PRIS, JOANNA, AND ALFREDO
We had a wonderful drive back to Flores sitting crammed in the front with Alfredo driving and Joanna in the middle. We were laughing and joking the whole time and were just so content with one another company. That is just how it goes with the locals and transportation(it's almost always a fun trip when you hang with the locals). The boring tourists were just sitting in the back in silence.
(Alfredo and Joanna just recently got married and they couldn't be happier. She is 25 and he is 50 and she believes that age is just a number. Everyday, he picks her up and drops her off at work on his way to Tikal. She makes his lunch and puts little stickers on the container. When they part, it's like they don't want to separate for those 5 short hours-it's adorable).
The Town Center including a brand new plaza with shops, movie theater, and a Burger King
The Lake
When arriving back from Tikal with Alfredo and his lovely wife, the dropped off the other tourists and made sure I had found a place to stay. Not just any place to stay, but the perfect places that suited my needs. The first place happened to be one I found online and it happened to be with an even nicer family. My room was super clean and freshly painted with a nice rooftop and hammock for the price of $12 per night. There was only one guy staying on the bottom floor, which left me the top floor all to myself. Unfortunately, I just had a problem with the suicide shower where it the shower flooded-sorry nice family=(
The Owners Adorable Son
My Room- Perfectly Clean and Freshly Painted
Mango Tree Outside
Painting on the Rooftop
The Three Stooges
Walking to top of the hill to visit the church, it happened to be closed, but I ending up finding something else- The Three Stooges. Sitting and watching the sunset across from me on a bench were three young friends. They lived in Guatemala City and were on a short vacation with each other in Flores. It's always so nice to see locals travel, especially in developing countries as it can be expensive and they always have to work.
There was one with the Hurley shirt who I labeled(the model). Franklin was labeled(The Smart one) with the Hollister shirt, and Rudy with the light blue shirt was the clown. Franklin had traveled to the US many times and had great English while the other have local jobs in Guatemala. They don't have intentions on going to college, but Franklin has his heart set on going to a US school. We discuss his opportunities and he says that he thinks he will end up in Wisconsin studying business. He is such a lovely boy and speaks so highly of the US, but has an appreciation for his country.
The Model works in marketing, but I joke and say he should just do some commercial ads. He enjoys the field of advertising and I tell him to go for it.
The dear Rudy, the clown, he just makes some jokes in broken English and has a smile like sunshine. I joke that his only chance of getting into the US is to marry an American. He is laughing, but the expression on his face says that he could never do it. They all shake their head and I can see that they are sincere nice boys of Jesus. They would not do something low and classless like this behavior, which is frequently exhibited in other countries.
They are nice, nice boys with good morals and values.
It was so nice chatting with them about their future goals and having a nice cultural exchange. Dios con the Three Stooges=)
The Negotiation
This trip involved working and not shopping, but in Guatemala I had my eyes open for the perfect bag. I really wanted a backpack with tribal designs in bright, girlish, Priscilla colors, but it did not find me. In a store that was just about to close on the hilltop, my bag found me. The woman was showing me all these different pieces and telling me the price with a "This price only for you" at the end. When it came to the bag she wanted a certain price and I was requesting $5 less. We went back and forth for at least 30 minutes as she was so sweet and shy saying that she would get in trouble with her mother. Of course, I did not want to get her in trouble, but I wanted my price for the bag, which meant a lot of smiling and a lot of persuasion. She kept smiling and changing the price. It was the end of the day and she was not even sure what she was negotiating. To clarify to her, I emphasized it was the last sale and let me just give you the cash.
I smiled and patted her on the back, "You go home dear and prepare some nice food and I walk away happy and content with my bag."
She laughed and said, "Okay" and then I said, "Okay" and then she said, "No, no $65."
