Where are the tourists?

Last week, almost all the tourist left Xela. Mostly Americans and Canadians going back to their country to start University. So the town has been dead the last week and this week I think it's going to be worst. Normally in September it get busy again but with the elections coming I don't know if it's going to have an infuence on the tourism.

I haven't talked about the elections. On September 9th, the Guatemalan population is going to vote for their new president, new towns mayors and the congress. The President is elected for 4 years and can't have a 2nd mandat. If you can read Spanish and you're interested to know more, check https://secure.prensalibre.com/app/elecciones07/inicio.jsp

There are 14 candidates for the president election and the 5 main parties have 90% of the votes (according to the surveys). Last week I studied Spanish every morning and we talked about politics with my teacher. Otto Perez Molina, which arrive at the 2nd place in the survey, shouldn't be elected as President according to the consitution. Because he participated at a coup d'etat in 1982 and he was chief of the army. But all is a question of power and money in Guatemala! Violence against the political parties is increasing with the election getting closer.

[updated August 19th]

Party night

I'm not going out that much anymore but once a week it's good to have a bit of fun! On Saturday night, we went out with Brenda, Die (Brenda's student from Holland), Roisin, Giovanni and Mynor. We decided to go to a new bar which just opened. When we arrived there, there was a power cut, as it hapens regularly in Xela. So we started drinking with the light of the candles. Off course there was no music, so we borrowed the owner's guitare. Die was playing and we were singing, while drinking wine and margaritas. Such a great athmosphere! I drinked 4 margaritas before they told me what it was made of: wine, rum, vodka and tequila with fruits! well I was very very happy...

Then we went to a discotheque dancing salsa until early morning. I wish i have time to take more salsa classes because I really like this dance. This morning I had to work at 8am, very hard! Click here to see some pictures.

At the hostel we had a few crazzy days. There was a group of 24 americans staying in the hotel in front of The Black Cat and they came a few nights drinking. But on Friday it was absolutly mad! It was their last night together and they came with local friends to celebrate the end of their trip. They started drinking and drinking and drinking. They drank 90 beers!! and then started to dance!! It was hard to close at 10pm, because of course they wanted more beers. But a great spirit!

[ update August 15th]

New blog

I created a new blog for the Black Cat: http://blackcatxela.blogspot.com/

On Saturday started Rebecca, my new manager. So now I have more time for myself and I'm trying to focus on my spanish. I'm adavanced now but I would like to get a professionnal spanish, well enough to get a job all in Spanish. But i feel a bit stuck, so I will take a week of classes in the school of a friend. And depend how it goes, I'll take after a week of private classes with Mynor.

On Monday I'm starting a formation in e-learning in Marketing. It's 50 hours and you have 2 months to do it. So will be quite intensive, with work and my others formations. But as you know, I can't not be busy!!!

Here is a very interesting article about the Plan Sofia and Rios Montt. Guatemala is trying to put Rios Montt in front of the court, who is accused of Genocide in 1981-82.

[ update August 9th]

The company is expending

The news of this week are that my boss is going to buy a restaurant in Xela, just one block from The Black Cat, and they are are looking with his sister to open a new hostel at Lago Atitlan and one in the capitale.

For the restaurant, it's in process. The owner who is French is going back home because his dad is sick. I hope I can go to work there for a few hours to learn about the business. We're going to train the people working at the kitchen at the Black Cat to work in the other restaurant. And the other way too. So we can exchange our staff if needed.

About the two others hostels, they are looking for properties to rent but it's not easy. Especially in Lago Atitlan. So might take 6 months, but if they open one in Lago Atitlan. I definitly want to go to work there. I'm getting tired of Xela, i need a change!

I have been working non stop for two weeks so I'm getting tired. On Saturday is starting my new comanager so will have some time off next week. Cool! Last Saturday I started my course in Project Management, really interesting! On Monday I have a course for Bartenders. So I'm keeping busy...

Today is the day of the Indigene towns. This morning there was a parade of the schools of Xela dressed in traditional dresses and dancing traditional dances. Click here to see my pictures

I finally put some pictures of Honduras, click here

[update August 2]

Work and Study

I like my new house and my new room, even if i spend very little time there. But it's nice to have a place to go after work and not beeing around the Black Cat when I'm not working in the morning.

My comanager is gone so I'm working every day for two weeks. I have found a new comanager but she's starting only on the 11th. This weeks is really quiet at work, but we have a group of 18 people coming on Sunday for 3 days. I'm going to organize an Intrecultural night every Monday to try to have a place where Guatemalan and foreigners can meet and practise their Spanish and English. And on Sunday ask Mynor's friend to come and show his blankets.

On tuesday, I had a classe in Finance for small companies. Very interesting but I'm not used to sit and concentrate for 7 hours!! On Saturday, I'm starting a new course in Project Management for 2 months. Then I think I'll take a week off!

Here is an article about the increase of murder of women in Guatemala when the police do nothing to resolve the cases.

[update July 27th]

Momostenango, blanket factory and traditional dances

On Wednesday, we went to Momostenango, a small town 1h30 from Xela, with Mynor. First we went to visit one of his friend who make beautiful blankets. It's a family business, and everybody is helping. He goes to Xela to sell his blankets to the students of the Spanish schools. Momostenango is well known for its blankets.

Then we went to a Hot springs 10 mn from the towm. Enjoying the nature. Before heading back to town to see traditional dancing. It's the fiesta of the town for 2 weeks so there are activities every day. Click here to see the pictures.

Then I was supposed to move to my new house, but i got sick. Too much sun! and didn't drink all day so go dehydrated. So I moved finally yesterday and slept there for the first time. So quiet!! I slept until 9 am this morning, i couldn't believe it. My room is quite small but I like it, and I have wireless access too so that's really handy. More stories about my new house later... have to work!

[update July 22nd]

Moving soon!

I haven't writen for a while, just been too busy. Not much news except that I'm moving out of the hostel on Tuesday. I can't stand living there anymore, with all the noise and not having a real home. So i decided to move out and find a new place to live. I found a room at Entremundos, a NGO's house with 5 rooms. We'll be nice to meet new people and a bit of a social life. They are organizing conference and parties there very often. Will be really good to be able to have a real private life! I have slept badly this week because we got groups and they woke me up every night and in the morning at 6 am :o(

Work is going pretty good, we had 3 groups this week. And more people coming for lunch and diner. For the first time in 4 months, we're going to do some benefice. My co-manager is leaving at the end of the month so have to look for someone else.

I'm working on doing a presentation of each mayan groups of Guatemala. See here. Will put more on line soon.

[updated July 10th]

Antigua and my birthday

On Saturday, we went to Antigua with Roisin, Brenda and Mess. We arrived there at 1pm, found a cheap place to stay before going for lunch. When they were visiting the city, I went to the Black Cat and met with Alejandra, my boss sister. Well she's my boss too but as she's living in Guatemala city, she's looking after the Black Cat in Antigua. As we hadn't seen each others for 3 months, we had a lot to talk! She's coming tomorrow so we'll have a staff meeting.

So I joined my friends and we went out for the night. We went to a nice cafe for diner with live music. and then to a bar with live music too. This time to dance! Was great fun! see the pictures here.

On Sunday I left Antigua at 10 am because I was working at 2 pm. I couldn't have my Sunday off, even if I asked Anna two weeks ago if she was ok to cover me.

Yesterday was my 27 birthday and we went to the French restaurant Royal Paris with my friends. Delicious food and great athmosphere. I bought myself a present, a beautiful traditional jacket and Roisin and Brenda offered me a bag and a scarf which go really well with my jacket! see the pictures here