CHICKEN BUS MILES

For the last seven months now, I've traveling from Guatemala City to Xela, it was love at first sight. The only time I had visited Xela, I was three years old and all I can remember is my grandfather getting drunk at Fuentes Georginas on a family trip, trying to get me into that boiling water.. not such a pretty memory.

I was supposed to be here for only four weeks due to work, but I was pulled by a bigger force, it's everything in Xela, the ambient, the wheather, history and most important, the people. I use it to get away from the noise and the chaos, I'm a city slicker, but I love coming here so much, that I do it every time I get the chance, twice or three times per month. I've even been sitting on a chicken bus for eight long hours, just so I can spend a little while here, maybe 2 or 3 hrs. Ok ok, there were other reasons too, but that's arena de otro costal....

And for that reason, I'm now part of the “Frecuent miles chicken bus program”. It's not like I can use those miles to purchase bus tickets, or not even to get a free chuchito at Los Encuentros, it's my own little club, and I'm the only susbcriber. Lets stick to the facts and numbers: there's 200 Km. or 124.27 miles from GC to Xela, that makes 400Km round trip, and if I come here at least three times per month, equals 1,200 Km or 248.54 miles in a month and 8,400Km in seven months! (yes, I had to use a converter, because I don't know what's the distance on miles, and don't get me started on the Celcious/Farenheit conversion, thanks Google convertor).

I've come to realize that the beauty of the trip it's not just the landscapes, it's being on the bus itself, the colorful people, the bumps, the variety of smells, good and bad, the bus ayudante screaming his lungs off: XeelaXeela! or GuaateGuaate!, and who can forget the rancheras and tex-mex music, I'm an expert now in Vicente Fernandez and La Apuesta.

I've learn a few tips, i.e:

a) Don't drink too much water before you get on the bus, you can ask my braided gringo friend, thank God he had a bottle of water handy! It's a four hours trip and they only stop at Encuentros, but not for too long, you won't be able to light a cigarrette! trust me.

b)Always ask if they're going to Minerva bus station, I learned that the hard way, I woke up and we were almost in Totonicapán.

c) Don't seat near to a baby... sure, they look cute when they're smiling at you while the bus is still on Minerva terminal, but after 1 1/2 hrs. no one will be able to stop them from composing a Prima Opera, for their parents at least... but for you and the rest of the bus,... well lets just say that you can always ask a temporary insanity plea, because the voices made you do it, when they say they wanted a baby sacrifice for the God of the Crops

Little did I know, that it was the road that could never get me bored of riding. And even now that I have a car, but don't have a drivers licence, because I haven't purchased it just yet, literally, I would never loose the opportunity of adding more miles on a Xela chicken bus.

Memory Lane

"Memories, like the corners of my mind

misty water-colored memories

of the way we were,

Scattered pictures, of the smiles we left behind

smiles we gave to one another

for the way we were".

This song is a guilty pleasure, it's so cheesy, but still, I can relate to it's lyrics, and I think everybody can in some point of their life.

Alone time

I've said it before, I like my "alone time", and I hardly get that time for myself, but this sunday without planning it, I've got it.

Also, and this is huge, I enjoy giving gifts. I like to see people's reaction and most of all, It makes me feel good inside, like I can share a peace of my heart or my soul, besides I like to make people smile (not that I'm a clown or anything, ¿?).

Today, before I went to the movies, alone, I went to buy a book, and meanwhile I was in line to pay, an old lady, in a very polite way, said to me:

- "Jane Austen?, Oh dear, I love her novels, she writes beautifuly, her stories are so romantic, and full of emotions, she really can take you to those times of greatness, are you reading it in english dear?"

-"Yes" - I replied - "I'd like to improve my skills in the language and expand my vocabulary"

-"Good for you dear" - she said.

Then I paid and asked the cashier to wrapped it as a gift, and the old lady without hesitate, grabs my arm and says:

-"I thought the book was for you... are you giving it as a gift?"

I just gave her a smile, and answer her back: -"It is a gift, for myself from me"-

and she just nodded and smiled, and gave me another "Good for you dear".

