| Page Views: 7,138 Last Visit to Guatemala: July, 1999 | Guatemala-Land of Beauty, Mystery, and Anguish by Ken_Weaver - last update: May 15, 2003 |
| A View of Lago de Atitlan |
Guatemala is a land of beauty, mystery, and anguish. As you will see in the many pictures on this page, my several travelogues and other pages of places in Guatemala that, the land, the people, and the architecture are all so beautiful. What is difficult to show is the mystery that surrounds the people of Guatemala, particularly the indigenous descendents of the Mayas, an incredible civilization that existed here for thousands of years and suddenly disappeared about 1000 years ago leaving people groups all over the country who do not live at all in the culture and splendor of their ancesters. Guatemala is a land of anquish. The Spanish Conquistadores reigned terror on the land in the 1500s. Various types of governments ruled very autocratically up through the 1900s. In 1960, a military coup set the country into civil war which officially lasted until 1996. During those 36 years the country was stained with violence and genocide. The indigenous population was caught in the middle between the rightwing military governments who feared a communist takeover and the rebel forces who wanted land reform, social justice, education, and health reform. During the 36 years, over 200,000 people were either killed or "disappeared." The majority of causalties were labor leaders, college educators, and the indigenous peoples of Guatemala. Today, the war is over, but the wounds to the country have not healed. I pray for a great and just leader to bring real peace and equality to this beautiful country. |
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| Pros: | "Incredible Beauty and Mystery in the Land and People" | | Cons: | "A Government That Just Can't Get It Right!" | | In A Nutshell: | "Exciting, Yet Economical Country To Visit." |
Ken_Weaver's Guatemala Travel Tips
| Overview | Things to Do
Tips: 7 - Photos: 7 | | | | Restaurants | Hotels & Accommodations | | | | Nightlife | Off The Beaten Path
Tips: 5 - Photos: 5 | | | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers | | | | Transportation | Local Customs | | | | Packing Lists | Shopping
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1 | | | | Sports Travel | General Tips
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1 |
 Ken_Weaver's Guatemala Travelogues | | | |
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 Comments for Ken_Weaver about Guatemala | | | | |
conejita71 Thu Jun 4, 2009 01:02 UTC
cool page Ken... if you want visit my country, check it out :www.elsalvador.travel | Pawtuxet Mon Jan 8, 2007 01:16 UTC
OK, I'm ready to go find those weavers. I'd probably get myself in trouble buying too many things from these beautiful textiles. Looks like an interesting trip. Enjoyed the page. | galy Sat Jul 1, 2006 16:44 UTC
Great page ken, sad stories of the Ixil | Hermanater Thu Mar 23, 2006 23:17 UTC
Central America is one of the greatest places to explore......I would love to retire there someplace....great pages. |
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