The Verapazes

The Verapazes are in the center of Guatemala and feature some of the greenest mountains I have ever seen. They are paticularly striking as you aproach them from the flat lowlands of Petan.

We fist headed to Semuc Champey, one of Guatemala{s most discussed tourist atracktions. We stayed in a annoying hostel but that was ok because it was just a few meters from the secluded Semuc Champey. Semuc is a series of crystal clear pools formed by a river that apear perfectly turqoise because they are in lime stone. After an afternoon of relaxing we headed to the major city of the area, Coban.

Coban is not a major tourist atraction but we found it perfectly charming. At night there is a choice of about 10 vendors who all serve chrassco, grilled meat. There is a veryn interesting church here above the city where in the typical maya catholic fashion people perform ceramonies at alters outside the church.

In Coban we also visited a  Coffee Finca owned by the Diseldorff family. I did not ask how the Diseldorff family avoided  the expulsion of Germans from Guatemala during World War II.  Turns out raw coffee beans are quite sweet, who knew.

And ofcourse no trip anywhere would not be complete without the CIRCUS! The trapeeze artist is also the tick taker, and the rope dance sells churros. The circus was great fun with tigers and horses and xenophobic clowns. The place probably seats 500 and there were about 15 people there, giving the evening a certain David Lynch feeling.

We also saw this in Coban