So every once in a while I give myself a treat, 'cause I really enjoy presents, to give or receive, besides it's not like it's every day, and it's only a book for God's sake!

Then I went to see Guy Ritchie's latest film, "ROCKANROLLA", it was ok, filled with dark and raw english humor, violence, sex and drugs... and of course rock, the soundtrack was good, excellent I'd say. I'm not a critic, but I give it one thumb up.

Luna de Xelajú

It's a famous song in Guatemala, beautifully written, about the moon, a heart breaker morena, and more important, about the city, the mystical and romantic Xelajú, Quetzaltenango.

I haven't travel around the world, my eyes haven't seen other landscapes, I haven't embrassed other cultures, but I know beauty when I see it.

Here are the lyrics, but of course, most gets lost in translation

"Moon, silver gardenia, that in my serenade, a song you become,

You saw me singing then, you see me crying now my disappointment,

Moon-drenched streets, that were the cradle of my youth,

I come to sing to my beloved, my silver moon, my Xelaju moon...

Xelaju Moon, you knew how to illuminate

my sorrow nights for a sweet-eyes brunette.

Xelaju Moon, you gave me inspiration,

the song I sing today watered with tears my heart

In my life there will be no other love than you,

my love,

because you are not ungrateful, my silver moon, Xelaju Moon,

Moon that illuminated, in my nights of love,

Today you comfort my sorrow,

for a brunette that left me behind."

Ok, so it's not so beautifully written, but sounds pretty good in stadiums, or in a different country when you're drunk, but specially if you're in love in Xela, or in love with Xela.

Friends

The word may bring us several meanings, a famous TV show or a very good restaurant, but what friends are for? And more important whom your real friends are?

I have to be honest, I'm not a very good friend, or at least I'm not the best friend you could ever have!... But I do care a lot about my friends, the ones that touch my heart... (I think every single person touches my heart in some way or another).

Ok, I'm being too modest, I'm a really good friend, I'm reliable, confident (well, sometimes things just slip out off my mouth, 'cause I have big mouth), and mostly I'm caring, I care about people, sometimes, I can place myself in second place, or take less priority about myself.

Is that smart? most likely NOT, but do I care? I think I've been "betrayed" or undestimated too many times, but is always good to have your friends in heart, and in your memory, even if its in the back of your mind.

Piece of heaven.

Little I did know, that I could find a piece of heaven when I wasn't expecting it,
usually it would be inexplicably or hard to explain, but it's really simple,
It's like finding money on the street, you don't see it comming, but it can never be bad, even if it's just a Q1 bill (or one bill of your local currency) it will put a smile on your face.

It's been a long ride in a short time, I mean one year is not so much time,
I'm not so much mature than what I was, I'm not so much fat, but not slimmer than before either, not so much richer (in fact I'm still poor), not much wiser, successful or smarter,
but I'd like to think so, in just a small fraction it will be sufficient for me.

Tears don't come as easily as they did, memories seem to be fading into my trivial and repetitive ways, and they're becoming part of a mural or a mosaic of my life.
I thought i needed to become someone or something else, that i wanted to find "meaning in life", some mystical sign like a burning bush or the image of Christ in a wall, or Don Qixote at least,
but i don't think i need that anymore.

I'm getting older, and somehow i don't worry about that anymore, and now,
I AM older than back then when it was in my mind constantly, that's ironic.
But i was feeling upset about the fact that i was getting colder, tougher, cynic, and that life kind of loose colors for me.

Much has changed for me in the past year, even if in the eyes of the rest of the world, i look exactly the same, I know deep inside of me, I'm not.
Little did i know, that i needed to stop worrying, to stop crying, to stop complaining,
and just to start being me, in a normal and almost happy way.
Ok ok, so it took me a little more than that: It took me three years, some anti depressives, and a lot of time for myself, "my alone time".

And about the piece of heaven, it's more of a piece of clear sky in a rainy day, you really don't know if the sun it's here to stay and warm you up, or if it's going to get cloudy again and it continues raining, but honestly, i liked that warm feeling, and i'll treasure it.