Guatemala: Bars and Locks, Locks and Bars
In Guatemala City, everything is double, triple, quadruple locked and behind bars. There's a gate across the residential street here, with a guard who opens and closes it. There are high walls in front of the house, and bars on the windows. It doesn't matter if the wrought iron is twisted and decorative. It still is keeping other people out and me in. The small tiendas are behind bars, and I have to point to what I want.
Yesterday, a cabbage truck turned over nearby and line formed to toss the cabbages, one by one, back onto the truck. Last week, a big sinkhole in the city made the international news.
I'm very glad to be leaving the city tomorrow, and heading out away from so many bars and locks, locks and bars.
posted by Lucia @ 9:07 PM
11 Comments:
Are all the bars necessary? Is it dangerous?
I'd wonder what or who is being kept out, or is it we that are being kept in?
Is it scary?
I locked my door last night, an odd thing in Northern Michigan, and I blame it on reading this BLOG.
Nice meeting you in Rwanda.
In Liberia (Costa Rica), a little girl in our group commented that barbed wire must be really cheap there - everybody had loads of it!
Charmingly scary...
We saw lots of razor wire in El Salvador. I must say it's a nice change from the broken glass you see embedded in the tops of walls in the Dominican.
I hope you are safe and enjoying yourself inspite of the cages. I miss you.
Quito was the same way, with the bars and the broken glass on top of the walls. I am glad you are leaving for greener pastures.
Bars and locks huh? Sounds like Jacksonville. I saw a puppy in the road the other night and called my Mom to see if I should go back and rescue it. "Where are you?" She asked. "Orange Park," I said. "In the ghetto?! Oh hell no. Don't get out of your car!"
that reminds me of San Salvador. or maybe i am just wistful.
And the high walls, razor wire and armed guards patroling the cruise ship beaches of Haiti. Ugh.
Yes, it's a totally different environment with all the locks and bars. Guatemala has quite a history. :)
Peace,
~Chani
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