Things finally open back up

June 6, 2021 jill

After over a year of COVID related inability to travel, things are finally starting to open up again. Before the pandemic started, I had been considering a few different travel destinations: Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Kenya were my main destinations. Once travel became an option again, I started researching and discovered that my best option was Guatemala (originally, I was thinking Guatemala and Costa Rica together...but decided to focus more on just one country).

I'll be visiting Guatemala City for two days...Antigua for five (including a day trip to Pacaya Volcano and Lake Atitlan)...and Flores/Tikal for two. As always, as the day approaches, I'm getting more and more nervous/anxious. Typically, I wake up day of and have a stomach ache. Not sure why I get so nervous. I do so much research and planning ahead of time and things usually go according to plan (or I deal with whatever comes up).

Guatemala has a population of 15 million, and well over half lives below the poverty line. It has one of the highest crime rates in Central America but has been cleaning up its act over the last last few years (much like Colombia has). There was a civil war that lasted from 1960 -1996 and things are only now starting to calm down.

The first chocolate bar comes from Guatemala (the Mayans called it the food of the gods), and coffee is its main export. There are more than 30 volcanos--3 of which are currently active--and earthquakes often happen (and are the reason Antigua is no longer the capital).Lake Atitlan is the deepest lake in Central America. The Mayans are still active here--over 30 different dialects are spoken (almost more than Spanish).

Speaking of the Mayans, Tikal showed its first signs of life around 1000BC, but was a thriving city by 300BC and was in its prime 700-750AD. At its peak, it is believed that there were 100,000 residents, but the city was abandoned by 950AD--and no one is really sure why.

The trip certainly appeals to my love of history and my attraction to destinations that aren't necessarily the most popular. I like learning new things and discovering new places--and Guatemala fits the bill. I'm nervous...but also very excited.