Antigua, our home for nearly two years, is about a 45 minute drive from Guatemala City, which by many measures is one of the most dangerous cities in the entire world. (#2 according to this most recent 2012 statistic: http://www.mostdangerouscities.org/)
Antigua, however, is an oasis of relative safety, tourism, and beauty.
Part of the charm of colonial Antigua is that the small 10 by 10 blocks of only 35,000 residents are paved entirely in cobbblestones.
The cobblestone streets are flanked by three picturesque volcanoes. The picture below is the actual street where our neighborhood is located. Take a real moment and look again. This actual picture is from my actual camera on the actual street where I actually live. The beauty takes my breath away every day.
There are more transportation options within these ten blocks than I have ever seen in my life. Many people walk, bike, and ride motorcyles, but that's not all.
Let me introduce you to the "tuk-tuk" pictured below. I particularly like this picture because when he saw I was taking it, he threw me the deuce. Come on, you know that's cool.
The tuk-tuk is the town's version of a moto-taxi. While we have "real" taxis, this is the most popular option by far. It's a three-wheeled vehicle and costs 15 Quetzales (or about $1.80) per ride no matter where you're going in the city. Before we purchased our car in October 2010, this was our main mode of transportation. Sam spent the first five months of our lives here saying he wanted to be a tuk-tuk driver when he grew up.
There are more transportation options within these ten blocks than I have ever seen in my life. Many people walk, bike, and ride motorcyles, but that's not all.
Let me introduce you to the "tuk-tuk" pictured below. I particularly like this picture because when he saw I was taking it, he threw me the deuce. Come on, you know that's cool.
The tuk-tuk is the town's version of a moto-taxi. While we have "real" taxis, this is the most popular option by far. It's a three-wheeled vehicle and costs 15 Quetzales (or about $1.80) per ride no matter where you're going in the city. Before we purchased our car in October 2010, this was our main mode of transportation. Sam spent the first five months of our lives here saying he wanted to be a tuk-tuk driver when he grew up.
Although mostly for tourists, you can also see the city in a horse-drawn carriage. I like this picture because our Guatemalan chofer is texting and driving. Come on, you know that's cool.
Buses can be dangerous, and not just because they're far too big for our quaint cobble stone streets as you can see above. Monthly deaths occur on these buses due to driver error, armed robbery and more. (There's actually a documentary making it's debut at SXSW this year about these unique buses and I'm excited to eventually see it: http://latinalista.com/2012/02/giving-new-life-to-old-american-school-buses-in-guatemala-is-subject-of-documentary-premiering-at-sxsw)
And while the cobblestones are pretty and quaint. And while there are a lot of fun ways to navigate them. They can be a pain. in. the. butt. I will not miss the bumpy cobble stone streets.
Guatemala has six months of rainy season followed by six months of dry weather. During our six months of rain, the cute little cobblestones wash away one by one by one. Driving, walking, busing, biking, moto-taxining - anything, can get tricky during the rainy season because there are so many dangerous pot-holes.
Then comes the dry season when it's time to fix all the pot-holes. And that makes navigating these streets tricky, too.
Because on our already narrow streets, you have to go around guys like this...
Doing things like this....
So that we can have the finished result like this...
So, no, we may not have the most modern systems or the best roads in the world. But I live in gorgeous Antigua, Guatemala. Come on, you know that's cool.
In my opinion, the most unique mode of transportation is the buses. You may have never thought about it, but what happens to old American school buses when they're far too past their prime? Well, they're driven down south, given some mechanical work and a brand-new paint job. The design of most buses is decided by the driver and/or owner and tout phrases like "Mi nenita preciosa" or "Dios es fiel" or any other religious and/or sexual phrase. Come on, you know that's cool.
Buses can be dangerous, and not just because they're far too big for our quaint cobble stone streets as you can see above. Monthly deaths occur on these buses due to driver error, armed robbery and more. (There's actually a documentary making it's debut at SXSW this year about these unique buses and I'm excited to eventually see it: http://latinalista.com/2012/02/giving-new-life-to-old-american-school-buses-in-guatemala-is-subject-of-documentary-premiering-at-sxsw)
And while the cobblestones are pretty and quaint. And while there are a lot of fun ways to navigate them. They can be a pain. in. the. butt. I will not miss the bumpy cobble stone streets.
Guatemala has six months of rainy season followed by six months of dry weather. During our six months of rain, the cute little cobblestones wash away one by one by one. Driving, walking, busing, biking, moto-taxining - anything, can get tricky during the rainy season because there are so many dangerous pot-holes.
Then comes the dry season when it's time to fix all the pot-holes. And that makes navigating these streets tricky, too.
Because on our already narrow streets, you have to go around guys like this...
Doing things like this....
So that we can have the finished result like this...
So, no, we may not have the most modern systems or the best roads in the world. But I live in gorgeous Antigua, Guatemala. Come on, you know that's cool.
So cool!
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