Today was spent trying to complete tasks related to our long term stay. First task was a trip to the bank so we could pay for our dwelling. I headed out and went to a bank on the Central Park (Parque Central) where, I was told, I could take out more money from a cashier inside the bank than at the ATM. My information was correct and the people in the bank were incredibly knowledgeable and helpful and graciously informed me that I needed my passport in order to get money from a cashier instead of the ATM. So I walked the six blocks back to our humble abode to get my passport. The entire expedition then embarked for the bank and were successful in obtaining necessary funds. A celebratory lunch was had and enjoyed by all (well, at least two-thirds of all and slightly enjoyed by the remaining third). After remanding said newly acquired funds to the manager of our casa, we set out to provision our temporary casa. This venture included a delightful wrong turn (does sarcasm come across in writing) giving us an opportunity to exercise our legs vigorously. Our first stop was at a hardware store as someone has become quite enamored with machetes and wanted to compare prices with the artisan market (where machetes come with decorated leather sheaths). This was a valuable lesson in the cost of a machete versus the cost of a machete with a sheath. I predict future dispatches will detail the cost of medical treatment from machete accidents.
Next stop was in the mercado/market for vegetables. The mercado is where you can go to buy anything you need from dishes to shoes to pinatas to furniture to DVDs to food. It is comprised of small stalls specializing in various goods laid out in a maze-like configuration ensuring your disposal of funds if for no other reason than to gain access to an exit (I believe the North American casino industry has studied this marketing plan extensively). Previous experience allowed us to find the vegetable section quickly and ogle over the luscious produce. If vegetables tasted as good as they look when they are fresh, a certain person associated with this blog would eat more of them...pity they don't. Lettuce and onions and potatoes and cilantro and red peppers and jalapeno peppers and apples and tomatoes and three dollars later, we were done.
Then we ventured into the SuperMercado which is the equivalent of a Publix or Ingles with the unfortunate exception of us not knowing where anything is and not understanding the set up. With the assistance of extremely helpful employees, we found much of what we needed before having to extricate ourselves due to interpersonal dynamics of team members influenced by immediate surroundings (yeah, only of us will be going in at a time again – just too much going on and too cramped). A tuk-tuk (motorized three wheeled vehicle commonly found in Thailand) ride later we put away our stores and collapsed for a respite.
The weather has been amazing – warm to almost hot during the day with a breeze to cool/cold at night – best estimates put the high today in the mid-70's and our lowest was our first night when it was mid- to low 50's (of course, accurate readings by trained meteorologists may differ with my estimates). It has been plenty warm enough in our new house that we haven't had to make use of the fireplace yet – yes, we are roughing it...if only the darn internet would work. While watching the sunset from a rooftop terrace this evening we talked to some med students from Pennsylvania. They have been here for two weeks helping out at a hospital in Zacapa and are heading home tomorrow. They found out today that a Nor'easter may dump inches of snow while they are flying home. They are not eager to leave this beautiful place especially with a new clinical rotation beginning on Monday.
A stroll to the Parque Central
and then to see the junior member's new favoritest kitty completed the night.
Our abode is on the south end of town closest to the shadow of Volcan Agua. We are in a small complex of one bedroom apartments populated primarily by long term renters from other countries. Not quite the local experience we sought but the next best alternative given our relatively short time frame. We have all the requisite amenities – 24 hour security, wi-fi (sketchy at best so far but they are working on it...), quiet neighborhood, friendly and knowledgeable hosts. Not much to complain about except the absence of a strategic door but that is a recurring theme given our house(s) back home.
Notes: given the slightly nonsensical nature this blog has taken, I, REDACTED, thought I should intervene and clarify or give a more factual account of our adventure so far. I drove to Ft. Lauderdale and hopped a plane from Miami on Wednesday morning (special thanks to Dad for delaying his scheduled 4 am walk to drive me to MIA and yes, I just stayed up). Met up with L&J at the ATL airport after they had gotten up at 5 am to drive to Atlanta (special thanks to Deeee-Büstenhalter and her prescient purchase of a house with exceptional proximity to ATL). I slept during both flights thus foregoing the special incentive of international flight, namely free drinks, and we arrived, got a cab, got to Antigua, found a hotel fairly easily, dropped our bags and went for food. Had mediocre pizza (Granada, Nicaragua still reigns supreme - yes, Iron chef verbiage intentional) and will search for better. Stopped by park and then took the plunge and bought a cell phone. Yes, I barely use one at home so I thought, great, I can not use one here! Actually, it has been useful in contacting folks to look at apartments, etc. and we have actually made calls back home. Some collapsed into bed while I tried to type the first blog post. Woke up, L&J went for breakfast, arranged meetings to look at lodging, appointment broken, bought fresh tortillas (yummy!), walked to square, arranged second meeting, lunch at Fridas, saw options with first agent, saw more with second, tired, tried to evaluate options, realized the one we wanted wouldn’t work, made a decision, retrieved bags from hotel, 'read' a contract in Spanish, signed it in English (that has to void it in an international courtroom, right?), put bags in, I went to bank for money to pay for newly acquired lodging, L&J got us settled, went to dinner which consisted of trying to replace lost fluids, came home and crashed, woke up, I went to bank (while they did school) and was rejected, came back, we all went to bank, went to lunch (pizza again, trying to get something other than flour into his body), back to lodging to pay rent, walk to grocery, take uninformed turn and walk extra-long, go to hardware store cause J's new passion is machetes, go to local market for vegetables, head to supermarket which is a nightmare – we are all tired and hot and cranky and the cart is tiny and we don't know where anything is and we can't figure out the organization of the place and we can't seem to find things that J will eat and the carts are tiny and the aisles are tinier and aww crap get us out of here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We came home. Put groceries away. Relaxed. Went to Sky Cafe to see the view and watch dusk – it wasn't really a sunset – and see some amazing views. Missed a program in the Park. Sat for a bit in the park (it feels so good to be there). Went to Nim Pot to pet cat and I saw some amazing photos. Came home. Sleep.
PS – shit. This doesn't even begin to capture the wonderful things we have experienced – from a willing cab driver from the airport, to helpful hotel workers, to beautiful music at Rainbow, to tired legs and feet after pounding cobblestones (you mean we aren’t 25 anymore?), trying to find food for a picky eater, and the kindness of people who think we look different from them and are so willing to help in any way they can. In this short of time, it has been amazing and frustrating and it is amazing how much junk we brought with us.
Trying to balance my experience of writing in a journal (actual pencil and paper) versus something more attune to a travel blog. We will see how it progresses. We welcome feedback as to what is worthwhile and what is tedious and what is entertaining. Feel free to send in questions you may have whether the price of a Coca-Cola (old glass bottles and real sugar, of course) or what is involved in getting transportation from Guate airport. Without your input, this will continue to be a devolution of my own internal ramblings sometimes edited for public consumption.
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