Guatemala

Land of Eternal Spring By Daisy Riley

Introduction
Guatemala is a country located in Central America. On this vacation, you will visit many historical sites in Guatemala. Also, you will get to experience the culture of Guatemalans. You will get to view interesting facts and visit exciting festivals. One thing is for sure, your vacation will be a lot of fun!

Day One Explore The Culture

Take a visit to the Chichicastenango Market (Also known as the Chichi Market)! The Chichi Market has stalls, carts, and blankets set up on the Plaza. It is a great place to go to buy souvenirs, clothing, food, and spices. The Chichi Market lets you get a great look at the culture and daily life in Guatemala.

Chichicastenango Market!

Importing and Exporting

Guatemala imports and exports many goods. Take a look below for information!
Exports Imports

Cardamom
Coffee

Fuels
Machinery

Bananas
Sugar

Grain
Fertilizers

Day Two History Mayan Ruins

More than half of all the Guatemalans are descendants' from the Ancient Mayans. The Mayans were an ancient civilization that developed a number system based on 20, and created an accurate calendar. Also, they were very skilled in astronomy. In Tikal National Park you can explore the Mayan Ruins, this is a great way to learn about Mayan history. You can also camp out around the ruins. It is a very cool and fun learning experience!

Mayan Ruins in Guatemala

Day 3Government and Economy

Guatemala won its independence from Spain on September 5th in 1821. Guatemala uses GTQ currency. Today you will learn and view the town hall or Muncipalidad (as the Guatemalans call it) of Quetzalenango. Guatemala is a constitutional democratic republic, which is a government controlled by a constitution, where the state officials are elected as representatives of the people. You can learn how the government is run, how the economy works, and some interesting Guatemalan laws. You can explore the town of Quetzanleango too!

Quetzaltenango Town Hall

Day 4Vistit a Volcano

Tikal National Park doesnt only offer Mayan Ruins, it is also home to three volcanoes! Today, you will visit Volcn Atitln a volcano in the middle of Lake Atitln. It is beautiful, pleasant, and believe it or not, it is still active! If you like Volcn Atitln, you can stay overnight and enjoy the gorgeous view from a safe distance.

The Beautiful Volcn Atitln

Guatemalan Recipe!
Arroz con Pollo Chapina (Guatemala Style Chicken and Rice) - Side Dish Ingredients 3 pounds chicken pieces, skin and fat discarded 1 tablespoon corn oil 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 garlic clove, chopped fine 1/2 cup chopped ripe tomato 1 1/2 cups raw rice 1 cup sliced carrots 1/3 cup stuffed green olives 1 tablespoon caper 2 1/2 cups chicken broth 1 cup green peas 1/2 cup sweet red pimiento, cut into strips 1 hard cooked egg, sliced 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese Directions 1. In a large skillet brown the chicken in the oil over medium heat for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and the black pepper. 2. Remove the chicken and set aside. 3. In the same skillet with the chicken fat, fry the onion, garlic and tomato for 2 minutes. Add the rice and fry for 2 minutes more. Add the carrots, olives and capers and mix everything together. 4. Pour in the broth and chicken pieces. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover skillet and simmer until broth has been absorbed, about 10 minutes. Add the green peas. 5. Cover skillet with aluminum foil and punch 8 holes in the top to allow steam to escape. 6. Bake in a 300 degree Fahrenheit oven for 30 minutes. Fluff up the mixture once or twice during the baking time. 7. Serve warm. Decorate the surface with the pimiento strips and egg slices and sprinkle with the cheese. The rice should be dry, loose and not sticky. Serve with fried ripe plantain slices, a salsa picante and pickled vegetables. This was copied from country Reports

Guatemala Five FactsFood

In

Guatemala, people use tortillas as a spoon to scoop up some foods. Corn tortillas are eaten at every meal. Common foods in Guatemala include black beans, rice, tamales, fried platanos (platanos are like bananas.), papaya, and breadfruit. In Guatemala, meats are usually stewed. Sauces are very important in Guatemala.

Day 5Have Fun at a Festival

Its your last day! Great choice for visiting in late July! Youre just in time for Cobn Folkloric Festival. It is celebrated in Coban, Guatemala and is a very impressive celebration that celebrates the 23 ethnic groups of Guatemala. Young women represent their ethnic group by dressing up in the traditional cerimonial costume and speaking the language of the group. This is a great way to learn about the culture of Guatemala.

Cobn Folkloric Festival

Thanks for visiting Guatemala!

Adios!