TMCnet News
Tourism a major industry in Guatemala [The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.](Dominion Post (Morgantown, WV) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) May 19--Tourism is one of the top industries in Guatemala, and it's easy to see why. There are active volcanoes for adventurers to climb, centuriesold churches and cathedrals for religious-minded travelers to check out, jade stores and mile-long markets for shoppers seeking gifts, Mayan ruins for history buffs to explore, and something for every interest in between. When I tagged along on the Morgantown North Rotary/WVU School of Dentistry's recent trip to Guatemala, we sampled a variety of sightseeing and cultural activities the country has to offer in Guatemala City, San Lucas, Antigua and the surrounding areas. It was a blast, but when the students first came in 1998, they worked at the San Lucas Mission without taking time to explore Guatemala. Hal Reed, a clinical professor of periodontics for the dental school and member of Morgantown North Rotary, said Father Greg Schaffer, the mission's pastor, pulled him aside before they left and told him not to come back. "He said that if they only associate Guatemala with work, they won't ever want to come back," Reed said. "They have to learn something about the culture." A few of my favorite places: Guatemala City My first authentic Guatemalan meal was a giant platter of assorted dishes at La Estancia. It included fried plantains, fresh goat cheese, homemade guacamole, black beans, steak and chorizo. I'm not a big fan of sausage, but the chorizo had just the right amount of spice. And the goat cheese and guacamole were especially good -- fresh and flavorful, minus the extra ingredients you sometimes find in the United States. San Lucas Sarita, a Guatemalan ice cream chain, had the best vanilla ice cream I've ever tasted. It was perfect -- rich, thick and decadent, but not too sweet or strong. San Lucas is one of about a dozen cities along Lake Atitlan (Ah-teet-lahn). The boat ride to nearby Santiago for shopping was slightly unpleasant due to concerns about water quality, but the views were breathtaking. And the shopping was worth it. Dozens of vendors line the cobblestone streets in Santiago, selling textiles, T-shirts, woven skirts, hammocks, headwraps, jewelry, ornate knives and other wares that often cost less than $20. Haggling is common, and most vendors are willing to sell their merchandise for half their initial asking price. Hotel Toliman (Tohl-ee-mahn) is a gorgeous getaway spot in San Lucas with lush landscaping, a restaurant and patio overlooking the lake, a pool and other amenities. The chips and guacamole at the restaurant were some of the best I had in Guatemala, and Dr. Gordon Keyes, a professor of oral surgery at the WVU School of Dentistry who accompanied the students on their trip, highly recommends the hotel for personal vacations. Antigua Guatemala has a rich Catholic history, and there are about a dozen old churches and cathedrals in various states of ruin scattered around Antigua. Some are still actively used and others are not, and they were interesting to check out. Using a map to find the churches was also a great way to get acquainted with the city. Cafe Sky is one of the few three-story buildings in Antigua, and the top floor offers a view of the entire city. It's a great place to kick back with a cold drink and relax in the sun after a long day of shopping and sight-seeing. Casa Santo Domingo, a five-star hotel and museum, is also worth checking out. Rated Central America's best hotel by Conde Nast Traveler in 2008, the resort was crafted from the ruins of an old monastery, and its cultural center includes colonial and archaeological artifacts dating back to the classical period of the Mayan culture (200-900 A.D.) The hotel grounds are lush and elegant, including the restaurant. It features a wide variety of spectacular dishes, most of which are $25 or less. I ordered a giant applewood-smoked risotto appetizer with shrimp and scallops that was perfectly cooked, creamy and rich, but cost less than $15. Antigua is considered the jade capital of the world, and there are jade shops on almost every corner. According to merchants, black and purple jade are only found in Guatemala, but the prices are still reasonable. I bought a black jade pendant, a green jade pendant and a pair of earrings for about $60. The Mercado, or market, is another unique shopping attraction. It's truly one-stop shopping, and locals go to this indoor/outdoor area to buy and sell everything -- including TV remotes, dairy products, kids' socks, plastic buckets, fresh fruit, textiles, jewelry, electronics, used clothing and souvenirs for tourists. Haggling is the norm at the Mercado, too, but the merchants were not as willing to bargain as they were in Santiago. Volcan de Pacaya is one of three active volcanoes in Guatemala, and it's located about an hour from Antigua. Dozens of tourist services offer guided tours, as well as transportation to and from the volcano, for less than $10. The hike up the volcano takes about two hours. It's steep at times, but overall, it's a fairly easy climb. Trudging through the dusty, slippery lava rock was the hardest part, but the view from the top was worth it. We couldn't climb all the way up because the lava was too low, but we still had a great vantage point to check out the wonders of the natural world. I've never felt as small as I did standing there, and the intense heat from the red-hot lava nearby served as a reminder of just how powerful and destructive nature can be. |