This day was characterized by the amount of time everything took to do. We had previously volunteered to cook for the group, about 8 people, so we had a few missions today: get to the bank to replenish the money we’d raced through; get a chip for my cell phone, and some minutes; go to the market to get enough food so we could cook for 8. We ran into Lisa and Brook this morning, who were going to take the lancha to Panajachel, and didn’t mind when I asked if we could tag along. Pana is more touristy, and maybe a little bigger on the other side of the lake.
We waited in the lancha 30 minutes before it left and it was a 30 minutes ride across. We went straight to a bank, where it took 45 minutes to cash a travelers’ check. We didn’t accomplish much, but did shop at the market and find out that the phone we brought from the US will hav e to be liberado in order to function here, for about $10. Then I’ll need a chip and minutes.
That will come in handy, as I’ve found out that Sustainable Harvest has a representative here in Santiago who is starting a program. I always wondered why they don’t have a presence in Guatemala -- probably because the war hasn’t been over for long.
Speaking of the war, Geneen and I were talking to the gardener this morning while we looked at a squirrel. I jokingly asked if he had a shotgun so we could get us some lunch. He became serious and talkled about why shotguns aren’t allowed here. During the war, this was a very violent place -- you go out in the morning and see bodies in the street. Finally the locals ran the military out of town, and now, if anyone hears a gunshot, they become very concerned. I guess they don’t want to go back to the way things were.
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