The American Embassy is about 2 miles from our apartment on 3rd avenida in Zona 14.

Yesterday, I left the Embassy at 4:30 for home. 35 minutes later, the traffic had moved about 100 yards. Horns were honking (short toots are just to get someone's attention; a long, continuous honk is rude), traffic was increasing, cars were filling all the intersections. Gridlock. I was in the left lane and was finally able to turn left on 14 Calle, past the Camino Real hotel, heading for 6th Avenida. We don't like to go that way because it is usually a traffic nightmare, especially with the traffic cops in their neon green vests and [neon green] gloves directing.

There was a lot of traffic on 6th Ave, but I made it home in another 20 minutes. 55 MINUTES. 2 MILES.

I found out today that a friend (who passed me just before I turned on 14C) reached the half-way point at the Obelisco in 2 hours. Who knows how much longer the last mile took.

The paper reported that the commute for some people down Avenida Reforma to said Obelisco--3 miles at the most--took 6, that's SIX hours. The cause: a couple buses broke down (the ones that were taking kids to school in the US in the 70s), a shoot-out, and numerous rude drivers who jammed the intersections so traffic came to a complete standstill.

I love Guatemala.

In case you didn't know...

...today is the start of the 5125th year of the Mayan calendar.

Where in the world?

Just got word that the bid list will be out on Monday. There are lots of guidelines, mostly having to do with timing-when we can leave this post, training, when needed at the next post, etc. I'm excited and a bit nervous to see what the choices are. This first round will have hundreds of listings which have to be scrutinized with aforementioned timing, pets, won't go theres, dreams...

We had dinner with some friends last night; they are praying that Zimbabwe (I can't even spell it) is on the list. M and I are praying for Rome or Madrid or Zurich...We are fairly certain this is one prayer that won't be answered

On a sad note, one of M's A100 classmates was killed in his home in Ethiopia. Notice I said killed, not died. They are investigating now, but the reports say there was "severe trauma that could not have been self-inflicted." We are heartsick.