Just when I think nothing can surprise me . . .

Over the last few days I have been thinking about writing a blog about no longer being absolutely shocked by the things I see walking down the streets of my highrise/buisiness district of Guatemala.

I used to be surprised everyday with what the peddlers sold in the traffic.  I would watch them everyday on our bus ride home from school.  Surprised I am no more, only interested to see what they can come up with next.  There is this one guy, he always has the funniest combination of things to sell, we see him most everyday and he carries quite the variety of goods.  Whether it be feather dusters, toy monkeys or an electric fly swatter I am no longer surprised with what he carries only interested to see what he will have next.  Yesterday on our walk home after the bus we met a very odd little gentleman with quite a fabulous collection.  We immediately said "No Gracias" without even looking at his goods.  We regretted this immediately when we saw he had in hand.  At first sight it was just razors and combs, not something I would be being off of some guy on the street.  But on further inspection, he had . . . a deck of cards! (something I have been wanting) and hair scissors (something we can't seem to find at Hiper Paiz).  I will no longer be so quick to turn them away.

Our morning waits for the bus tend to be quite interesting as we live on a very busy avenue and there is always lots to see.  A couple making out as they wait for a chicken bus, a man walking down the street with a machete the length of my arm, or today a bus running a red light and crashing into a van . . . there was no concern from the cars behind, they immediately started honking for the bus and van to get out of the way.  As nice as the people seem to be . . . they are not a culture to stop their going abouts for anyone.

Walking these streets is always interesting . . . I am getting a little more used to the cars (although I had to pull Kara back on the sidewalk today, and she for me yesterday, as long as one of us is paying attention we should be good!), the armed guards at every building no longer make me nervous (actually make me feel a bit safe), and I don't even notice the catcalls anymore.

But today on our walk home, I was shocked.  We were walking home from our fave little coffee shop and a block from our house talking and laughing as we walked down the street . . . we definately didn't look like we were in trouble, or at least we thought.  But apparently I was wrong because a Policia van flying down the street sirens blaring came to a dead stop when they saw the two Gringas walking down the street, they were yelling something at us we didn't understand, we just stood there shocked waving our arms that we were fine. Thankfully some shoe shiners on the corner were able to tell them it wasn't us they were looking for (I think) because they flew away sirens blaring in no time. 

Anyway I just thought it was absolutely hilarious that they came to a dead stop for 2 girls who couldn't have looked more content walking down the street, when there was a real emergency just up the street.  Gots to make sure the Gringas are okay!

All for now!