I’m back from Guatemala, but still sorting through photos and distilling observations in my mind, so in the meantime here’s a picture from Grenada, taken earlier this year. For some reason, Grenada kept coming to mind as I was travelling through Guatemala. More on that later, though. Once I’m rested and able to think properly again…

Photo: Market day in Saint George’s, Grenada – April 2008 – LV.

Posted by Lisa.

In this window that we live in, though, even in a remote Guatemalan village like the one I´m currently in, tourists flock and the local economy depends on that. Villagers who would otherwise have no source of income make money selling their traditional wares: blankets, tablecloths and other textiles, mostly. Are they exploiting their culture for tourist dollars? Are the tourists exploiting them? I don´t know … some could see it either way. But they´re also raising money for their families, putting food on the table. 

And I wonder how that will change if travel becomes less the norm and more the luxury that it once was.

(Keep in mind that, like traditional postcards, these virtual ¨postcards¨ I´m posting are written completely on the fly. I reserve the right to realize they make absolutely no sense later.)

Posted by Lisa.

Anyway – this is supposed to be a virtual ¨postcard¨from Guatemala (without the photo, I´m afraid -we´ve taken plenty, but have no way of uploading them while here). I planned to write my observations on the local ladies of the night, and the beer they drink – just for old time´s sake - but sadly I have little to say about my usual subjects of interest. While an emblem from the local beer brand - Gallo – may top the main square´s huge Christmas tree, the drink itself is nothing to write home about. As for the other: well, I have yet to see (or recognize, at least) a prostitute. I´ve given up my past preoccupation with them anyway - I can see plenty just around the corner from my apartment now, after all.

I know I should be offering much more than this by way of observations and sharings of my experiences so far, but I´m not going to do that now. Right now I´m too busy with the experiencing itself. The observations come later.

Besides – I´ve far surpassed the amount of space offered on a postcard, anyway. There´ll be no room for the stamp.

Posted by Lisa.

photo: a skiier sculpture, Vail  Colorado January 2008 by WH

THE LOCATION: On-board a boat somewhere on the Gulf of Mexico, drinking a glass or two of wine while chatting up a group of strangers.

THE SCENE: Dolphins emerge, frolicking (as dolphins do) behind the boat. Or hunting for food, perhaps; it’s hard, sometimes, to tell with dolphins. I take out my camera.

THE CRISIS: Dolphins, the slippery bastards, will not stand still for photos. As soon as they emerge, I snap. By the time the camera reacts, they’re back underwater. I continue to try, hoping a random shot will catch them unexpected.

THE CLIMAX: Someone on the boat is shouting. A warning of kinds. I ignore her; she just shouts louder. Something important is happening, I soon realize – look away momentarily. The dolphins evade me once again. The woman points me in the other direction. “The sunset,” she says. “You’re going to miss the sunset.”

THE END: A photo of a freakin’ sunset. Those damn dolphins never came back again.

Photo: Sunset over the Gulf of Mexico, Florida – October 2008.

Posted by Lisa.