people it is the second largest city after the capitol in Guatemala. A good fifty percent are indigenous.
It is also termed the "Cradle of Culture" because of its many (10) universities and several more (30) trade schools. Also within Xela are about thirty Spanish language schools and now some English language schools.
I originally chose to travel to Xela back in 2010, because of the large indigenous population and for the fact that the people do not cater to English speaking tourists.
Learn some Spanish or stay confused and disconnected.
I also really like the elevation 2330 metres (7600 feet), which gives you warm sunny days, cool nights and yes no bugs. So (for me) perfect.
Yes I am going to be in Guatemala for several reasons. Since I am there and a part of my journey will be to examine where the main character of that book I mentioned I am writing about, and his experiences in Guatemala.
His name is Jack and he spends time in Panajachel (Pana) on lago Atitlan which is about an hour and a half away by an exciting chicken bus ride away from Xela. So yes I shall also spend a quantitative part of my time in and around Pana and take lots of pictures while there that I will upload here to this blog.
I also want to travel if time allows to El Mirador an architectural pre-columbian structure north of the El Peten area in northern Guatemala, Lastly I want to visit parts of Quiche.
On my first trip to Guatemala in 2010 I met and discussed a project with some local professional business people in Xela. This is a project that would provide housing for people with no land or hope. While there are several organizations and groups that help people with building housing, the majority require that the people have free-hold land. This is usually to secure a bank loan to purchase building materials.
Along with some professional business people I personally know in Guatemala, I would like to help those with no land and no hope of ever having help. Who will help them? We want to.
We want to get this going, at least started. It will include the possible startup of an NGO to operate, plan and gain the funds they will need. As an NGO (non-government organization) has to consist of at least seven Guatemalans, so I will take a back seat to this group. It also needs a fixed address.
Then there is that needed dental work, um yes. Yes we all really do not like that dental experience. Mine is softened with a huge difference in costs.
Did I mention that the cost of dental work is one tenth the cost of what it is in Canada... 1/10 the cost, imagine that!! ... with the same procedures and well trained dentist and surgeons.... That sure works for me.
So if you need some dental work done, contact me as I can set you up with great professional dental services and along with that show you how to have a great holiday at a fraction of the costs of anywhere else.
It is going to be a busy and exciting time...
I traveled light, so hey why not come down and join me?
