They had been warned that Guatemala City was dangerous. Once they had cleared customs and immigrations at the airport, they went together to find a policeman who could speak some English. As they walked through the small terminal, they were surrounded by touts offering them taxi rides into town. After their experience in Mexico, they were not tempted to let themselves be led out to an unknown taxi. They managed to find a policeman who understood English. Mark explained that they were worried about safety. Once he understood their concern, the policeman was very helpful. He escorted them out to a taxi, and told the taxi driver to take them to their hotel.
Their hotel in Guatemala City was a big step down from the Four Seasons--it was their own money they were spending now. Their guidebook had recommended the "Hotel Spring" as clean, safe, and cheap. Claudia could tell they were moving down when she called to make the reservation from Mexico City -- not only did the clerk who answered the phone barely speak English, but he asked her if she wanted a room with or without a private bath. Claudia reserved a room with a bath -- it was still less than twenty dollars a night.
They checked in to the hotel and carried their packs up the stairs to the room. Claudia inspected the bathroom, and decided it was clean enough. Mark lay down on the bed. It was only a double, but the mattress was firm. By this time, it was nearly six thirty in the evening.
They had no firm itinerary for Guatemala. They knew they had twelve days in the country: that was how long they had before their flight to Ecuador and South America. Within those twelve days, they hoped to fly to the lowland jungle area of the Peten to see the famous Maya ruins of Tikal. They also wanted to visit the highlands north of Guatemala City. Claudia had always admired the colorful woven fabrics from Guatemala, and she wanted to visit the highland areas where they were made. Beyond these two destinations, they would go where fancy took them.
Claudia lay down on the bed beside Mark. There was just room for the two of them. They were both tired after a long day of traveling. As they let fatigue wash over them, they could feel a slight chill in the air -- like Mexico City, Guatemala City is high up, and it gets cold in the evening.
"How are you feeling?"
There was concern in Mark's voice. Claudia reached for Mark's hand, and they lay silently side-by-side, holding hands, for a moment before she answered.
"Still a little shaken, I guess. I'm really glad we decided to come straight on to Guatemala--it does feel like a new start. I really want this holiday to be fun."
"I do to."
Mark rolled over and hugged Claudia. They kissed.
"I love you, Claudia."
"I love you too, Mark."
"You hungry?"
Mark's tone was purposefully bright, changing the subject away from their experience in Mexico.
"Yes. I am."
"Then let's go eat!"
In a moment, they were out on the street in front of the hotel. Claudia took Mark's hand. The desk clerk had told them they would find restaurants around the corner. The streets were dark; as in many third-world countries, the street lighting was far from adequate. But Claudia and Mark felt secure walking together through the streets, hand in hand.
A few blocks from their hotel was a main street, with a riot of brightly-lit restaurant signs. Many were for international chains, or for chain knock-offs -- Burger Boy, McDonald's, Wimpy, Burger King. There were also some nondescript local restaurants, but they did not look very clean. After a short search, the young couple decided on Burger King. The menu was exactly the same as the menu back home in the States; they each had a hamburger, fries, and a soda. But they could tell they were not in the States -- a security guard stood vigilant inside the front door, cradling a shotgun.
The short walk back to the hotel was uneventful, but it was now getting quite cold. Back in their room again, they were truly exhausted. Even though it was only eight thirty, they decided to go to bed. They were too tired to make love; they hugged and kissed and were soon asleep.
*************
The next morning, Claudia woke up at her customary six a.m. The Hotel Spring had no gym. Claudia did her fifteen minutes of floor exercises beside the bed, as quietly as she could so as not to wake Mark. For the weight exercises, she put three books into her day pack, and used it as best she could as a weight.
The first item on their agenda was to register at the U.S. embassy. When Claudia had called the State Department for advice before they left, they had told her that it was important to register with the embassy, so that they could get help if something went wrong. Things were safer now than they had been a few years ago, when there had been anti-American hysteria because of rumors that Americans were kidnapping Guatemalan babies for their organs. But it was still better to be careful.
The staffer at the embassy was very helpful. After she had taken photocopies of their passports, she told them that they should have no problem either in the highlands or at Tikal. The worst that they were likely to encounter were diarrhea and pickpockets.
The staffer did tell them to be on the lookout for drug traffickers. A significant proportion of the marijuana and cocaine the reached the streets in the United States comes through Guatemala. Most originates in South America, but there is some drug production in Guatemala itself.
The staffer invited them to a reception that evening at the Ambassador's residence. She told them that not only would there be good food, but that they would be able to meet some prominent Guatemalans as well.
Claudia and Mark stopped for breakfast at a little café after they were done at the embassy. The embassy was in an upscale neighborhood, and it was not difficult for them to find a likely-looking place to eat breakfast. They ordered.
"What did you think about what the woman at the embassy told us?" Claudia asked.
"That's really good news about the situation here in Guatemala. It sounds like we won't have any problems."
"It made me feel a lot better. And what did you think about what she said about drug trafficking?"
"I'm sure we won't see anything," Mark answered. "We're hardly going off the beaten track. Besides, we're hardly the types to hang out with drug traffickers."
"That's true. Still, I think it's kind of exciting. Like being in a spy novel." Claudia had always been more adventurous than Mark.
Over breakfast, they talked about their plans for Guatemala. They decided to leave early the next day for the ruins at Tikal. They would spend a couple of days at Tikal, and then come back to see the highlands.
They spent the rest of the morning and the afternoon walking around Guatemala City. While they visited the old churches in the city center, [fill in with more details of Guatemala City from the guidebook], the sights of the city were only a background for their feelings for one another. They walked hand-in-hand.
As they stepped through the small wooden door into the [x] church, Mark turned to kiss Claudia. A small voice inside Claudia's head told her that their overt public displays of attention were disrespectful to the Guatemalans worshipping in the church. But she didn't care. It wouldn't matter where they were, Claudia thought. She loved Mark more than she had ever imagined she could love someone, and all she could think about was him.
Late that afternoon, they returned to their hotel room to change for the Embassy reception. The embassy staffer had assured them that the reception would be informal. Still, they thought it best to wear the dressiest clothes that they had with them. Mark put on a white shirt and a pair of pants whose only virtue was that they weren't jeans. Claudia put on a yellow cotton sun dress.
They were ready to go. Mark put his hand on Claudia's bare arm.
"You certainly are beautiful, Mrs. Pinter."
"Oh Mark."