Anytime that I thought we were just about to close the deal, she changed her mind and said, "No, no not possible." It's like a boxing match sometimes with negotiating where that other person just won't let you win no matter how hard you try. She told me my bag would last a lifetime and I took her word for it. We met half way, but she ended up getting a few dollars more and I just gave in. Usually, I compete until I win, but she was so sweet that I wanted her to have the extra money and I was exhausted from the bus, the hot day at Tikal, and the hour of sleep. We parted ways giving each other big hugs and wishes for happiness and Dios contigo=)
Love at first sight with my new bag
The Cool Beans Restaurant
Trying to get to my hotel without talking to another person-it's rarely possible, I was walking quickly down the street. Of course I got lost on the main street and forgot where my hotel was so I had to ask a local. I asked one, I asked two, and no one knew my hotel because I forgot the exact name. Now I was never going to get back at a decent hour. I asked a local sitting outside in front of a restaurant. He spoke English and said he just got back from the US.
I chatted for a few minutes and kindly said, "Okay bye have a good night."
I walked away and he said, "Hey, come in for a drink."
I looked at my watch and I looked at him. "I just want to buy my fellow American friend a drink."
Priscilla: "Okay."
Eddie asked me what I wanted and I said my usual Club Soda with extra limes. Of course, he mentioned by not drinking and I said, "It´s a personal choice. He didn´t ask anymore questions, which was nice. I strongly dislike when people make it such a big deal. After our initial conversation, I considered him to be a pretty cool guy. He gave me a little tour of the front, the restaurant which was on the beach, and the pool table and music area. There was a hip Brooklyn looking guy playing the guitar, Jake. Jake takes on different projects in Central America every summer as a archaeologist. He expressed his desire to do something new after doing architecture for 20 years. When he said it, he made this face like he knew something else was out there for him-positive, super cool guy.
Just visiting Tikal the archeology wonderland, Eddie could not understand how someone could do a job so boring. I said what is boring to you, is another´s passion.
While I am observing Jake speak, I am thinking he he reminds me of some celebrity. Who one may ask? Paul Rudd. He was the duplicate of Paul Rudd with his mannerisms, facial expressions, and his voice. I told him that and he said he hears that often-of course he does. We all just sat chatting away about our career choices and our desire to live abroad.
In the meantime, Jake gave me some info. on my new friend who owns the restaurant and is also an architect. Eddie was just in Seattle for a project. He´s often in Chicago for projects and named it his favorite place.
He also explained to me how he started his business and how it all came together piece by piece. Also, his wife became his business partner(ANOTHER power couple working together and I feel inspired).
He can't get over the fact that I am single and have no boyfriend and no relations with anyone like ever. I tell him that there is so many more important things to focus on in my life. He is still very puzzled and I get the comment,"Don't worry there is someone out there for you." He sings my favorite West side story song, "Someday, Somewhere" I ask if he even knows West side story and he says, "No." He's a very funny guy and with his "beautiful comments." After a long day, it was time for us to part ways and then comes a beautiful soul
If I had this stamped on my head everyday, I would be making a lot of money.
Pris and Eddie
The Man With The Muriel's
Now I knew where I was going and I was on my way back. God, again, created another stop and interaction with a kind local man. From the corner of my eye, all I saw were these beautiful Mayan traditional style paintings. It was like the carvings from the pyramids and temples, but in a painting. There were also sculptures with the faces of different Mayan gods, but these paintings stood out. I felt captivated by this work and told myself to put the red light on shopping and just talk about the meaning of the work . He was familiar with the Mayan history and he was sharing some details-filling in my Mayan spirituality curiosity. He invited me to a Mayan speaking forum the next day, but I was all scheduled to go from Flores to Belize. We exchanged information and gave me contact info for the Belize centers.There was something divine about this man where I just felt so thankful to meet him. He kindly shook my hand and his hand was so soft and his eyes were a dark forest green. He was lovely-just lovely. It's unfortunate when you meet people on your last day of traveling and you are departing the next morning.
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