Lazy Sunday in Antigua

After a successful Saturday night celebrating a friend and neighbor's birthday, I woke this Sunday rather energetic. I took a morning jog through the "suburbs" of the city, which is a pleasant nook of colorful, colonial houses peppered among quaint parks full of flowing fountains and white, stone park benches.

The perfect 80 degree weather felt especially hot today as not a single cloud was in the clear, blue sky. The clear sky made for perfect views of the volcanoes that surround the city and make me think of times long past when the locals must have thought these were necessary for protecting them and keeping intruders out of the city.

Volcan Agua looking over Antigua

Volcan Agua looming over Central Park to the south of Antigua

 Peek-a-boo

Artisan Market in Antigua

Volcan Fuego protecting Antigua

McDonald's

Chatting briefly with some friends at home or with new tourists that I meet in Guatemala, it often comes out that I recently had a meal at Taco Bell or McDonald's. While I am a fan of fast food, it was not a regular part of my diet back home in America, however for some strange reason I find myself frequenting these fast food chains more often than I should while here in Guate. Just as surprised, my friends ask why on earth I would go to McDonald's when there must certainly be such better local fare. True, but allow me to shed some light on McDonald's here in Guatemala.

McDonald's here has a McMenu del Dia, which is pre-selected value meal for each day (Monday-Friday) for a whopping 25 Quetzales ($3.15). I don't know what they're doing back in that kitchen, but it's something special. The food quality is just a little better than what you get back at home. Yes, I said better. For as many things here in Guatemala that are behind the times, their McD's is on point. For those of you who have ever had a Coca-Cola in Latin America or abroad you may know what I mean - they use real sugar which gives it that extra deliciousness. It's that same extra oomph that accompanies their McD's here and that keeps me coming back for more.

 If the price isn't enough to draw you in then allow me to elaborate on the service. Working at McDonald's here appears to be a much sought after job - a job that many would be fortunate to have. The people seem to be that much happier to be working at such a fine, well-known establishment. They are exactly what you see in the McDonald's commercials, which is not always what you get at your local McD's in the States. They can't stop smiling, there is a team of roughly 3 people taking care of each customer, and before you can even pay for your meal the tray is complete with your order. And to boot, you may be lucky enough to visit the extra classy McD's where an employee's sole job is to ask if you'd like ketchup and fill up your paper thimble-sized cup with that ketchup-y, red golden deliciousness.

(Fountain isn't running, but isn't this the classiest McD's you've ever seen?) 

I have also began playing a little game with the staff at McD's each time I visit (unbeknownst to them of course). Each time you make a move to the trash to clear your own tray, someone manages to dart out from around a corner to relive you of your table busing duties. It's incredible, it really is. This is one of those cultural differences I've learned while here. Whereas we're taught to bus our own trash, Guatemalan's feel it's your responsibility to leave your trash where it is so that an employee can clean up after you. In all my 5  or 6 visits to McD's I have yet to beat an employee to the trash can with tray in hand. One of these days I'll succeed on throwing away my own trash for myself....

(Ron & I)

The Arrival

After a successful send-off in Washington DC, a 9 hour car ride home with my father back to Michigan, a layover in Chicago, I finally have made it here to Guatemala City.

The weeks leading up to my departure from DC brought a myriad of emotions that I never thought I would encounter - the excitement of embarking on a new journey to a new country, the mystique that lied ahead as my new home and job awaited me, the difficulty in leaving behind a city, job, and friends that treated me well for over 3 years.

Thanks to Mike Keck and my best friends in the greater DC area I was able to leave the area in style with a night out at The Bottom Line. A fitting venue for a final night, The Bottom Line played host to our many summer afternoons after kickball games on The Mall during what would be many championship seasons for The Willows. After 2 kegs, many baskets of tater-tots, countless number of Flip Cup games, and $500 raised for Habitat for Humanity the night came to a close and with it my time in DC.

Never fully prepared for the day to come, I packed up all my belongings and left my good friend and roommate, Justin Brown behind. Sneaking out of town during the middle of the work day, I felt like a burglar making an exit calmly and unnoticed. Easy come, easy go.

