From: tjfeue@bb1t.monsanto.com
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: Re: HELP! Best book on Belize & Guatemala
Date: 29 Jul 92 12:22:42 CST
Organization: Monsanto Company, St. Louis, MO

In article <skipa.712376100@milton>, skipa@milton.u.washington.edu 
(Skip Albertson) asks for info:
> tjfeue@bb1t.monsanto.com provides some:
> 
>>In article <skipa.712089631@milton>, skipa@milton.u.washington.edu 
(Skip Albertson) flames:

>>> A friend and I are planning to go to Belize & Guatemala
>>> this Winter.  What are the best guidebooks for this area?

>>A travel guide by Chikki Mallon, published by Moon Publishing.
>>Your bookstore can order it.  Guatemala is for professional,
>>experienced, hardcore travelers only.  If you're not, stick 
                                       
> I've spent two months each in both Ecuador and Costa Rica, 6 months
> in Mexico and two weeks in Guatemala in 1985.  
                                          ^^^^
Gee, things couldn't possibly have changed in the last *SEVEN* years I 
guess.  I was in Central America twice last winter. 

> Perhaps if you actually travelled to Latin America 

No, never been there, that's why I recommended a good guidebook...
Sheesh!

> (assuming you speak Spanish) you

Lo siento, mi espanol es muy malo.

> might realize the enjoyment some of us get from travelling there.

I do.

> Given the choice between Guatemala and some of Americas larger
> cities, I'll take my chances South of the border.

Agreed, some of America's cities are pretty bad, however in 
my travels in Latin America, I've often found roads to be impassable,
transportation to often breakdown, petty crime to be rampant (poverty
doesn't build character), food and water to be unsafe,  tropical
diseases to be endemic, etc.  I'd never be so irresponsible to not 
warn the first time traveler to Central America of these things.  
An experienced traveler can easily deal with and protect from such
things...  Maybe *YOU* can, but you made no mention of *ANY* travel
experience in your post.  Don't ask for information unless you want
it.

Costa Rica and Belize are a good, reasonably safe intro to that part 
of the world and hardcore enough for the novice. 

Example:  Take a picture of a soldier in Guatemala, Nicaragua or El
          Salvador, you know the ones, the 15 year old ones with the 
          machine guns hanging over their shoulders, and tell me what
          happens!  Camera conficated, possible arrest.  If you're
          alone, you might just disappear forever.  Take a picture 
          of a soldier in Belize...  Nothing.  Try and find a soldier 
          to take a picture of in Costa Rica :-).

BTW, I lived in South America for two years as well as traveling all
     over the place in the years since.  I think I speak from experience
     enough (in Spanish and Portugese).  So keep your stupid flames to 
     your self.  I sure am sorry I gave you the name of the guidebook 
     now. 

  TED FEUERBACH   Scientific Systems Consultant  Trilogy Consulting, Inc. 
  Lake St. Louis, MO        (314) 537-6603       tjfeue@bb1t.monsanto.com
  Disclaimer:  The opinions expressed herein are MY OWN and obviously not
  the opinions of Trilogy, Monsanto or either of my two ex-wives.           
Newsgroups: rec.travel