Set on a small island in Guatemala’s Lake Petén Itzá, the city of Flores is more than just a place to overnight en route to the Mayan ruins of Tikal. We spent a couple of days strolling its narrow cobblestone streets, exploring its historic church, and marveling at its amazingly colorful Spanish colonial architecture. It’s hard to be in a bad mood when in a place where everything is painted in such happy hues.
It’s hard not to feel like a Wiseguy carrying around a roll of hundreds fat enough to choke a horse. Back in the real world this wad of Guatemalan currency totals about $350 U.S.
Sometimes referred to as “chicken buses” because of their occasional use to transport poultry as well as people, these colorfully painted former school buses form the backbone of the public transportation system throughout much of Central America. There are other ways to get around, but traveling the way locals do has many virtues; not least of which is cost.
One thing we’ve come to realize is that people’s sense of “value” is deeply rooted in their ordinary experiences. If a two-hour, one-way, Greyhound bus ride typically costs us $30 U.S. in the states, then we come to think of that as a reasonable price for a two hour bus ride. What should a similar ticket cost in Belize, or Guatemala? It’s hard for foreigners to know. We’ve encountered a small army of people trying to take advantage of that ignorance.
Everywhere Once 