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GUATEMALA
CITY WHAT TO DO AND SEE
"Wildland
Adventures has been taking adventurous travelers around the world
since 1986, and is a leader in ecotravel.."
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HIKING: Not
recommended. Well, it is possible to walk among the traffic, but the smoke will kill
you! No biking either.
CLIMBING:
Not far from the city, there is a popular volcano very often in eruption,
The Pacaya. Tours and trips are available in Antigua click
here for history of the volcano and
climbing information.
Beautiful view of Pacaya with Agua volcano in the back. (Courtesy
of Jordi)
BOOK
STORES: Geminis bookshop at 3a Ave 17-05, Zone 14, has a good
selection of magazines and books, quite far from the city. Also, Arnel
bookshop at 7 Ave and 9a Street in Zone 1 has a good selection and is just
right downtown. The Europa restaurant and bar has a good selection of
used books in English and is a place where many foreigners and locals meet. It is
located at 11 Street 15-16 Zona 1 Tel: 253-4929
SHOPPING:
There are several areas in the city where you can find crafts from all over
Guatemala. One is at Mercado Central, just one block from the central park
behind the cathedral. Another area is the Mercado de Artesanias near the
International Airport. Both offer the best prices in town. However, if you want higher
quality, you should go to the wonderful boutiques in Zona Viva in Zone
10.
ART GALLERIES: Most
galleries are located in Zona Viva in Zone 10. Many Guatemalan artists expose
their work in that area.
MUSEUMS: Museo
Nacional de Historia 9a Street 9-70 Zone 1, open daily from 10am to 4pm. The
Popol Vuh museum at the east end of 6a Calle in Zone 10, close to the Ave La
Reforma, has a copy of the Dresden Codex. Museo Ixchel de Traje Indígena,
right on the campus of the University Francisco Marroquin, is in zone 10 and is worth
visiting. The Museum of Archeology and Ethnography is across 11 Ave
from the international airport in zone 13.
LEARN SPANISH :
Learning Spanish in Guatemala City is not popular. However, there is a Spanish
School quite different from the well know system of the schools in Antigua. This
place is called IGA (Instituto Guatemalteco Americano) Tel: 331-0022. Just
remember that when you are learning Spanish, you are not learning just the
language but the culture as well, so we recommend that you live with a
Guatemalan family in a small town. Hasta
la vista amigo.
PLACES OF INTEREST
IN GUATEMALA CITY:
In
Zone 1 we have Palacio Nacional, like the White House in
the USA. It was built in 1944 by the dictator General Jorge Ubico. Free tours
are available Mon
- Fri from 9am to 5pm and Sat - Sun from 9am to 3pm. The Cathedral, also
located in the central park, was built in 1867. Central Market is a typical Guatemalan
market, rich and colorful, offering all kinds of vegetables, fruits and textiles
from all over Guatemala at a good price.
 The
Cathedral in Guatemala.(Courtesy of Majatza)
In
Zone 2 Parque Minerva in the North side of Zone 1about 1.5
miles. It has a three- dimensional relief map of Guatemala built in 1905. In Zone
4 the Capilla Yurrita (Small chapel) at ruta 6 and 1 street, a chapel
with intricate ornaments resembling a church from Europe.
In
Zone 9 The Popol Vuh Museum, is at the east end of
6a Calle in
Zone 10. It is close to the Ave La Reforma. It has a copy of the Dresden Codex.
In
Zone 10
Museo Ixchel de Traje Indígena is right on the campus
of the University Francisco Marroquin, and is worth visiting.
In
Zone 13 The Museum of Archeology and Ethnography is across the
11 Ave from the international airport.
TOURS:
See list of recently tours and specials for Guatemala city posted by several
travel agencies.
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