Don't Judge a Book by its Cover

A blog about Guatemala
by: Katrina Dovey

In the past two articles, I’ve given you, the readers, insight in countries that are in Asia and in Europe. This month, I want us to explore North America together.

North America is a continent which is composed of 23 countries and dozens of possessions and territories. (North America) With this, we can say that there is a lot to see in North America. Some of the countries that are in North America are Canada, Mexico, Haiti, and the United States of America, just to name a few. However, our focus for today will be GUATEMALA!

Guatemala humbly has it all: from colonial towns to Mayan ruins, great mountain lakes to vibrant religious festivals, sandy beaches to exotic jungles. Often visitors to the country find they leave enlightened; civilizations they believed long gone are found thriving, Tomb Raider landscapes they thought fantasy are shown to be real. (Guatemala Travel Guide)

Although Guatemala is known to have one of the highest crime rates in Latin America, most visits are known to be trouble-free and unaffected by crime. (Guatemala Travel Guide) A good tip to know when traveling there would be to always have a phone ready to call someone if any danger occurs. You can get up-to-date security information through INGUAT (a telephone information service is available in English), the Guatemalan Tourist Institute. INGUAT’s tourist assistance service, PROATUR offer an escort service for tourists groups or individuals traveling locally in the region. You can contact them on (502) 2421 2810 and (502) 5578 9836. You may also dial 1500 in Guatemala. (Guatemala Travel Guide)

           A few other tips coming from wikitravel.org (Guatemala):

 Never take photos of children without permission. Some Guatemalans are extremely wary of this and will think that you are mixed in with kidnappers and planning to take the child for ransom. Kidnapping is a common occurrence in Guatemala. The country also has many problems with children being kidnapped and sold for adoption on the black market. Taking pictures of adults at a distance with a few children included is generally fine. In the major cities, people are somewhat more open towards picture taking, but still avoid it.

It is dangerous to travel between cities after dark. Doing so significantly increases your risk of being the victim of an armed robbery.

Pickpocketing is common in markets, so never keep anything in your back pocket and take as little with you as possible.

Guatemala has an abundance of natural beauty and numerous treks. But some of these are notorious for robberies (Volcan de Agua, trails around Lago de Atitlan, Volcan de Pacaya). Always ask around about the situation before embarking blindly. Inguat, locals, and fellow travelers are safe bets for information. Traveling in groups during daylight sometimes decreases the risk, but not always.

Traffic can be dangerous. You will encounter many two-lane roads (one lane each way) and drivers are apt to swerve back and forth, avoiding potholes and bumps along the way. There are also various multiple lane highways. Traffic in Guatemala City and surrounding metropolitan areas during rush hour is very slow, but general driving everywhere is usually very fast (average speeds of up to 60 mph in some city roads).

Retrieved from: http://s1.zetaboards.com/anthroscape/topic/5938127/1/

Guatemala is rich in natural beauty and travel opportunities; it's a country that offers so much to those willing to step off the beaten track for a little while. Some things to do in Guatemala could be to visit Antigua Guatemala which is often regarded as the travelers’ hub, a crumbling, picture-perfect Central American town ringed by volcanoes. From here you can take a hike up Volcano Pacaya, take a bus to the bustling market of Chichicastenango, or simply sip some coffee in a street-side cafe and watch the world go by. You could also go to Lake Atitlan (or Lago de Atitlán) which is another frequent stop on any visitor’s itinerary. It is a volcano-rimmed lake with plenty of backpacker hostels and Mayan villages that dot the shores. The last option I will be suggesting today would be Flores in Guatemala's wild north. It is a tourist friendly island in the middle of Lake Petén Itzá. From here you can take a bus ride to one of best preserved Mayan ruins in the world, Tikal. Howler monkeys and dense jungle make walking around the ruins an adventure in itself.

Almost all meals in Guatemala include some form of black beans, white rice and corn tortillas. Breakfast often involves scrambled eggs and fried plantains. Fresh fruit is another common substitute.

The recipe I am sharing today is not a typical dish in Guatemala but it does incorporate some of the spice and flavours that the country offers. The recipe I will be sharing today is called Chile Relleno Casserole. Here it is:

 

INGREDIENTs:

• 1lb grated cheese 
• 3eggs
• 1 ¹⁄₂cups milk
• ¹⁄₂cup flour
• 1(8 ounce) can whole green chilies

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix the milk, eggs, salt, pepper, and flour.
2. Spray a pan (9x13) with a nonstick cooking spray.
3. Layer chilies, then the mixture made in step 1, then the cheese.
4. Continue this order until you run out of ingredients and put EXTRA cheese on the top!
5. Bake at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes.
6. Allow about 10 minutes before serving!
   
   
   

Thank you for reading yet another blog! Till next time,

Katrina Dovey



Sources:

Chile Relleno Casserole Recipe - Food.com. (n.d.). Retrieved February 29, 2016, from                         http://www.food.com/recipe/chile-relleno-casserole-24361

Guatemala. (n.d.). Retrieved February 29, 2016, from Wiki Travel: http://wikitravel.org/en/Guatemala#See

Guatemala Travel Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved February 29, 2016, from World Travel Guide: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/guatemala

North America. (n.d.). Retrieved February 29, 2016, from Map / Geography of / Map of: www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/na.htm