On the road with Gus
Traveling, traveling, traveling. It seems like we have been running all around the country in just a few days. The bus, which we have named Gus, almost feels like a second home. It has been the location where many of our deep sustainability and happiness conversations have taken place. It was our sanctuary when we needed an escape from the Zacapa heat and our makeshift beds for quick naps in between activities on a busy day. We even custom decorated it with streamers and ribbon for a birthday celebration.
On Sunday May 24th, we spent about eight hours on Gus the bus. We set out on our journey around 8 a.m. and decided that a good way to split up the time was by seeing Mixco Viejo, a Mayan ruin. The Mayan culture has been well preserved compared to many other indigenous tribes in Latin America. The large separation between villages and the mountainous nature of the country allowed the Mayan culture and land to not be completely conquered. Seeing these ruins was a very tranquil and spiritual experience. It was such a nice escape from Gus. The land was so vast and pristine that I was able to have space to myself and reflect on everything we have been learning and seen.
Guatemala is an incredibly complex country. As we drive around we pass through many different rural and urban communities. We have been able to see an enormous amount of garbage thrown on the side of streets, burning in the forest and collecting in streams. Farming has also been very prevalent with field after field of sugar cane or coffee trees in most towns we pass through. We have driven by the homes that people live in that are basically stacked on top of each other along a hillside. This is also election year for Guatemala and campaigning is in full swing. I do not believe we have driven over a half of a mile without seeing at least one political ad.
One of the more incredible scenes in the eight-hour bus ride was in a very small city just down the hill from Mixco Viejo. Traffic was extremely congested and there were lines and lines of their public transport buses, which look like nicely decorated school buses. Many individuals were running to the buses to catch the next ride out of the city, while other individuals were walking in to the center. After a few minutes we realized that a political rally was going on in the center park. Hundreds of people were gathering in support of one political party. It was an incredible view.
Although I feel like I have a love/hate relationship with Gus, I am very thankful to be able to experience and see little glimpses of towns such as this. We have driven through many areas of the country and even if we are not able to become experts on any one particular city, town or even neighborhood, seeing so many through our windows gives us a better perspective on what life, happiness and sustainability is like in Guatemala.