As the title of this entry might suggest, I'm leaving for Guatemala in six days.
I have a return ticket (13th of July-13th of August), I have booked two nights in a hotel in Guatemala City and I have a very vague idea of where my friends - who I will be meeting up with - will be when I get there.
If I was asked to describe how I was feeling at this point, the only word I could accurately use would be ambivalent.
One one hand, I'm very excited indeed - the prospect of visiting a new country and culture, the adventures, the people...well, it's intoxicating!
But...on the other hand I am very very nervous. Sometimes I think I might have gone completely mad. Why am I going to a country where the best advice you can adhere to is to "not wear ANY jewelery and not to take photos of children because their families might think you want to kidnap them"?
Well, I've though long and hard about the reasons WHY I would want to visit such a place and the best I can come up with is....this is the world and I want to experience it.
The negative feelings I've gotten have subsided after I spoke to many people who have been to Guatemala and was reassured by their stories. I've gotten lots of advice, I'm as prepared as I can be and I will be cautious and use my common sense.
I went out today and bought - a first aid kit (with tea tree oil, the best antiseptic!), inspect repellent, a money belt, new bag locks, a big bright fluorescent strap for my check in luggage, tissues, a Central America guide, a novel, a new pair of sunglasses, organic natural hand spray sanitizer and facial wipes. I think there are probably a few more things I need...but I got everything on my list so far. I'm feeling pretty prepared. I have everything photocopied and double checked...all I really need to do now...is pack!!
I'm going on a bit of a tourist jaunt tomorrow with my Australian friend, Tara. We're going to Hever Castle the home of Anne Boleyn. It's an hour train trip from London (in Kent) and it should be a fantastic, histroical day out.
