by Eboni Bailey
We finally made it! Against all odds; a teacher-led strike coupled with
missed flights, political unrest, and family and friends against us, it did not
forecast a positive experience. Nonetheless, the trip was full of silly
come. We were five, from all different backgrounds and experiences, but we were all ready to embark on
a new type of Spring Break challenge.
After meeting my Guatemalan friend, Alejandra, in Italy some years prior, we had been planning my visit
to her homeland. Finally it came to pass. I have always been up for a new and unique travel experience,
especially if it involved my beloved Spanish language. I had been studying Spanish prior to my trip to
Guatemala, but with discouraging grades on my Spanish grammar tests; I was in need of a boost in self-
esteem, and what other way than to put it to use than in a Spanish speaking country!
Due to various flights, three out of the group arrived Friday, and of course without me! They were to meet
my friend, Alejandra, in Guatemala based on my physical description. Much to my surprise, however,
there were many Guatemalans of African decent, most commonly residing on the east coast of the island.
In spite of this, due to my keen descriptions, they were able to meet up and spend the first night with
Alejandra in the artistic city of Antigua, 45 minutes west of Guatemala City. Another friend and I arrived
the following day Saturday, anxious to hit the ground running with only 6 days vacation remaining.
so I felt a bit at fault, since it had been I who pushed all of these ladies to
join me on this one of a kind vacation. Henceforth, I was determined to
make it worth their while. With my Lonely Planet guide book in hand, I
began to map out our next steps. It is surprising how someone who has
traveled so much in her young life, can still fall short when it comes to
packing…or should I say over-packing!
beaches, crowded cities, quiet country sides with vibrantly dressed women, rainforest surroundings full of
colorfully singing Toucan birds, and acrobatic monkeys swinging from tree-to-tree amongst the Mayan
Ruins of Tikal; it takes only an open heart to enjoy this captivating country. As we hauled our very-
American oversized luggage up a hill to catch a taxi, and packed all of the bags and ladies in the cab and
closed the door, we realized that one lady, me, was still standing outside of the packed car. So, I climbed
into the car on the lap of my friend. At some point we finally realized we were being watched, and we
heard the locals laughing as we drove away. This would be the beginning of a trip full of warm surprises
and fun for the remaining week.
To say that Guatemala is just a picturesque location without economical and political turmoil would be
untrue. When we first left for Guatemala, my mother ran out to a local store and stocked us with bags and
bags of candy, toothbrushes and combs to hand out, should the need arise. On one side, you find a very
simple people who dress in very colorful and “exotic” ways that can draw in any traveler; but it doesn’t take
away the shock of seeing women and men, barefoot, walking from Antigua to Guatemala City (45 minutes
by car) to and from work. Nor does the beauty negate the day that we saw a man in his sixties, perhaps
younger, fully dressed in a tan suit and tie but without shoes and socks and the calluses to say he had been
in this state for many years. Due perhaps to the low numbers of tourist that visit each year, the people did
not beg or send their children out to beg as you would find in gypsy communities in western Europe, or in
Mexico. Nonetheless we returned empty-handed. The great throng of children surrounding us due to their
amazement of seeing Black-female tourists was quite an icebreaker.
Guatemala City and the evening eating small meat tacos and dancing to a
live Cuban band in one of the locales. The following day we were able to
find a RT flight from Guatemala City to Tikal of Peten (the Mayan ruins)
which we decided to take because of the heightened security risk on night
bus routes. The flight was only 683 Quetzals/ 90 US$. Upon arrival, we
paid a set rate offered by the local registered airport hagglers.
breakfast for just 227 Quetzals/30US$ each. In addition, we joined 2 other U.S. travelers we met along the
way and paid a group rate of 75 Quetzals/ 10 US$ each for a 2 hour tour through the Mayan ruins, that
taught us many other cost-efficient ways to visit the country along the way.
Our trip of 7/6 days in Guatemala consisted of visiting the colorful and artistic city of Antigua, Guatemala
City, and Tikal. Antigua is a city full of brightly colored buildings, art galleries, and throngs of Spanish
language schools for foreigners, and local artisan markets. The little city is very much a touristy hub, much
like San Miguel de Allende in the state of Guanajuato in Mexico. There were many Canadians and
Americans around, but you could find many little angles in which you could only find the locals, if you desire
that type of trip.
Guatemala can be what you want it to be. The best advice that I can give is to go with an open mind and be
ready to learn from others, rather than try to change them. Yet this applies to any type of travel. Be ready
to haggle the prices--those are the rules, if you do not do it, they will take advantage of the opportunity.
Pack light, and dress ready to walk and experience whatever and wherever your feet may take you. Try to
find amusement in the chickens and onions stored overhead on the local buses, slide closer to the window
when three more people push in on the bus bench which you might think is only built for two. Be ready and
willing to make mistakes, it happens to all of us every time we travel. Isn’t that what traveling is about,
learning something new about yourself and others? I challenge anyone to go and experience Guatemala for
themselves. You will certainly not regret it.