Goodbye Guatever

One month, 12 days, at least 30 cockroaches, countless bug bites and many good friends later, I am finally leaving Guatemala. I can't say that I am sad; many of the people I have met, I will be seeing in a couple of months in Argentina. And while I enjoyed Guatemala, and met amazing guatemaltecos, I can't say that I fell in love. We dated, it was nice, but it was never going to be a serious relationship.

Guatemala is a country full of contradictions. The people are incredibly open and easy to talk to, but Guatemala is at the same time a dangerous and tense place. The best teacher, who counsels people in AA, can also sell pot to make extra cash. People may complain about the noise from a bar or club, but don't seem to even notice the roosters crowing continuously throughout the night. The most beautiful vistas and canyons are often covered in trash. The friendliest people will screw you for a couple of dollars. The happiest looking kids will wave at you from their squalid, rundown towns. Robbers will politely take your belongings while asking where you are from. So it goes.

I left my brother this morning at El Retiro, an amazing backpackers lodge in the small dusty town of Lanquin. Shirtless and hungover, he has a few more days of swimming in the river and enjoying their famous barbecues. Dylan and I had a whirlwind tour of Guatemala: we spent 3 blissful days in the jungle, sweating our brains out and kayaking in Rio Dulce; we went on the sunrise tour of Tikal, famous mayan ruins; we met some amazing Aussies, who I am positive will pop up on my travels again; and we finished back at Semuc Champey, swimming in caves and natural water pools in one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

All in all, I did it all in Guatemala. As a goodbye, and a type of ode, I present:

Things you can only do in 3rd World Countries
- Ride in the back of a pick-up truck with 15 other people
- Get electrocuted in the shower
- Swim through caves, holding candles and never sign a waiver
- Jump off waterfalls
- Eat a tostada for 50 cents
- See a family of five ride on one motorbike
- Not bathe and nobody notices
- Get shot at
- Ride in a 50-person bus for 6 hours, with 150 people and get dropped off at no dirt road in particular
- Buy a complete chicken meal from a basket on a ladies head, without leaving the comfort of your sweaty bus seat
- Go to a movie for free and get all you can drink wine
-Wait an hour and a half for granola, fruit and yogurt and only yogurt and fruit show up. Then the next day, order the same thing like an idiot and only granola and fruit show up

To the people I have met along the way (Chris, Lily, Barry, Michael, Billie, Anne, Thalia, Emma, Thierry, Nina, Matt, Dre, Tim, Camila, Judith, Laura, David, Victor....), I can only be appreciated of all the amazing conversations and drunken shenanigans. I hope to see them again and can only hope to be as lucky and continue to meet more great people in my travels.

Tomorrow, I am off to Buenos Aires and I cannot wait for a city, clean sheets, clean clothes and a big ol bottle of yummy, delicous malbec. On to the next...