It seems that if you have a business in Guatemala with any value to it at all you´ll need people with guns to guard it for you. Banks of course, are businesses that have value. Some banks have as many as five guards. Some guards carry big shotguns. Some guards carry small shotguns. Some guards carry machine guns. The other day it took me over 40 minutes to cash $100.00 worth of traveller´s cheques. I was the only customer in the bank. Just me, ten or so bank of...

 We've completed a full nine days in the classroom. Spanish still sounds like Greek, but I'm beginning to read and somewhat understand the ¨written word¨. I can even create sentences and ask people questions. I just don't know what the hell they're saying in response.   We went to the market town of Chichicastenango (Chichi) yesterday. It's about a three hour bus ride from our home base in Quetzaltenango. There's a Catholic church in...

 At around 2400 metres Quetzaltenango, a.k.a. Xela, temperatures fluctuate between 0C and 23C daily. Buildings are not heated, so dressing warmly for dinner is a good idea, heavy blankets on the bed, a must. The man that owns the house where we are staying wears a jacket all the time. I think he must sleep in it. I'm the only person in town, at least that I've noticed, who wears short pants.  After three days of Spanish school, I can conjugate many, ma...

 San Andres is a small resort island off the coast of Nicaragua. For the Colombians it's a nice little home away from home. For the Nicaraguans it's an annoyance because they think it should be theirs. Our rather run-down beach-front hotel had an odd little rocky shoreline with some decent snorkeling on a not so far off reef. The beach was loud and busy; about ten kilometres from the town centre.As Ellen walked along the beach a few metres in front of me...