Xela

Xela has given me more perspective on Antigua and Guatemala in general. Antigua was a small twon that functioned almost exclusively for the benefit (or more accurately, to benefit from) the turists that swarm there. It´s like every local there is a salesperson or beggar trying to get the gringos money.

Xela, however, is a city largerly independent from the influence of the turists. In Antigua, the locals attention was fixed on the gringos, but here they glance at us with little regard.

Geographically, it´s very different as well. Antigua was flat, laid out on a simple grid. Xela evokes Portland, hilly with major boulevards crossing the smaller streets at angles, like Sandy or Foster.