The volcanoes Fire (which erupted recently) and Acatenango from Antigua

Guatemala City, Guatemala, Km 4969

I met some touring cyclist on Baja California, but none on Continental Mexico till I got closer to the Guatemalan border. It makes sense: when the land narrows there are few roads, so the chances to find other touring cyclist increase. All bikers I met coming from Guatemala agree on the same subject: Guatemala Is a touch country for cycling, and they were right. Guatemala has many mountains and volcanoes, and the roads seem to be going always up. Every day I wake up at the foot of a new some--thousand meters high mountain I had to climb with my bike and all study I carry on it. Guatemala looks like the land where the goods cursed Sisifo. Additionally, the cost of living in Guatemala is more expensive than Mexico, and the roads are narrower and worse paid than in Mexico.

Beyond touring considerations, Guatemala is a very living country. Cities are crossed, but there is a large rural population too, mostly indigenous, living in the countryside. They use all the available land for production no matter how step it could be. They work hard, very hard, with their bare hands, without machinery, nor supporting animals. And many children work too. They work for the family unit, for themselves, so I do not dare to say it is child exploitation. However, those children should be doing something else. There is an instrument of self-exploitation particularly hideous named 'mecapal'. It is use to carry loads on the body. Mechanical consists of a strap hold by the head of the carrier to support heavy heads on the back, putting a high stress on the neck.

I think mecapal must be prohibited by law, and police officers should carry scissors in their belts to cut the strap of the offenders on the spot for public applying.