5. Guatemala City
I rode to Guatemala City the last Saturday. I needed few things which I can’t get here. I had to wait for the weekend because I was busy at the school during the week. I didn’t want to go after school because it is guaranteed you would get soaked to the bones in the torrential rain. I was also hopping there will be less traffic on the weekend.
Even though the city is only about 40 km away, I left bright & early. The mornings are much more pleasant here. The road there is pretty decent but I hit the traffic 10 minutes after I started 🙄 Four lane divided highway and the traffic was at the standstill. Luckily, I picked up some of the local habits. Also, I didn’t have any bags on my bike with me so I felt pretty cocky. If a car slalom or splitting lane runs were ever an Olympic sport, I’d have a good shot at the medals. Whatever you think of it, you can’t be too nice here. If I’d be riding with a defensive Canadian attitude, I’d probably be still there. Another “good” thing is that my bike is twice as big as all other bikes here. Not to mention me sitting on top of it. Not too many bikers want to race me or get in my way. But saying all that, it is VERY stressful and you need to have a head on a swivel. And good brakes 🤭
Unfortunately, there was nowhere to stop and take pictures. On the way to the city you the road goes through the forest and there are no scenic lookouts anywhere. Then you get down to the city and you are holding for a dear life trying just to survive. I can only tell you that if you’ve never been in Guatemala City, you haven’t missed much. If you ever get here, get a taxi at the airport and head out. Nothing really to see there. The city is also situated in a big bowl surrounded by hills which trap the smog. And that is pretty bad. All, and I mean all buses here are ex-US school buses. But here they ride up and down impossibly steep hills and I feel they are using their exhaust as smoke screens. The last engine and exhaust check those buses had was probably in the US while still hauling kids to school.
Anyway, using 2 GPSs I managed to get to my destination without even one detour. Impressive. The first stop was an upscale shopping mall in a very posh part of the city. I did my homework and I parked my bike in front of Canadian Embassy I found on Google Maps the night before. But there is no public parking there. But I am not just anybody 😎 In an instant, there was a security guard telling me I can’t park there. I pointed at my Canadian licence plate and told the guard that I had a meeting there. When he tried to argue that it is Saturday and the Embassy is closed I told him that some of us work 24/7. And asked him for the nearest coffee shop. He was quite satisfied with my answers and even suggested to move my bike few meters so it won’t be in the sun in few hours. In the situations like that, the size really does matter 😊
Off I go across the street into a Nikon store. I need another spare battery for my new camera. They don’t have it in Antigua and they didn’t have it here either. They sent me to the Nikon flagship store for Guatemala in the mall across the street. It was still early so I had breakfast in the empty mall. In the mall across there is a Starbucks but also still closed. The mall finally opens and I went in and instantly was blown away. Far away from the slums and small houses of the peasant is this mall (Oakland Mall) which is better and bigger than anything in the entire Canada! The brands of every possible rich brand is there. 4 stories full of shops, restaurants and playgrounds for the kids. There is even a small Choo Choo train that takes you around if you are too tired walking. I am certain that 99% of Guatemalan population never even heard of this mall, not to mention even afford to buy a coffe. Very impressive. Back to Nikon. Found the store and no luck here either. I was told that my camera is too expensive and way too new for this country. In short, I was told that I won’t find the battery anywhere in this country. Good, one thing is “done”.
The next on the agenda is my bike insurance. I didn’t bother to look for one at the MEX/GUA border in pouring rain there and the bike was parked in Antigua for a month anyway. The problem here is that there are only a few places where you can get an insurance for a foreign plated bike. I found the place but he gate was closed. Not looking good. Knocked on the gate and the guard told me that they are closed on weekends. Great, 0 for 2! Not doing too well today.
The last thing on my agenda was to find a place to print stickers with my logo and website for my trip. I’ve made it in collaboration with an internet freelancer in Pakistan. Again, I couldn’t find a place in Antigua to print it. But when I start looking for a jump drive with the file I realized that I left it at home. Awesome Adam, 0:3! 🙄 I was thinking about going back to get the insurance this week. But when I was thinking about the risk assessment, I have much bigger chance to get into an accident in the city then in two days of driving towards the Honduran border on secondary roads. The command decision was, screw it, I’ll get the insurance when I get to Honduras.
With no more items to screw up there was nothing left but tuck my tail and head back home. I took the same route back so I had at least an idea where I was going without constantly checking my GPS. But it was the same story all over again. A parallel slalom in Guatemalan traffic. Nothing I could do about so at least I had fun racing the local curriers …
And that was my field trip to Guatemala City.