I think the time has come for me to leave my old friend Lago de Atitlan. Last night (a while back) I went to watch first hand the evangelist vigilante gang of 35+ Guatemalans (some armed with clubs) and backed by the local police systematically shut down each restaurant, bar, and store on the San Pedro strip at the 11:00 pm curfew. People that live here told me that this has been going on for some time. Two teenagers dragged one lady down the street after she called them a name. One guy had his camera confiscated after he tried to take a picture of the stupidity. The evangelist vigilantes also chased another guy into a coffee grove to get his camera. Luckily he got away. One business owner was told to go home, because he had no right to be on the street at this time of night.
Tourists walking out of restaurants and bars seem bewildered of why they have to leave their unfinished dinner or drink on the table. Faced with a mob of religious fanatics outside the front door is not good for tourism.
Sure tourists come in and party and have a good time. Many get drunk and cause some disturbances. But take a look at the local cantinas with Guatemalans laying in the street comatose from the jet fuel they drink and I think they are not so perfect either.
I think this religious group has finally lost touch with reality. Foreigners support this religious group and I would not doubt for a minute that it’s base is in the USA. What they are doing is totally illegal. No law has been passed to legally shut down these businesses.
Guatemalan and foreign business owners staged a protest against the shutting down of their businesses at 11:00pm, but they were met with threats of arson. The businesses owners are fighting back with not employing anyone connected to the evangelist groups and the local municipality.
The water quality of the lake is worse than ever. Raw sewage still flows unabated into the lake.
Now it’s not all bad there, but I think the bad is starting to out weigh the good. The lake is still beautiful and the local people are friendly for the most part. The price is still unbeatable for staying on the cheap.
Time for me to go!
The picture of Lago de Atitlan in the toilet is pretty extreme, but that’s how I feel. Hopefully it will change for the better in the future.
