What-a-mala

     When I first heard that Reed might be checking out a plane in Guatemala, I recalled that in Spanish "mala" means bad; I had no idea what a "guat" was. It turns out the name is from an indigenous language and can mean either "land of the high trees" or "land of the snake eating bird".  I am more of the opinion that "mala" means bad and "guat" means crime.  I am staying within the grounds of the hotel, but Reed told me that many stores and restaurants have a security guard stationed at the door with his hand on his weapon.  Motorcyclists are required to have numbers on their helmets because some were pulling up beside people in traffic and robbing them at gunpoint.  On the shuttle ride to the hotel, I noticed razor wire on the zoo fence and Reed says businesses have hefty rebar in all the windows. Wikitravel says Guatemala has one of the highest violent crime rates in the world. But for someone with a love of travel and a little knowledge of Spanish, crime wasn't enough deterrent.
     Since our flight from Houston to Guatemala City was after dark, I can't even describe what the country is like from the air.  Our hotel is downtown, but there are, indeed, tall trees, not only palm, but pines.  There are also assorted tropical plants on the hotel grounds, especially in the solarium.  I recognize some, but have never been willing to fill up my limited brain capacity with the names of plants. We are staying in a Westin Hotel.  I am glad it is secure, but wish it wasn't so fancy.  I like to stay in "lotion grade" hotels, this one has bath gel, mouthwash, robes and a minibar. That is not bad for $120 a night, but I am surrounded by employees in black suits ready to fulfill my every wish, and what I really wish is that the black suited employees weren't hovering around.  There are three art galleries in the hotel, three restaurants, two jewelry stores, gift shops, a salon and a spa.  The only way to get to the outdoor pool is by keyed entry through the spa and fitness rooms. A key is also required to use the elevator.  Although the hotel water is safe to use as ice or brush your teeth with, drinking bottled water is recommended and, even I am not cheap enough to risk getting "la turista" over the price of bottled water.
     The Pilatus inspector from Boise is also staying at this hotel and the broker will be staying here tonight, but I am hoping after they are gone we can move to a hotel with adequate security, but fewer amenities.  The price of food, etc. isn't bad here and I know enough Spanish to order at a restaurant, but I don't know tipping etiquette, so found it easier to order room service yesterday.  Right now a dollar is worth 7.3 quetzals.  The Guatemalan government is wise enough not to just print more money to keep up with inflation.  Since most of our travel is for Reed's work, I am used to spending quite a bit of my time by myself at the hotel, I enjoy having time to read and write and think.  This time I get to think in Spanish.  Que bueno.