American in Guatemala Raises Eyebrows with No-Nonsense Blog
One American expat has no-nonsense blog that shares with readers what it is like to live in Antigua, Guatemala, one of the top tourist destinations in the world.
Antigua, Guatemala, April 17, 2009 --(PR.com)-- While Americans are racing to complete their taxes today, Mark Francis has other things on his mind. He relocated his family to Antigua, Guatemala last year and has been blogging about the experience as a sort of therapy and a means to record what real life in Guatemala is like. Today’s stories include a post about banking in Guatemala, another one about dealing with bugs, a visit to the local hospital and a story that involves negotiating tips (including one about negotiating with kidnappers).
“The first week we were here I wrote 20 short notes to myself as a reminder about the crazy things we had already encountered”, Mark said. “I talked to enough other expats that I realized if I didn’t start writing these things down, inevitably I’d forget them and never get around to recording it”.
Guatemala is famous for wonderful weather year-round, a low cost of living and a wild-west kind of atmosphere. Travel books and blogs rave about the country, but Mark says there’s more to the story than pretty pictures and lyrical short-stories written by romantic travelers. “This is a wonderful place, after all I moved here with my wife and children, but the travel guides don’t want you to know the truth about living here, rather, just how nice a time you can have for a week or so on vacation at first-class resorts.”
Mark’s blog, GuateLiving.com, is only a few months old and already is one of the top-ranked expat blogs in the country. The blog is jam-packed with stories about real life in Guatemala, with almost daily entries. Mark says he was worried he wouldn’t have enough to write about but now has dozens of stories waiting on the back burner to publish. “I was an experienced world-traveler and had already spent six months in Mexico with our family before coming here, so we thought we were prepared. Little did we know how a short bus ride from Tapachula (Mexico), can change your life.”
Categories on the blog range from ‘Absurd’, including posts that will bring tears to your eyes from laughing, to nitty-gritty categories like ‘Cost of Living’ and ‘Real Estate’, stories about banking, renting and buying real estate, health care and simple things like paying the electric bill. Mark also boasts the most extensive Blogroll (a list of other blogs) in Guatemala, saying he thought it was important to help web visitors get all the information they need about the country.
Recent posts explaining the origins and religious meaning of some of the local traditions in Antigua drew both praise and scorn. “Many people think that if you move someplace you should keep your opinions to yourself. I don’t think that helps educate others who are considering moving here and are desperate for information about what it’s really like to live here long-term.”
Potential expats and avid travelers alike should visit GuateLiving.com to see what ‘real life’ in Guatemala is all about.
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“The first week we were here I wrote 20 short notes to myself as a reminder about the crazy things we had already encountered”, Mark said. “I talked to enough other expats that I realized if I didn’t start writing these things down, inevitably I’d forget them and never get around to recording it”.
Guatemala is famous for wonderful weather year-round, a low cost of living and a wild-west kind of atmosphere. Travel books and blogs rave about the country, but Mark says there’s more to the story than pretty pictures and lyrical short-stories written by romantic travelers. “This is a wonderful place, after all I moved here with my wife and children, but the travel guides don’t want you to know the truth about living here, rather, just how nice a time you can have for a week or so on vacation at first-class resorts.”
Mark’s blog, GuateLiving.com, is only a few months old and already is one of the top-ranked expat blogs in the country. The blog is jam-packed with stories about real life in Guatemala, with almost daily entries. Mark says he was worried he wouldn’t have enough to write about but now has dozens of stories waiting on the back burner to publish. “I was an experienced world-traveler and had already spent six months in Mexico with our family before coming here, so we thought we were prepared. Little did we know how a short bus ride from Tapachula (Mexico), can change your life.”
Categories on the blog range from ‘Absurd’, including posts that will bring tears to your eyes from laughing, to nitty-gritty categories like ‘Cost of Living’ and ‘Real Estate’, stories about banking, renting and buying real estate, health care and simple things like paying the electric bill. Mark also boasts the most extensive Blogroll (a list of other blogs) in Guatemala, saying he thought it was important to help web visitors get all the information they need about the country.
Recent posts explaining the origins and religious meaning of some of the local traditions in Antigua drew both praise and scorn. “Many people think that if you move someplace you should keep your opinions to yourself. I don’t think that helps educate others who are considering moving here and are desperate for information about what it’s really like to live here long-term.”
Potential expats and avid travelers alike should visit GuateLiving.com to see what ‘real life’ in Guatemala is all about.
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Contact
GuateLiving.com
Mark Francis
011.502.4410.6246
guateliving.com
Mark Francis
011.502.4410.6246
guateliving.com
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