My wife reads and writes Kekchi/ Q'eqchi and works as an interpreter. It is not as uncommon as you made it sound. There are entire villages and towns that primarily speak this language :) It is like the second largest spoken indigenous language
Thank you for telling people about the price hikes they charge foreigners and tourists. I have lived in Guatemala for 9 years and they STILL try to charge me the "gringo" price. It's detestable.
I'm writing as a stranger who has lived in Guatemala for six years. My aim is not to criticize what you share, which is, I know, designed for travelers who want tips and opinions about a trip to Guatemala. But I have a few comments about some of your descriptions. - It might sometimes be difficult to find buses when you're not a local and don't know well your way around. But cheap buses exist and they allow you to go almost anywhere but, as you said, this means lots of connections and long travel times. And, at night (usually after 6, 7 pm), those cheap local buses don't circulate. - It is wrong to say that bus companies don't exist: lots of safe Pullman bus companies (Litegua, Fuente del Norte, Xelabus, Monja Blanca...) allow you to travel from the capital to lots of places in the country. - Saying that "sometimes" ladinos and Mayas "don't get along well" is a big understatement. Guatemala is a country characterized by systematic racism and "classism" (= discrimination against the poor). Although Guatemala evolved into an apparent liberal democracy, de facto, the colonial structures of the 16th century still exist. In a nutshell, Guatemala is a big finca where the elites, that sometimes are direct descendants of 16th century Spanish settlers, are those who really decide and who consciously always kept the Mayas from development, education and, of course, power. - Although not all the Mayas are poor, 75% of them are, and, on top of that, 58% of them are touched by chronic undernutrition (2020 numbers). Believe me, the situation's not improving. Therefore, I feel like talking about the Mayas who want to keep their traditions is partly true - and those traditions must stay alive - but it is also a a consequence of this poverty and of the systematic racism of the Guatemalan elites. So, Guatemala is a fantastic country, but for most of its people, life is incredibly harsh and often lets little hope of improving their personal situation.
I was in Muxia and that experience broken in thousand pieces me hearth , I was in truly love but that can't be posible. I cry for many hours...... and finally I tell her Goodbye.....I can never forget you 💔💔
This is so precious, thank you for this video... it made me feel much better. I will solo travel Colombia for 2 months and I will also use Worldpackers for 3 weeks of the trip, more to immerse myself into Colombia as soon as I arrive... Perfect video!!!
I love how natural this vlog is! I'm going there this coming September and I cannot wait. However 3 questions: 1: By any chance you stayed on Selina's or Mayan Monkey? 2. How much did you pay for the Scooter? 3. Are the roads smooth? I'm planning on bringing my skateboard.
How the Camino serves is crazy.. the moment you get so anxious and feel lost you find plums from home and directly feel home again! Coincidentally? I don’t think so ❤
Some weeks ago I stood at the same place. I am afraid of walking over Bridges and at this day the combination auf lookings the the Fans you are walking over and my tireness was too much. So instead of walking the left foot path I choosed walking about the middle way for cars... The driver showed different sign of believing me to be crazy or to give me the information, that there is a foot path left or right the bridge...:-D Well I managed to get over the bridge. Same and next day I had my down days beeing to exhausted but I Feld happy now to may speak spanish. In the morning of next day I got the news, that my father in law has died so I took a taxi to Valenca, driving by bus to Porto and flew back home. Some weeks later returning and at last finishing the walk I neuer thought to be alle to. As I saw your Video over the bridge and your shyness to go over it I fehlt very connected to you and thought : Would ne great to eat a common Pizza in Tui with you! So send you wishes for wonderful travel and home times, Armin from Dortmund, Germany
One positive is the FANTASTIC food in Antigua. Such a high concentration of great places to eat. One other negative is the stray dogs and dog poop you have to look out for.
i am a lover of plants and my alone time, we would he vibed together . joining worldpackers to do the very same exploring and helping you are. thank you for sharing with us (:
200 years ppl will come here 7 take instagram photos LOlolol love the perspective though so hard to imagine how different their lives were in the exact same place on earth
Hi Diana , I’m Salvadorian and I was feeling so emotional the way that you explained the history of people in El Salvador THANK YOU for trusting and visiting us 🤗
Can you imagine to go a place knowing you will make a video about the things you didn't like hahaha, knowing you will judge it and that's the way you make your living of..., you are doomed. Instead of taking it all in as it is, you are looking for those little things you have to nag about which you will use to make your video... for your channel... This girl will grow and learn how wrong she was about... everything. That's not how you go about in life.
And saying '& café' is good is almost a higher type of sin. No words for this blasphemy. None the less yes...the lake could be better, even though I am suspicious she only went to Panajachel, and nothing else. So... don't take her word..., she hasn't seen much.
If you think Guatemalans take advantage of foreigners, go to Cuzco, Peru. If I hadn’t gone with good friends from there, they would have skinned me alive and I’m a very experienced traveler. Garbage is everywhere. Some countries do a better job picking it up because they have more money to do it. Check out Switzerland some time. I have no idea how they keep it so clean. It reminds me of my neurotic aunt Millie. Couldn’t drop a crumb anywhere. I’m still scared! Don’t mind me. I’m actually sitting in a hotel room in Patzún, Guatemala right now and I’m a little bored. 😂 You are definitely right about the chicken buses. Wouldn’t take one if my life depended on it anymore. I bought a little Honda, but that’s not for everyone. I liked your video though. Thanks.
To say that there are no indigenous people is a misplaced comment and clearly she has no general knowledge of the country. * El Salvador is no longer the most dangerous city.
Diana, I am from El Salvador and I know the entire history of my country, and I want to say thank you very much for showing our country in such a transparent and exciting way that from the bottom of my heart, this video of yours is one, if not the best I have seen, I share your ideas.
About the 3 things you dislike... Yes trash is a huge problem but is not that the people here doesn't know, they just don't care and are so lazy todo something to resolve th problem. There are a lot of organizations trying but is so difficult with this neglecting culture. And abut the transportation, I guess as many other countries it just requires a little bit of more research, here most of us we use our own car if we are traveling for fun, although, there are plenty of transportation and not just chicken bus, there are direct 1st class services to every distrital city in the country, and from those cities local transportation to the smaller villages and towns. Ofc if you are going lit to semuc champey thatnis away of everything the options are less comfortable and often. Shuttle to every tourist destination are just a luxury for the foreigner. About the prices, that apply too for us Guatemalans from the city, and is illegal, but they don't care
Hi Diana! I’m about to embark from NYC on a 6 month solo travel of my own, and fear of the post travel depression is scaring me. Any advice or thoughts?
If you're disappointed by what we've done to Lago de Atitlán, you do not wanna know about Lago de Amatitlán.... yeah, most of our politicians don't really care about anything other than stealing from our taxes, it's f*ed up
LOL the 80 year old lady is a known scammer and no one should approach her without money LOL they were banned from parks everywere because of this along some other small time Wallet Thiefts Be careful there might be no gangs but there are still small time criminals just like every other place in the world
If you mind me asking, where did you volunteer at / through ? I am currently looking to spend a month in Antigua, Guatemala. I want to volunteer at a place that offers accommodations as well.
I did that in Korea. I had a ten hour layover, so I booked what I thought was a day room. There were condoms, sex lights, and so on. Fortunately, I was the only person there, and I did end up having a nice nap before I went on my way.
