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Category Archives: Travel Safety

Do not fear Mexico City

Man, Mexico sure gets a lot of bad rap these days.
A few weeks ago I was cashing in some leftover travelers checks in Toronto.
“Where were you?” the teller asked.
“Mexico,” I replied far too wistfully.
“Wow,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to go visit Mexico really bad.”
“Why don’t you?” I asked.
“Well, the [...]

Posted 25 March 2010 † Caitlin § Mexico ‡ Comments (3) °

Fear and Loathing in Quetzaltenango

Don’t get me wrong.
I love it here. Guatemala is one of two countries I love the most (along with Burkina Faso) and I am very attached to the place. I was supposed to be in Guatemala for only two months this summer, now I’m staying for at least eight. Life is good here, people [...]

Posted 05 September 2009 † Caitlin § Guatemala ‡ Comments (0) °

Cuidate – safety in Guatemala

The other day, I was leaving my salsa class around 7PM (a perfectly safe time to be walking around Xela.) As I was saying goodbye to my classmates, one Guatemalan friend told me: “Cuidate.” This meant, I thought “be careful.”
Today, I was leaving Infinito, my favourite cafe in Xela, and the waiter mumbled something [...]

Posted 19 July 2009 † Caitlin § Guatemala ‡ Comments (1) °

Don’t Worry Until the Locals Start to Scream: adventures on Guatemalan “chicken buses.”

Chicken buses, or “camionetas” as they are known to locals, are pimped-up second hand school buses that serve as the most common form of public transportation in Guatemala. They zip along the roads of Guatemala, leaving a trail of black exaust and the sounds of “Xela Xela Xela” or “Guate Guate Guate” in their wake. [...]

Posted 28 June 2009 † Caitlin § Budget Travel § Guatemala ‡ Comments (4) °

5 places to hide your money while traveling

Whether you are traveling in a developing country or Western Europe, chances are you have hidden money somewhere on your person. Presumably, this will keep it safe from criminals and act as a backup supply if everything else is lost. I guess this might be a tad paranoid… but it doesn’t hurt so it can’t [...]

Posted 26 May 2009 † Caitlin § Travel § What to pack ‡ Comments (0) °

Risk and travel

Some people have told me that I should not fly through Mexico City in June if the swine flu epidemic is still going on. I have an eight hour stopover there on my way to Guatemala. As it stands, the tiny risk will not stop me. (Although, to make my mother happy I will bring [...]

Posted 01 May 2009 † Caitlin § Misc. ‡ Comments (2) °