Guatemala?

[jloden]

Guys, I have been here almost two weeks. All the advice I got on this forum about theft and leaving the Leica at home seems to me to be wrong. Now, I am not saying that there is not theft here, but I have felt nothing like the threat I was warned about. Honestly, I wish now that I had brought the M9.

Funny, but I was at the women's weaving cooperative on a tour with the school last Monday when one of the other students pulled a 500C/M from her shoulder bag. Then I pulled out the M2. It was love at first sight for each of us and I wanted to ask her to marry me. Realizing that bigamy is illegal, I asked her if I could adopt her instead.

Well, it turns out her parents are still around as is her husband. She is an attorney from NY, a graduate of Yale Law, and apparently lives in the same building as David Alan Harvey. I let her borrow the M2 for an afternoon and I am pretty sure there is one in her future after all her raves about the camera the next day. We spent several hours discussing Leica minutia and photography in general. And I now think she is a regular reader of this forum.

That's great to hear your experience is better than expected/feared and that you're having a great trip so far

My family on my mother's side is actually from Guatemala but I haven't been in over 20 years so I have no idea what it's like now.

Awesome that you met another kindred soul of a photographer. What are the odds you'd encounter another Hasselblad & film user there of all places!

 

[ktmrider]

Well, I just spent a couple hours photographing the Semana Santa activities in Xela and last Sunday was spent in the market at Chichi. This country is amazing with the people warm and friendly. Have not felt threatened by theft or even with being accused of being the ugly gringo. I would strongly recommend Guate be put on your list of countries to visit. But I have not spent any time in Guatemala City which might be a bit more edgy then Xela.

The young lady with the blad just sent me a note about adding an M6/35 combo to her kit. So we can chalk up another convert to rangefinders.

I enjoy film and much prefer the M2 to the X100. However, my next trip will include the M9 as I bought it so I should use it and shooting the M9 is not too different then using the M2.

Next trip is either a motorcycle ride to Tierra del Fuego starting in October (seasons reversed south of equator) or riding a motorcycle to Alaska with a good friend then visiting him in Maui and heading west around the world from there with India being the main destination along with Vietnam, Egypt and northern Europe.

 

[jloden]

[...]

I enjoy film and much prefer the M2 to the X100. However, my next trip will include the M9 as I bought it so I should use it and shooting the M9 is not too different then using the M2.

Next trip is either a motorcycle ride to Tierra del Fuego starting in October (seasons reversed south of equator) or riding a motorcycle to Alaska with a good friend then visiting him in Maui and heading west around the world from there with India being the main destination along with Vietnam, Egypt and northern Europe.

Awesome. Sounds like the M9 + M2 and a couple well chosen lenses and you'll be in business

Maui is great, my wife and I were married there and we've been back a few times since. Hopefully going back again for our 10 year anniversary in a couple years. Good luck on your next trip, whatever it turns out to be - bring back lots of great memories (and photographs)!

 

[ktmrider]

Lived on Oahu for four years in the early 1980's courtesy of the USMC and definitely want to go back. I ate some food from a couple of the street vendors during the Semana Santa celebration two days ago and it laid me low.

In all my travels, I have never had a problem with food from street vendors. Well, I have heard of Montezuma's revenge and he got me. Funny, as Montezuma was as Aztec but Guatemala is a Mayan area. Oh well, live and learn. Home in two days and looking forward to it.