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May to December is considered the 'Rainy Season', although it is nowhere as unpleasant as in the Lowland Tropics. As a Rule, you can Expect it to Rain from 5 to 10% of the Time during the 'Epoca de Lluvia', which be anywhere from one to three hours in a given 24, often in the Evening. Carry a light Rain Coat or Jacket and Layer Your Clothing to Adjust for the Rapid Changes in Temperature that the Transition from Overcast or Fog to Sunshine can bring. One or two long sleeve shirts and a light sweater will fit into a Day Pack and pad your Camera too !
Locations from 5000 to 12,000 feet Elevation, in what could be considered the Highland Tropics ; the Climate is Pleasant although nearly always Cool in the Evenings and Mornings. Fog often tops the mountain peaks and can settle in Lower Areas for a couple hours in the Mornings.
You might reasonably expect your First Week in the Highlands to be dedicated to 'Altitude Adjustment'. Don't push yourself. When you suddenly feel tired ; Sit down, Eat Something light and Relax !
Taking reasonable precautions, your trip to the Highlands will be safe and enjoyable. The Political Situation is Stable, and the only recent Armed Robberies have been in Antigua and Panajachel. Momostenango has not had any Robberies for at least 3 years, since the Road from San Francisco El Alto was Paved and the Totonicapan Police started regular Patrols. Momos is a Generally Friendly Place, and you will find more Friendliness than Suspicion, though you may find that an Easy Smile will ease any Tensions you Encounter.. Pickpockets, usually Amateurs, will try to open backpack compartments on crowded Busses or Markets; and anything you have in an outer Shirt Pocket is Up For Grabs, so to Speak.
The Tourist Centers of Antigua and Panajachel so regularly attract an Upscale Crowd, that Theives can bide their time in hopes of Stragglers, much as wolfpacks do their hunting. The Robberies are categorically Opportunistic; involving a small group of men armed with knives, infrequently pistols and machine guns, against isolated Tourists who have obviously neglected to take the Precaution of Informing the Tourist Police of their Plans.
People have lost Passports,
Cash, Cameras and Hiking Boots,
and Occasionally Women are Raped.
Check Your Local News for Similar
Events
near Your Home for Reference
Maya Children are Undeniably
Cute,
Especially in their Native Traje,
Take the Time to Introduce
Yourself
and Get Acquainted with Adults
BEFORE
Attempting ANY Interaction with Children
!
[Maya Parents React just as Protectively of Their Young
as do Bears, and for much the Same Reason]
Gently Decline Requests for
Money . . .
A Little of what You are Eating is Acceptable if They Persist
But ONLY if the Parents Agree . . .
You May not See the Parents,
The Highlands has a Very Real
and Tragic History
of Children Purchased or Kidnapped
for Adoption or 'Body Parts'
Two North Americans are Currently
in Custody
Following the Discovery of Several Dismembered
Bodies of Small Children Buried in Their Back Yard near Cobán
The Recent Deaths of a Japanese
Tourist
and an Ethnic Guatemalan Bus Driver in Todos Santos
was a Panic Reaction in an Atmosphere of Mass Hysteria
following Rumors of Satanic Cults that Sacrifice Children
[this REALLY DOES happen in the US all the Time, Folks !]
For Your Own Safety and Peace
of Mind,
Avoid Contact with Any Individuals
that Appear in Any Way 'Impaired'
A Gift of Money will Soon be
Transferred into Alcohol
and You could Well Be Responsible for Yet Another Death
from the Cold Highland Nights
Depending Upon their Degree
of Intoxication,
You may be able to Simply Sidestep Around Them
Mysteriously Disappearing into the Crowd
Should at Any Time,
an Individual Attach Themselves to You ;
Like the Proverbial 'Bad Smell'
Head for the 'Cop Shop'
or 'Scrape them Off'
by Entering a Crowded Shop Full of People
Your New Friends won't Appreciate
the Unwelcome Visitor Anymore than You
and Will Assist in Unburdening You of Your Unwelcome
[and potentially Dangerous] 'Guest'
In Review :
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