Shalimar Gonzales, Director of Membership and Community Programs for the DT YMCA is in Guatemala! She started her journey in Guatemala and will continue her vacation traveling throughout Central America. It took a while to figure out where we could meet because transportation here in Guatemala is a bit complicated (which I will explain below). Shalimar is staying in a hostel close to the airport and I live close to the main University, University of San Carlos which was one of the first universities in America http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universidad_de_San_Carlos_de_Guatemala, although we are in two adjacent neighborhoods, there aren’t methods of public transportation between the two.
The bus system is complicated here in the capital. We do have the Transmetro (I wrote about in a previous blog), which is great and I believe will eventually solve the transportation problems. But until the city has the funding to build additional lines of the Transmetro, it is necessary to take a bus or taxi. The buses are overcrowded, stop running at 8pm and can be dangerous (lots of accidents as well as the occasional robbery). Really, the only other option is to take a taxi which is almost the same price as taking a taxi in the states. Last night for me to travel from dinner with Shalimar to where I live, I was quoted 100Q which is roughly $14.00 and the drive (without traffic) took less than 10 minutes. I lucked out and someone I know recommended a trusted taxi driver, and since he made me wait for a total of 1 1/2 hrs, after some negotiating I only ended up paying 50Q (not the norm).
This weekend Shalimar is in Antigua (former capital of
Guatemala), which is actually where I went last weekend to say goodbye to some friends.
Antigua is a very unique city, due to the mix of extranjeros that now live in and own businesses there. This is one of the favorite place of tourists from all over the world.
Here one will find: prices listed in dollars, crepes, bagels, Mexican/Korean/Mediterranean/Italian/Chinese restaurants, locals that speak fluent English, tofu, veggie burgers, sushi, world music, “happy hour” and “ladies night” (in English).
Antigua is a beautiful and clean city surrounded by hills of forests and active volcanos.
My weekend brought many mixed feelings – Antigua is gorgeous and I love that it is safe for me to walk around by myself during the day and night; and yet I can’t help but be reminded of
Tijuana.
For those of you that have been to
Tijuana, you have seen how
U.S. culture has influenced and changed the Mexican culture.
There are some beautiful things about sharing of cultures and we have so much to learn from other countries, cultures and peoples.
My concern is that with the ‘melting pot’ method of cross-culturalism, we may be slowly starting to lose the authenticity of cultures. DISCLAIMER: I have nothing against Tijuana or Antigua, both are great cities and I fully recommend that you visit them, this is simply my personal observation.
1 comment:
Thanks for your thoughts on a city's attempt to balance local and new cultures. I have similar conflicts. The sense of safety and cleanliness often coincide with a person's level of familiarity with a certain culture. OF course that's a loaded statement as well. Too much to address in a comment on a blog.
I love reading about your adventures! I really appreciate all that you are sharing and how you are educating me as I sit comfortably in my Seattle home.
Gretchen
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