Technically, volcanoes could also be a reason
not to love Guatemala and I'll be the first to admit that I have a healthy
fear respect for their sometimes violent and unpredictable temperaments. This photo was taken about a month ago at the hotel where I teach. Please note the smoldering cone behind me. This is the aptly named
Volcán de
Fuego and its puffs of smoke are often visible from Antigua on a clear day. Sometimes during class it grumbles and shakes the walls. I like to think that modern science can predict truly catastrophic
eruptions, though it doesn't help that my boss constantly jokes that one day it's going to bury us all in a Pompeii-like mudslide! Regardless, the the volcano's
antics are generally more entertaining than worrisome.
There is something awe-inspiring and primordial about being surrounded by such a landscape. The country boasts over thirty volcanoes, four of which are currently active. The most recent incident to cause significant damage was the 2010 eruption of Pacaya, which left a layer of ash all over Guatemala City and wreaked havoc on the roads.
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