What an incredible and amazing whirlwind trip through Central America I took last week!! Theres nothing like a trip like that to open your eyes to what its like there. I went through a whole range of emotions from awe and wonder to shock and horror to overwhelming amazement at the beauty of the region.
Yes, I went there for business purposes, but I couldnt help but to feel the need to get out into the area and explore just a little. Unfortunately, my schedule really didnt give me nearly enough time to do this. Plus, there was always a fear factor that kept me fairly close to the beaten path.
There were certain instances however, where I had special treatment that the average tourist wouldnt get. One of the factories I visited is owned by one of the most powerful men in Central America. He took us (me and a few other representatives of the company that I was visiting) to a private party attended by presidential candidates and other powerful figures. It was very heavily guarded, and the media was there with TV cameras and everything! After that, he took us to a private club for dinner. At one point, the power went out and the generators had to kick in! Electricity is very unpredictable in some countries, and I witnessed it firsthand!
During another leg of the trip, I was taken on a small tour of Guatemala City by the assistant to the factory owner. She drove me all over the city and took me to a museum full of incredible Mayan artifacts, and then she was going to take me to the hotel, which was quite a long drive away. She asked me if I minded stopping by her house to use the bathroom before we left. Of course not!! So we went to this “subdivision” that was obviously one of the better housing developments. Even though the neighborhood was gated and protected by armed guards, every house was covered with bars and razor wire! When we left, we were stopped by one of the many police roadblocks. Because of the prison break (I wrote about in my last entry…or check this out: Caution Announcement), security has been stepped up. Obviously, we were not violent criminals but someone felt the need to pull us over and check us out! I couldnt tell how nervous Lilian was at the time, but I could sense her relief after she showed her license and registration and they let us pass.
Quite an experience!
Oh theres so much more that I will have to write about! It was an amazing trip! I was so wired by the time I got home. I didnt sleep much on the trip. I wish that I had more time there. One day per country just isnt enough! Especially when I was either working or traveling most of the time! But with all the manufacturing that is now being done down there Im sure I will be back sometime in the near future. In fact, while in Guatemala, we were discussing an additional trip to El Salvador (because of some unfinished business) within the next couple of weeks.
Central America is so incredibly beautiful yet so amazingly unstable and poor. My nervousness was well-founded, but the experience was well above and beyond my expectations!
More to come
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