One thing you'll learn pretty quick in Panajachel, Guatemala, is that they love parades! And since it's a small town with few streets, the whole town stops to watch ... mostly cuz they can't do anything else!
I just caught the tail end of this parade when I was heading to the grocery store yesterday. This school had different grades dressed up as Super Mario or Mario Kart characters. The trucks were playing the video game music! So cute.
We wondered if these kids know the original Mario? Or just the Kart version?
The fake mustaches were adorable. This class had real cloth hats, but another class had ones made cleverly out of paper.
Toads and Toadettes.
I think these kids are getting tired at this point. They've probably walked all the way across town!
(OMG just noticed the sweet rat-tail on the guy in the left foreground. Ha!)
Yoshis! They were super bright lime coloured. Excellent sewing work!
I think this is the bad guy?
Every parade also has to have at least one marching band. Guatemala is addicted to marching bands! Watch the video below to see the parade in action, with the marching band at the end. I chuckled a bit when I realized they were playing YMCA.
So those pics were from yesterday, Saturday. This morning there is another parade, with bigger kids and even more marching bands. Hooray. A strange thing about parades in Guatemala is no one is happy. The crowd just stands there staring silently. No cheering or clapping, and only smiles when they see someone they know.
Fancy uniforms! The dudes in the back are even wearing their chin straps on their noses... which makes no sense at all.
Not sure why this school was carrying photos of themselves.
There is always an order to the marching bands: a sign, some flags, some beauty queens, sexy dancy ladies in tall boots and short skirts, some people wearing the school uniform, then the band.
It's also kinda entertaining to see the "parade" of trucks, chicken buses, tuk-tuks, and other vehicles following slowly along behind the real parade, although I imagine the drivers are kinda miffed about the slow pace.
Between Guatemalan Independence Day on September 15th and the Pana Town Fair on October 8th (officially), it is pretty much a non-stop party here in town. It's fun, but also a bit draining. It's hard to get around town because streets are blocked off or narrowed by vendors setting up extra stalls. Lots of people come to town to visit and party. But it's all in good fun and you just gotta roll with it! (And be sure to have some churros while they last!)
To follow up on my previous post, here are 5 things that make being an expat in Panajachel, Guatemala, totally awesome!
1. The Weather
Coming from Ontario, Canada, I find the weather in Pana to be absolutely divine. It's lovely and cool in the mornings, sunny and hot in the afternoons, and hardly ever humid. There is a nice afternoon breeze to whisk away your sweat. The rains are mostly predictable and quite refreshing. Lake Atitlan's latitude and altitude combine to make the weather enjoyable year-round.
Do you dare? Contact Real World Paragliding on Santander in Panajachel. They will take good care of you!
You wanna experience the weather up close and personal? Try paragliding! I wouldn't do it cuz I'm a total chicken, but I've heard it's fantastic. 😁 I've done a blog post about the weather before so go here to read more about it.
2. The Scenery
I can't get enough of Lake Atitlan and the volcanoes! My eyes are drawn to them every time I'm outside. The deep blue lake gives me such a feeling of peace. The volcanoes are massive and awe-inspiring.
View of Lake Atitlan from La Fortuna Hotel, voted by TripAdvisor as one of the top 25 small hotels in the world 2017. WOW!
But don't forget about the other amazing scenery, including the steep green hills surrounding Pana, the rushing waterfalls, the ever-changing river, and the micro-scenery of flowers, trees, birds, and butterflies everywhere you look. Truly eternal spring! Plus, if I'm craving new vistas such as the ocean or the jungle, I can just hop on a bus and be there in a few hours.
3. The Markets
While Guatemala is not known for its cuisine, the fruits and vegetables from the open-air markets are wonderful. Such freshness and flavour! Plus, you'll never know what you'll find -- exotic squashes, chickens on tethers, fresh shrimp from the ocean, and adorable old ladies selling mysterious herbs. I adore the market.
Panajachel market -- such a bounty of good food!
4. The Mayans
I love the people here. I love their clothes, their gorgeous faces, their long dark hair. I love their smiles and their spirit. I love their sense of family and community. I love their passion for their rights. I love that they're holding on to their culture with pride.
Photo courtesy of Maya Traditions, an amazing nonprofit organization that is headquartered in Panajachel.
Maya Traditions Foundation provides social assistance programs to indigenous people near Lake Atitlan, including health, education, and artisan support. They are dedicated to Fair Trade principals and ethical tourism. They offer workshops in traditional backstrap weaving, plus tours to visit local artisans. If you are shy about meeting the local people -- like I am! -- get in touch with them to arrange a tour.
5. The Expats
Yeah, we're a pretty cool bunch, if I do say so myself! Ha ha! Look at these happy expats in the picture below. (And notice the English bookstore behind too!)
I've met so many amazing people from all over the world here in Panajachel, the vast majority of whom have been exceptionally friendly and helpful. Expats from different countries bring their culture, art, food, and passions to Guatemala and share it with everyone. There are expat-run restaurants, coffee shops, art galleries, B&Bs, hotels, bookstores, computer shops, you name it!
I proudly wear a Canadian flag on my purse so that people will hopefully feel comfortable coming up to me to ask for help. I've literally gone up to lost-looking touristy folks on the street and asked them if they needed anything! Had some great conversations that way.
There are two Facebook groups that I'm a part of that are helpful to get in touch with expats before and after you arrive in Guatemala. Here are the links. Panajachel, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala Expats Living in Guatemala
There are smaller groups for expats in the other towns around the Lake, plus groups for Antigua and Xela (Quetzaltenango). Don't be shy. Get on there and ask some questions!
