Some pictures from the Antigua Bus Station

They`ve sold me

Yesterday morning I caught the bus to Antigua Guatemala. They have a really interesting method of selling things on the bus....it took me a minute to catch on to what was going on - but once I did, it made me wonder why I`ve never seen anything like it in the states. Someone selling something (usually some really bad looking candy - multicolored hyper-processed marshmallow on a stick, for instance) would board the bus. They would proceed to give a long speech about how great their product is, and while they did so, they would walk down the aisle handing one to every single person on the bus. (This was early on in the voyage when there was still few enough people on the bus that the aisles were relatively clear.) Only once they finished handing out the items, and completed their speech on the benefits of the product did they even mention money. Then they announced that you could keep whatever it was you were holding for only 1 Quetzale. (about 14 cents - but the buying power of 14 cents here is significantly higher) Lastly, they returned down the aisle, with everyone either handing them the candy back, or keeping the candy and giving them a Quetzal. It was astounding though, how many people decided to just eat the candy once it was in their hands. I guess it`s much more tempting when it`s right there than it is when they`re holding a box, and offering you one. Anyhow, I`m sort of amazed that this practice hasn`t somehow manifested itself in America... it probably will one day. On another note.... The bus system down here is entirely composed of old American school busses that have been driven down the Pan American freeway to be painted bright colors and used for years as the public transportation here. It makes you question your safety a little... why did the school districts (who are probably not rolling in the dough) get rid of the busses in the first place? By the time we reached Antigua, the bus was filled to well over twice its intended capacity. As we approached the city, every time we braked (we were heading down a mountain, so this was frequently) it sounded like a wailing cat, and it smelled like burning. Luckily Esmeralda (yes, the busses all have names) delivered us without incident.

Safely here....

Well, after a long flight, I made it safely to Guatemala's Aurora International Airport - a strange mix of small-town and big-city feel. The airport is tiny, but once you get outside, the traffic jam and the crowd of people you have to push through just to get out the door makes LAX look like childs play. My friend Yet booked a reservation for me at a little bed and breakfast in Guatemala City for the night since I was getting in late. As I approached the crush of hundreds of people waiting for friends and loved ones just beyond customs, I was slightly skeptical that I would ever find the person sent to pick me up. But lo and behold, as I made my way around the corner, I saw a short Guatemalan woman in the back holding up a sign which read "Matt" and directly under that, in parentheses, "(Yet)". I doubt they even know my last name......but it got the point across.