Guatemala – a dark country of contrasts

To say that I liked Belize is to say that president Medvedev gets on well with president Mikail Saakashvili of Georgia. Therefore I hurried across the border to the friendlier Spanish-speaking people of Guatemala.

Guatemala however has a dark past and can proudly display a history involving massacres of several thousands Maya, threats and murders against human rights workers, lynchings in villages, earthquakes, death squads, civil war, the famous Rios Montt, corruption, political violence, abductions, coups and guerrilla activity. Lynchings occur on daily basis against often innocent people in small villages as the population have lost the belief that the police force will actually be able to solve rapes and murders. Political instability is illustrated by Juan José Arévalo´s time at the power 1946-1951, which saw 25 coup attempts by military forces – on average one every three months.

Adding to this marvellous collection - a huge drug problem. To say that Guatemala has a drug problem is to say that there are some tensions in the Middle East; Guatemala is the definition of a drug problem. And with drugs come weapons and organised crime.

A peace treaty was signed in 1996 and the last twelve years along a rocky road have seen some improvements in the society, but the country continues to struggle.
The harsh life in Guatemala has taught the people to be happy with the small things in everyday life and to not expect too much. Guatemaltecos are therefore a surprisingly friendly, helpful, hard-working and loving people. Hence, Guatemala is, in combination with low prices and a beautiful nature, an optimal country for any traveller.