Xela - A Little Bit of Everyday Life

With the help of numerous guardian angels who prevented me from missing my flight connection and losing my passport and boarding pass, I arrived in Guatemala in early May. There, I wanted to work in a hostel for room and board for four weeks.

The hostel is located inland, four hours west of the capital Guatemala City, in a city called Quetzaltenango or Xela. Xela is situated over 2000 meters above sea level and is surrounded by several volcanoes, such as Santa Maria and Santiaguito (the latter is still active). The city is home to about 140,000 people and is somewhat off the usual tourist route through Guatemala (also known as the Gringo Trail). But that doesn't mean there's nothing to see there. On the contrary! There are numerous hikes and excursions that can be easily reached from Xela.

I arrived in Xela by bus early Sunday morning. The streets seemed deserted and I was a little concerned that I might get bored here. At 'Casa Seibel', the hostel where I would be working, I was warmly welcomed by Jennie, the Swedish manager. The hostel is located in a hundred-year-old house with a rich history. After the last owner became too old to live alone in the house, an American-Guatemalan couple opened a guesthouse several years ago. The house has a lot of charm. Just behind the reception is the flower-covered courtyard, which exudes incredible tranquility. In addition to some private rooms and two small dormitories, there is a cozy living and dining room that gives you the feeling of being at home.

I shared a spacious room with one or two other volunteers. The room even had a large wardrobe, so I could finally unpack my backpack! To my great delight, the kitchen was also well equipped, and after stocking up on plenty of fresh ingredients at the flower market (where mainly fruits and vegetables are sold) for little money, I made good use of it.

As in Thailand, I was looking forward to having a little bit of everyday life. I usually worked in the afternoon and evening. In the morning, I had time to do sports, go shopping, go to the internet café, and of course explore the city. I found my favorite cafes (Habitual and Caféto) and my favorite bakery (Bake Shop, which is only open twice a week).

One of the sights in Xela is the cemetery. That may sound depressing, but cemeteries in Guatemala are not as grey as cemeteries in Europe! The graves are painted in bright colors and come in all sorts of shapes, including pyramids. Especially in good weather, it is an experience to stroll through the cemetery, which resembles more of a park, and admire the graves or read the inscriptions on them.

Another must-see in Xela is the 'Megapaca'. It is a huge second-hand store with used branded clothing, mainly from the USA. With a little patience, you can find some nice pieces here.

I quickly settled into my work at the hostel. The atmosphere was always good, and I made friends with Jennie and some guests who often felt so comfortable with us that they stayed longer than planned. In the evenings, we occasionally brought out board games, and once one of our Guatemalan guests spontaneously gave a salsa class in the hostel's living room. I enjoyed my time in Xela very much, and as always, the day of departure came way too soon!