Runner-Ups
Low cost of living and a pretty simple visa process are also perks of being an expat in Guatemala, but I thought they were kinda boring to include in the list! What would you add to the list? Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments!
I struggled with a proper title for this blog.
"5 Things You'll Need to Adjust To As An Expat in Guatemala"
"5 Things You May Never Get Used To Living in Pana"
"5 Things That Shock Expats About Panajachel"
The point is I've made a list of five things that stuck out to me when I first arrived in Panajachel, Guatemala, and that many expats and tourists I've talked to have found to be a bit shocking or unusual as well. Do you agree?
1. Dogs
Dogs, dogs, dogs everywhere! If you've arrived here in Panajachel from a first world country where an off-leash dog means a call to the Humane Society, then you're in for a surprise. But don't fret! The street dogs are mostly doing just fine. A lot of them have owners who let them roam to look for food during the day. You may see an occasional collar or piece of rope tied around their necks. The rest of the "strays" are dogs that have grown up on the streets and are used to it. They go about their business with no concern for you. It's quite interesting to see them trotting down the street with places to go and things to do! They won't bother you ... unless, of course, you have a tasty treat to share. Then you may get a pair of sad eyes watching your every move. 😋
Street dogs relaxing outside the library in Panajachel.
What do you do if you see a dog that needs help? A sick, mangy, starving, or injured dog?
You call AYUDA Para la Salud de Perros y Gatos.
For those who have been following my blog, you know I am a dedicated supporter of Selaine and her charity. The work they do for the dogs in Panajachel and the other towns around Lake Atitlan is just amazing. AYUDA monitors and cares for the street dogs in Pana, with permission from the municipal office. There are limits to what they can do, but if a dog needs help, that's who you contact. AYUDA's webpage here. AYUDA's Facebook here.
If you're planning on moving to Guatemala forever, you can also adopt a street dog. There are loads that need homes and would love to be spoiled by you. 😊
2. Drunks
The climate is so lovely in Panajachel that if you're feeling a bit intoxicated and just don't wanna walk anymore, you can simply lie down on the sidewalk and have a little nap! If you're in front of a business, the owner may come out and shoo you away, but most drunks are just left to lie where they fall.
One of these things is not like the other!
When I first arrived here, I was worried these people were dead! But I watched all the locals just stepping around the prone bodies without a second glance and figured it must be all right. Besides, with my limited Spanish, I could wake them up and ask if they're okay, (¿Estás bien?) but then what?
My lovely friend, H., told me a story where she saw a drunk man passed out on the river road in the hot sun. She was concerned for his health, so she woke him up and asked if he was all right. The guy peered blearily up at her and then winked! My friend laughed and went on her way. 😄
3. Trash
Oh my, there is a lot of trash here in Guatemala. It's sad to see people with so little respect for their environment, especially when the environment here is so beautiful! Yes, you will see signs saying, "No tire basura," (don't throw trash) but a lot of folks just don't seem to care. There are street sweepers and municipal workers who clean up on a daily basis, but you'll still see piles of garbage on the side of the road and in empty lots. Do your part! Don't litter!
4. Noise
Those super loud BANGS you hear at all hours, even at 5 am? Those aren't gunfire. Okay, maybe they are, but more than likely it's just bombas, which are huge gunpowder "bombs" that are set off using a mortar. You'll also here snapping firecrackers at all times of the day and night. Guatemalans love to celebrate everything with explosions!
Check out this video I took last year. It shows an awesome traditional parade, plus in the end I found myself way too close to some firecrackers and bombas! Ouch, my ears! 😆
Guatemalans themselves are rather quiet people, in my opinion, but they do love a good parade. And they have an obsession with marching bands. That's all well and good, but you soon realize that marching bands have to practice...and practice and practice and practice. *sigh* My advice: don't live too close to a school.
And those dogs I told you about? Yeah, they bark. A lot. Plus there are roosters crowing (yes, even in town) and church bells ringing very early in the morning. Panajachel certainly is a lively place. You get used to it, but I do recommend a good pair of earplugs for those nights you just need some sleep.
5. Unsafety
Ha! I wanted to have a single word for this heading but there is no one word to fully describe the blatant disregard for human life that happens in Guatemala! I'm not talking about gang violence, forced marriages, and lynchings. (All of which occur here, sadly.) I'm talking about bicycles weaving in and out of oncoming traffic, four people on one motorcycle, no guard rails on curvy steep mountain roads, 40 people riding in the back of a pickup truck, electricians working while the power is on, and chicken buses going twice the speed limit downhill passing another bus in the fog while the driver talks on his cell phone. Yikes!
Most of these things are a "live and let live" sort of situation. You wanna ride your motorcycle without a helmet? Not my problem. But if you're driving my bus, please remember that you hold all your passengers' lives in your hands!
In spite of all this, I have very rarely felt unsafe in Panajachel. There isn't a lot of violent crime here, thankfully. Keep your wits about you and use common sense, just as you would in any city, and you'll be fine.
I hope you've enjoyed my post. I'm not trying to insult my adopted country or scare anybody off from coming to visit Panajachel and Guatemala. I've just seen so many posts on Facebook and other websites inquiring about these same five things. So now you know. Life in Guatemala is different, as it should be, and every day is a new adventure. I love it here! I hope you see you soon! 😊
