Guatemala...will you travel First Class? Yikes!!

Traveling to Guatemala or on any other multi-plane flight program you need to be comfortable. If you are like me and cannot afford to fly first class, you need to make the most of that crammed in area at the back of the plane. 

Note Here... 
I did fly first class once and not because my budget allowed that (my book sales hit a high point), but because my seat was needed in the back of the plane to keep a family together. Who was I to keep a family apart and so I obligingly agreed to suffer the extra roomy seats and excellent service that first class does offer. 

Would I squander extra cash for that kind of treatment if I could afford it (more book sales please) ? The answer is an unequivocally and an resounding yes, of course I would.

Anyway getting back to the basics of travel here.
I usually wear comfortable clothing. There is a contradiction of 
argument here. Because if weight allowances are that issue, one always wears the heavier clothing just to save on weight stored below. Never the less why travel with any clothing that is not comfortable to travel with?

Footwear.
Sandals have low heals and slide off easier. This can also be easier if you have to remove your shoes as you must when going through some airport security check points.

Warmth.
I also take along with me a light weight fleece sweater. It can get cold on some flights and blankets are sometimes not available for everyone. First class get better ones. 

But aside from comfortable clothes, there are three items I will not fly without.

1/ An inflatable neck pillow. 
I choose the inflatable variety of neck pillow because when you no longer need it, you let the air out and neatly fold and pack it away out of site. Inflatable neck pillows take very little space when not in use you are not encumbered with this huge stuffed half ring. You already probably have enough to carry and worry about, without that as well.

2/ Ear plugs.
Whether they are the ones that are tied together with a plastic string or just plain foam plugs these little things are worth their weight in gold to help block out all the noise.

3/ An eye mask.
I never ever thought I would ever be seen anywhere wearing an eye mask, but now I am a complete convert. It allows you to control your surroundings and block out all that glaring light.

Where to sit?
An isle seat will get you a few centimeters of extra room. But you will be constantly bothered by people wanting to visit the washroom. 

The window seat is smaller (the curved plane wall remember) is sometimes cooler because of the window and for you to get to the washroom you will have to disturb people.

The dreaded middle seat. Sitting in the middle you must be assertive. By that I mean claim both arm rest as yours or you will have none and be jostled and squished and bothered and you will have nothing to lean on.

Since in all my many many flights I still get a real kick out of take offs and landings (in that order) and I also do not wish to be bothered by anyone, my seat of choice (first class not counting) is the window seat. Here I can still feel the thrill of take off and landings and in between hide with my fleece jacket to keep me warm, my inflatable pillow, ear plugs and wonderful eye mask.
Shucks, now I just want to fly again and yes soon... 

Um I wonder if I can do that first class again?

SEX & LOVE & MARRIAGE

SEX & LOVE & MARRIAGE

All of this happens pretty much the same as it does elsewhere in the world.

There is always that old stereotype thinking (for example) that if a man marries a woman in Guatemala, well you marry the family. 

Well in some cases this is very true and only because of the tight and close ties a family has for its members. The concept of family is perhaps considered more sacred in Guatemala than in more developed countries. Part of this has to do with the strong religious connection the people have especially with indigenous people.

The Roman Catholic Church has always had a strong presence with prevailing family beliefs. But this influence is now being under mined from an ever continuance of the growth from the evangelical sector. Saying all of that primarily the Maya people of Guatemala have always had a strong spiritual connection and it is not uncommon to see them worship the many archaeological monuments with their own form of religious and spiritual beliefs.

Okay let’s get back to Sex and Love and Marriage or the birds and the bees of attraction and what that can lead to.

 If you are going to get lucky in Guatemala (man or woman) you need two things, well let’s make that number actually three things. You need the language, or some of it. You need to be able to dance (the salsa). You need to be available.

This happens very differently for men and very differently for women.

Part of that difference is again is within the culture. The machismo effect is in full swing in Guatemala. Men control that meeting arrangement (or think they do) and women are stubborn (they are). So in all, it becomes a perfect balance.

It is not uncommon to see young Guatemalan males with girlfriends usually (blond and white skinned) happily walking about arm in arm. More and more are seen with European and North America men. Most of these women are either close to the mans age or well are yes older than the guy is. While this behavour does not happen very much in the reverse, it does happen. 

I was once chatting with this Mayan family. They told me that they had only three children, one a boy and two girls. The norm is that most people have several up to ten children. 
The father had retired and no longer needed work. In the hierarchy of the Maya people, he was able through money or connections to live an easier life. His wife was admiring my hat. Jokingly she even offered me the daughter that was standing beside me for my hat. In actuality if I was considered a good man and that they could see I had money. having a very young wife is very possible.

The age difference of couples where the man is of European or North American origin and a Guatemalan woman is a lot younger is more pronounced. Some women are half or less the age of a man.

Guatemalan women seem to get more serious the older they get, or is that because they are more desperate. If you can believe this, but many are still virgins well into their thirties. In fact it is their belief that if you do not have a fiance or husband by the time you reach thirty, no one will ever want you. If you are an unmarried woman with a child, it is almost a certainty that no man will ever want or touch you.
Even though a woman in her thirties is considered a prime age in Europe or North America. 

Some Guatemalan woman that have the money or the means to go to university, do so for one purpose. They are searching for a promising partner for marriage. A partner that has good family connections, money and a future career that will provide her with an easy life.   

Sex...... 
Sex, oh yes sex.... well of course that can be easily had, for a man by just visiting a brothel. 

Brothels are legal in Guatemala. They are heavily guarded and fortified buildings.

From the outside none of these brothels, can be distinguishable from any other building, except for the armed guard(s) with their automatic rifle or shotgun standing by the entrance doorway. Don't even think for one moment that the guard has that gun for show. He will use it.

Inside everything is different. Inside these places they look like any nightclub. Drinks are more expensive, of course. 

The customers are (mostly) men. Some men for whatever 
reason will bring a woman to a brothel. My imagination runs wild and over time as to why?

There is a heavy presence of armed guards. Some brothels have a centre stage, or a stage at the end of a large room. The girls take their turn dancing like in any strip club. Girls in these clubs are usually not from Guatemala but neighbouring countries like either Honduras or El Salvador.

The scantily clad girls will linger about the club. Some will be sitting in a row of chairs within arms reach of you, but a strong warning here, do not touch any of them. 

The girls will try to catch your attention looking at you. So if you are interested, the next step is that you can take any you like and invite her to a small table away from everyone else. 

At this point practicing espanol is really not necessary.
Here you will buy them an expensive drink that might be watered down. Beyond the small talk and yes the next step, is to go to a small room with a bed in it for sex with her.

Twenty minutes will cost you about $15.00. An hour will run you three times that. What you do in there is up to you, just do not harm a girl or one of those tough looking heavily armed guards will get you taken care of

.  

What does getting you taken care of mean?
Um well....it could be a beating or it could mean getting you shot or killed. No one will help you, not even the police.

It is certainly very easy in Guatemala to have someone taken care of and this practice is not uncommon in any country that is poor. Corruption is everywhere, but that corruption is out in the open. Corruption in developed countries happens just the same way but it is hidden.

Yet in all my time in Guatemala I find it a safe country to visit, to learn some Spanish in, to travel in and yes to live in. 

So for sex, love and marriage...
Mi Gusta Guatemala.