“Get up idiot!”

I slowly opened my eyes in a brutal haze. My head was pounding.

“We’ve got a god damn plane to catch!” Leisha tried to shove me awake. I was a little foggy – the night before we celebrated my upcoming birthday with a whole bunch of friends and co-workers at the Yellow Dog. All that free beer was slowing me down the morning after. Luckily, I had packed the day before so it was just a matter of getting my ass in gear to the airport.

We hopped in a cab and before I knew it, we were clearing customs. The U.S. border security agent stamped my passport – that hadn’t happened for me in about 7 years. That’s when a sobering excitement came over me – we were about to fly to Guatemala for a two week vacation. I was stoked.

We chose Guatemala on a total whim. It came up in discussion on a cold car ride from Saskatoon to Regina in January. For me, it was important to visit a country with such a rich indigenous history, where the original people there still play a vital role in the social fabric. I knew it was in the cradle of the original Mayan empire, so I was extremely excited to see what was left of it, and how the culture maintained today. And it turned out that a lot of people we both know had been there and had great things to say about the country and the people.

So three planes, a shitty meal at TGI Fridays in the Minneapolis airport, and a shuttle bus later, and we were in Antigua, the original capital of the country. This was one of the original contact points between the Spanish and the Mayans – and that colonial vibe is still there today. It’s a beautiful city made up of hugely accommodating and friendly people. But there was a slightly eerie sense of division there. It’s probably hard for a lot of the Mayan people there today to forget about the executions that took place in the city plaza. Conquistadors killing Indians who wouldn’t get in line with the church. But at the same time, there’s a proud sense of resiliency in the brown faces you see everywhere. This is a tourist city where locals showcase their arts and culture. That has survived and you can definitely tell they’re proud of it.

And the city itself is surround by ancient volcanoes. Adding to the general mystique and romanticism of the place.

There was a lot to buy, a lot to eat, and a lot to drink. No wonder Antigua is the first place tourists go in Guatemala.

Antigua is a city that is still trying to carve out its modern identity. Very reflective of the rest of the country, actually. But I wanted to experience the essence of Guatemala. That’s hard to do when you’re flocking between internet cafes and bars, dodging North American and European backpackers. After two days here, we left for the heart and soul of Maya. But not before a death-defying van ride through the mountains….

Stay tuned!