Guatemala

I was expecting something completely different than this. My vision was arriving to a small dumpy airport on a plane of missionaries, dumped into a bustling street with cabbies jumping over each other for my business and little children following me with open palms. What happened was I arrived to a very large modern airport (spotlessly clean with a staff that said "Welcome to Guatemala" as I passed), on a plane full of businessmen, and was directed out the door to the shuttle I desired. No begging children, no begging cabbies, and I woke up in Antigua, a strange westernized mecca just south of the city. Antigua is infused with serious cashflow. I put down my bags, went to the churches, rolled up my sleeves and bargained in the market (with terrible but improving spanish). ..... and went back to my room to count my losses. I'm totally struck by how safe I feel here. Not one person ripped me off, not one man made me feel uncomfortable, not one person begged. Here where 75% are below poverty- you would not know it. I have a feeling that has everything to do with my current location but still. It is remarkable how safe I feel here, how beautiful it is... And now back to the hostle ;)