Guatemala in a nutshell

Guatemala is a country of extremes and contrasts

Mighty mountain ranges, tropical rainforests and black sandy beaches, torrid heat at the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Spring temperatures in the highlands and in the peaks of the highest volcanoes even temperatures below zero.

The contrasts refer mainly to the population however. About 12m people live here: Ladinos, besides the ancestors of the Mayas, Caribbeans and white. In contrast to the Ladinos – these are a mixed race with Spanish and Indian blood – there are many ancestors of the Mayas, the actual natives of Guatemala, and they are at a disadvantage in all theimportant areas of everyday life. Although they makeup 50% of the population they live on or below the poverty line.

Many shadows...

Because of their low level of education most of them live off what the earth offers. On small plots they grow maize, beans and a few vegetables for their own use.

Those poor peasants numbering 300,000 have no choice than to work on the wealthy finca owners farms for a mere pittance.In the 1960s these natives revolted against the great landowners who expelled them from their territory and maltreated them.

The result of this was a loss of 200,000 lives in a 36 year civil war. The military cruelly oppressed the civilian population. The traditional village structure was destroyed to a great extent. Over 1m people were driven away.

...in paradise

• valides HTML
• Layout: Fritz Sanne