New Years in Xela

Happy New Years to all of you.

I am in Xela, if you can believe it. i think will be here for a few more days and then i will head south. I had some thoughts about spending a few days in El Salvador, however, i hope to be in Uruguay by early February - which means, i have to get moving.

I am told that the fireworks i saw on Christmas are nothing compared with what will happen tonight. And if noon today is an example of tonight, then bombs away. I was walking through a very crowded market at noon when firecrackers began exploding all around. There is no warning as seemingly random guys light 15 feet of firecrackers.

I felt somewhat safe since i was was surrounded by food and kitchen products. I had just dropped a friend off at the buses and a line of firecrackers right by her bus. It turns out gas, gas fumes and exploding firecrackers aren´t a problem here in Guatemla. I am not sure if it has to do with the type of gas they use. Or maybe they are just a bit loco here.

I hope all goes well for you in 2008.

bjm 12/31