Mercado

Today our school took a field trip to a large market about an hour away in San Francisco de Alto and I rode the chicken bus for the first time! For short trips it isn't too bad, but it has been a while since I have been in a school bus and the seats are small! I would not want to spend more than a hour crammed in one. People sell fruit and food on the bus and there is energetic Spanish music playing. The market was very big and sold everything imaginable- food, fruit, vegetables, clothes, pirated music and movies, and my favorite - the live animals. Cows, pigs, dogs, cats, chickens, roosters, sheep, etc. Yes, that pic is of me by the heads of some dead animal. Scary!!! I bought a coconut and the women sliced the top off, stuck a straw in it and it good to go - muy delicioso! There are many delicious fruits sold on all the streets - mango, watermelon, melon, etc.- and it is frusterating not to eat them. But not many tourists due for fear of getting ill. Other Guatemala tidbits: although Guatemala grows and exports great coffee, almost everyone drinks instant coffee because the good stuff is expensive and exported. Corn Flakes is pretty popular for breakfast, although it is usually served with warm milk, which I have decided I like better than cold milk.

Tomorrow Zuhil, the other student, leaves the house and I am moving into a hostel. I am also headed to the natural hot springs close to Xela for some R&R in much desired hot water.