Caribbean – Diary – Volume II – No. 42

First impressions of a city with a population of one million – Welcome to Guatemala City…

28.05. – 29.05.2025

At 6 a.m., the hotel shuttle takes us to the Flores airport. The ride only takes a few minutes, and the airport is manageable. We're flying with the Colombian airline Aviancia and are excited about what awaits us—we'll also be flying this airline on the long return flight to Europe.

Everything runs like clockwork – the plane is surprisingly large for a short flight of around 40 minutes. We booked business class for more legroom and were seated very comfortably. We're barely in the air before we head back down. The metropolis of millions awaits us.

The city is divided into 25 zones – but according to internet research, only four are considered reasonably safe. Since the reports are quite alarming, I book an apartment in Zone 4 – the business and office district – just to be on the safe side. Uber is available here, so we get to our apartment comfortably, but unfortunately much too early. We end up in a hypermodern high-rise complex. No entry without a key card – security at the door and a reception desk in the entrance area. Everything here smacks of heightened security standards… But we're not allowed in before 10 p.m. – at least we can leave our luggage at the reception desk…

Freed from the burden, we set out to find a place to have breakfast. There are simple street stalls where Guatemalan women offer homemade baked goods and home-cooked meals. We prefer to look for a breakfast cafe. We cross the office district – stylish high-rises alternate with small, old buildings. Shopping malls with luxury brands in a chic atmosphere. This doesn't look dangerous.

We find the "Tre Fratelli Fontabella" and immerse ourselves in a new dimension of breakfast. There are omelets with various fillings, pancakes with various toppings, scrambled eggs with various side dishes, breakfast pizza with a fried egg… along with fruit, cheese, and refried beans. Freshly toasted bread—the best local bread we've had in the Caribbean so far—and an endless cup of coffee. The offerings are rounded out by freshly squeezed juices. We are in breakfast heaven.

The service staff use headsets – we've already seen this in Flores. The service runs like clockwork... whoever isn't busy is busy cleaning. We notice that the Guatemalans are in constant cleaning mode. It's incredibly clean everywhere...

Fortified by a sumptuous breakfast, we set off on a visit to the zoo – after all, we need to make the most of the time before we can move into our apartment. So we take an Uber from La Fratelli to La Aurora Zoo. We can spend the next few hours walking around the vast grounds until we're tired out. Animals from all over the world roam the spacious enclosures. We particularly like the enclosures where various animals live together. Here, too, everything is well-maintained and clean, the sandy ground raked. We've noticed this everywhere else: the sand and soil are constantly raked here – even on the beach.

Highlight of the zoo visit – personally feeding the giraffes…

At 15 p.m., we head back to our apartment. Our keycard is now stored in the box in the foyer; it allows us to access the elevators and operate the elevator keypad. The apartment door could only be opened with an additional numeric code. We've never experienced such high security standards anywhere else... is that a good or a bad sign? The apartment on the 14th floor is modern but small. On the 11th floor, we have access to a heated outdoor pool with a terrace and a fitness room. On the rooftop on the 25th floor, there's a children's playground, a dog park, an outdoor kitchen with seating, and a panoramic view of Guatemala City.

The next day, we want to explore the old town first. An Uber takes us to Parque Central, a square lined with historic buildings. When we arrive, the square is full of makeshift tents and people camped out. Police and security are stationed in front of the National Palace, the most imposing building. Visiting the square is not possible due to the ongoing demonstration.

Since the Foreign Office advises avoiding crowds and demonstrations for safety reasons, we decide to leave the area quickly and go straight to the Mercado Central.

The Mercado Central is underground and extends three floors below! On the first level, you'll find typical Guatemalan handicrafts. Guatemalans love color – and color goes with everything… In fact, you often see women dressed traditionally in brightly colored wrap skirts and colorful blouses. We were inspired and bought a few bags for ourselves and pashminas as souvenirs…

Another area houses the fruit and vegetable market, with an incredible variety. Varieties we know from home, but also from all over the world. Often presented with a creative element… after all, it's a feast for the eyes…

The artistic flower arrangements are also a feast for the eyes – Guatemalans seem to enjoy decorating their homes with lavish flowers; I haven't seen such huge bouquets in a long time.

On the floor below is the food market. At countless stalls, people are cooking and eating. As we stroll past, the chefs praise their food. We stop at one stall, get a taste, and order the daily special. Soups with garnishes are popular here – mine has a chicken leg swimming in it. Unfortunately, fresh coriander is also eaten, and I can't stand that taste. I was also attracted to the dish wrapped in banana leaves – but this turned out to be corn porridge – not a favorite either... While I was still thinking about my meal, a vendor came by with some knick-knacks and wanted to sell me something. I'm not interested in any more "stuff" – she told me something about my food, which I didn't understand... But since she obviously liked my food, I gave it to her and she sat down at the next table – we were both happy.

On the third underground level, you can buy fresh fish and meat – the strong smell hits us as we step onto the stairs, so we turn back – we don't want to cook for a while anyway…