As we savor the last few months of our life here, I am trying to drink in the tiny details that make this wonderful place come alive for us. This is a list I started from last time we were being driven home from Guatemala City. Some fragrances (some lovely, some not):
- Wood smoke, often. Women making tortillas or dinner over a wood fire. So peaceful.
- From 'chicken buses', sour exhaust smoke belching out coupled with the smell of burning brakes. Right now, there's a lot of it as we encounter even worse traffic than usual in Chicmaltenango construction.
- Baking bread in panaderias (bakeries).
- Flowers - so rich smelling, even during dry season!
- Garbage! But just part of being human.
- Baking of red roof tiles in El Tejar (a town near Chimaltenango)
What we don't smell much is cigarettes! Few Guatemalans smoke. They seem to recognize what a waste of money it would be. If we do smell smoke, it is usually a foreigner.
And others, back here in Pana:
- The wood in my closet that makes the clothes have a fragrant, woody smell.
- Flowers everywhere.
- Dampness, moldy smell in certain spots in the house.
- Smell of rain.
- Food smells as we walk down Santander and Calle Principal. Grilling chicken, frying potatoes, cooking tortillas.
- Dust - especially during dry season.
- Dog poo. Everywhere.
- Did I mention flowers? Yes, let's end on a positive note!
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