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I am a Guatemalan bilingual fiction writer, translator, and journalist. Similar to many other Latin American countries near it, the main spoken language of Guatemala is Spanish. Pickpocketers and robbers might be roaming around the streets. It is also the third-largest country in Central America behind Nicaragua and Honduras. Thats right! Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. These include 21 Maya languages. Guatemala has unique geology resulting from its location on the confluence of three tectonic plates. Of these, the most noteworthy volcano is Tajumulco. Robberies, violent street crime, and gang activity are rampant in this location. Coffee becomes important economically for Guatemala. 1773-74 - Antigua is destroyed by several earthquakes and a new capital - Guatemala City - is founded in 1776-77. 2004 December - UN mission, set up to monitor post-civil war peace process, winds up, but the UN says Guatemala still suffers from crime, social injustice, human rights violations. The variety. Here are some of the most scary facts about Guatemala: 1. A popular tourist destination located in the western highlands are oaf Guatemala is the Quetzaltenango Department. 2005 November - Guatemala's leading anti-drugs investigator is arrested in the US on charges of drug trafficking. By 1880, coffee accounted for 90% of Guatemalasexports and even today, its one of their main exports and sources of income for the country. 1821 - Guatemala becomes independent and joins the Mexican empire the following year. Another one of the 22 Guatemalan departments in many travel advisory boards list of places to avoid is the Izabal Department. Find out more, 12 facts you probably dont know about Guatemala, the first mixed UNESCO World Heritage Site. 8. Daily life and social customs. It's a very class-conscious society, with good grooming, neat dress, and cleanliness expected. Guatemala - Daily life and social customs | Britannica We could solve American homelessness easier than you think. The lake is the deepest lake in Central America and is believed to be 900 feet (300 meters) deep and covers 48 square miles (125 square kilometers). Card Skimming involves an altered public ATM machine that lets criminals steal your card data and use it without your knowledge. The countries of El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica all use permutations of the design in their flags. Football (soccer) is Guatemala's most popular sport. 1993 - Serrano forced to resign after his attempt to impose an authoritarian regime ignites a wave of protests; Ramiro de Leon Carpio elected president by the legislature. 2013 May - Ex-military leader Efrain Rios Montt is convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity, only to have the ruling overturned by the constitutional court on a technicality, forcing a retrial, although no date is set. But safety comes first in planning every trip, so before you fly off to this interesting country, stop for a minute and ask the question: is Guatemala safe? 2007 July - Amnesty International urges the government to ratify the CICIG as a first step towards tackling the culture of impunity it says has contributed to Guatemala's soaring murder rate. Sign up for a free class at Homeschool Spanish Academy before your trip and gain some invaluable cultural insight! They are still very much alive and continue to innovate in art, science, sports, and every aspect of life and modern Guatemalan culture. Located in the southernmost region of the country, bordering the Pacific Ocean, the Escuintla Department is another location where travelers are asked to always be vigilant in or to overall reconsider going. So, if youre planning on traveling to Guatemala, pack accordingly, meaning bring a sweater as well as flip-flops. The best way to steer clear of this scam is to avoid using any public ATMs to withdraw money. In 1950 Guatemala hosted the Central American and Caribbean Games, a quadrennial competition organized in 1924 in which Guatemalan athletes have participated since the games were . Its said that if you keep a cat in your home, the spirits will not come close.. Whats great about Lake Atitlan is, first, its location, as the lace sits right in between three stunning volcanos. Tikals Mayan ruins are embedded in the jungle. Today, Guatemala is a mass producer and exporter of chocolate products. Interesting article. The origin of the name Guatemala is Indian, but its derivation and meaning are undetermined. All aspects of communicationperiodical news, the comics, soap operas, filmare primarily of foreign origin. I highly recommend visiting the country. Old American school buses are often refurbished with chrome and an elaborate custom paint job and repurposed as intercity buses in Guatemala. 2018 May - Guatemala becomes the second country after the US to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. 1976 - 27,000 people are killed and more than a million rendered homeless by earthquake. He, in fact, crashed in Guatemala in 1938 and spent time in Antigua recovering from his injuries. (Source: Britannica), 18. One thing to remember about travel advisories is that they always take the side of caution. Like, a lot of skin. I love my Guat! Oh, the beauty of Guatemalas volcanoes. And they believe that chocolate holds incredible nutritional benefits, like reducing blood pressure. 2006 July - A Spanish judge issues a warrant for the arrest of former military leader Efrain Rios Montt and other former officials over atrocities committed during the civil war. So, to give you some insider tips, weve curated a bunch of surprising and curiosity-inducing Guatemala facts. 1970 - Military-backed Carlos Arena elected president. (Source: WWF), 9. Let's start with arguably the most important thing Guatemala has given us - chocolate. It's a Fungus Among Us: The Good, the Bad & the Downright Scary While in Guatemala, try to relax all while staying vigilant. Both nations will hold referendums on draft settlement. So jot them down on a piece of paper or record them on your phone before your departure date. The most interesting facts about Guatemala include a rich indigenous culture and one of the most important sites of the Mayan civilisation. 1839 - Guatemala becomes fully independent. 2002 - Guatemala and Belize agree on draft settlement to their long-standing border dispute at talks brokered by Organization of American States (OAS). Who doesnt want to see and help these cute creatures take their steps in life? A peace accord negotiated by the United Nations has resulted in continued economic growth and successful democratic elections, although poverty, crime, drug trafficking, and civil instability remain major issues. It provides a glimpse of the countrys history as a colony in the past. By knowing all the possibilities, you can expect them or do everything to make sure you lessen your chances of encountering such possibilities. READ MORE: HOW A FASHION SOCIAL ENTERPRISE EMPOWERS WOMEN IN GUATEMALA. 1844-65 - Guatemala ruled by conservative dictator Rafael Carrera. In the 1970s, Guatemalan businesswoman and philanthropist Yolanda Fernndez de Cofio came up with a meal with small portions for kids. Only slightly larger than the U.S. state of Tennessee, Guatemala is a mountainous country with one-third of the population living in cool highland villages. My grandparents always told us a story about a little man who walked the streets in the middle of the night. The more you look paranoid on the streets of many major Guatemala cities, the more you seem like easier prey for the bad guys nearby. Guatemala is also famous for its volcanoes; there are 37 in the country. So if you are in Guatemala around this time, this is a fabulous opportunity for wildlife lovers to engage in releasing of the turtles. The same reminder goes for even ones that are declared to be peaceful. Your life is more valuable than whatever material thing theyre trying to get from you. Since its a popular tourist destination, a lot of crime can happen in this Guatemalan department. Recommended: Etnica: 10 Reasons to Experience Ethical Tourism in Guatemala. However, following a devasting earthquake in 1773, the capital was moved to Guatemala City in 1776. Growth of the dome has produced pyroclastic flows as recently as the 2001they can be identified in . If you want to visit Guatemala and stay safe, find someone wholl come with you. So, its best to steer clear of any such gatherings at all times. Volcan Tajumulco is the highest mountain in Central America reaching up to 4,220 mt (13,786 ft)a large stratovolcano in the department of San Marcos in western Guatemala. Only three are active (Fuego, Pacaya, and Santiaguito), and many are considered tourist attractions. Meet Martin Cohen, Intrepids Antarctica expedition guide and 10 awesome places to spend your 21st birthday. A multitude of products, from soaps and boxed cereals and bottled drinks to automobiles, bear foreign .