The flight from Detroit to Guatemala made an overnight stop in Chicago, giving me 11 hours to enjoy one last bit of the US. Not one to relinquish a good opportunity to catch up with friends, I was taken in by Michigan alumni Ben Lubs and Shannon Kruger upon arrival to the city and immediately served a cold beer. Many drinks later paired with some friendly XBox Kinect competition, we met up with fellow Michigan alumni and good friends David Isabell, Mallory Van Putten, and Mike Isabell for more merriment at Fado Irish pub (which coincidentally is a chain pub that also has a locale in DC). Big brother Jason Emeott and girlfriend, Amisha Wallia, also joined for the last few beers as we closed the bar down. A few late night rounds of NBA Jam from 3 AM onward and I was back in a car on my way to the airport bound for Central America.

Stepping out of the airport in Guatemala City I fully expected to be left to my own devices and to soon be hit with the realization that none of this was real...that this idea of being offered a job with Habitat for Humanity was all a sham and that I had uprooted my life in DC prematurely and without just cause. In some sick, twisted way this was all just a joke to someone and maybe some day I was going to be able to look back on it and laugh at myself. Thankfully, my paranoia ceded and instead a nice young lady wearing a Habitat for Humanity shirt shouted out to me. Beyond the fact that I was white and stood at least a foot taller than anyone else, the look of confusion on my face was unmistakable and certainly gave me away. At that moment when we were united this whole crazy adventure began to become real...

Antigua Guatemala

Antigua is awesome. Lesson learned within a mere 20 minutes upon arrival.

Arriving to Guatemala City a week ago the fear was immediately instilled in me about the capital. From the driver at the airport to the owner at the hostel, any person I chit-chatted about Guatemala City was sure to advise me to take extreme precaution. Certainly appreciative of the warnings and glad that people were looking out for new visitors to the city, I took their warnings seriously, but at the same time I wondered if all this worry was necessary. However, I am not yet willing to test the waters regarding how lax one can really be while traversing La Capital.

As such, pulling into Antigua was a breath of fresh air from the first second I stepped off the Chicken Bus. The cobblestone streets and colorful houses lining them immediately jump out at you and make you feel like you really are in “Old Guatemala,” as the city name translates to. I caught up with a future housemate and co-worker, Colin Hobart, who has been in Antigua for roughly 4-5 months. Colin is a free spirit as immediately exhibited by his long, straight blond hair that goes beyond his shoulders. He looks a bit like Layne Staley (RIP) had he kept the long locks and his easy going nature reminds me of what I feel like Layne would have been like (minus the heroine addiction). Colin and I immediately hit it off as he gives me a quick tour of the house in which I am to be taking a room in and then later of the town.

Layne Staley 

House ("La Cabania") 

Making our way through the streets of Antigua I begin to realize why this is the top tourist spot in the country as the perfect 75-degree temperature in the middle of January helps remind me of the snow I am leaving behind back home in the US. Antigua is clean, easily navigable, and welcoming. The Central Park is lush with trees that are illuminated during the nighttime, well populated with locals enjoying the day and indigenous Maya selling handicrafts , and an impressive fountain spouting water from the breasts from the female statues circling the fountain pool.

Original worries that the town would be “too touristy” were quelled as we ventured through the local marketplace.  Frequented by locals for their fruits, vegetables, and an eclectic assortment of your usual necessities, the vibe of the mercado is exciting and very raw. Certainly the town has its share of language schools with backpackers and those passing through on vacation, which serves as a constant reminder of the great presence of tourism in town, but overall the town embraces an exciting atmosphere of this mix rather than any sense of separation.

Central Park Antigua

The nightlife in Antigua is alive with restaurants, bars, and nights clubs. Unfortunately the bars close at 1 AM in Antigua, which is an interesting change of pace from the late nights in the US, but it is possible to find underground places that will close their doors and keep the party going until late into the night. Walking the streets home at night are safe, which is a welcomed change from the capital and you can even find late night food vendors for your post-bar quesadilla craving.

After a few days of vacationing in Antigua, I’m back in the capital city until we officially make an office move to Antigua. Comparing the two cities, I could not be more excited and ready to move to Antigua, but first I need to survive my first week of work in the Habitat office starting tomorrow….