Overlooking Xela from the East is a nice viewpoint that’s actually very easily reached from the city. It’s also a hotspot on the weekends, with families barbecuing and hanging out, kids playing soccer, and the not-to-be-missed concrete slides, or resbaladeros. This is a great hike for any morning or afternoon, or anytime, really. It’s steep, but short, so shouldn’t be too taxing for anybody. There’s also a road to the top in case you want to drive or take a taxi.

1. From the Parque Central head east and downhill on 5th Calle (the corner with McDonalds). Follow the main road as it veers to the left.

2. Turn right at the gas station.

3. Follow this road up the hill, turning when you are nearly at the end. The turnoff is a small dirt road with houses along the left side.

4. Cross the main road and keep heading up the path.

5. Enjoy the view, wander around the park at the top, and be sure not to miss the…

6. Slides. Follow the sign to Resbaladeros.

Concrete Slides / Resbaladeros

Watch out! The way these work is you take a flattened plastic bottle and sit on it to slide. If you have a good big bottle (experts use the 3L ones) you can get going really fast. These things are awesome, but… you could kill yourself. So be careful.

Introducing our version of reality television, the Amazing Race, Xela-style. Though it’s not actually televised, and doesn’t even involve video, it should be fun. All you need is a camera! At each step, you’ll win discounts or special offers at local businesses, and get the chance to chat (in Spanish or English) with various friendly members of the local tourist industry. If you complete either of the two routes of the race, we’ll also put your pictures and story on a special section of our website!

So here’s the deal: we’ll give you a place to go and a photo to take. Each of the photos should show you or your group and the requirement. At the destination, you’ll show the photo on your camera and in receive the next place and requirement. Each person in your group will also get a coupon good for a discount or special offer. For the most part the photos shouldn’t be difficult to take, and along the way you’ll get to see some of the neat places around town. Feedback welcome! Feel free to email Sean (sean@xelaspace.com) with questions, problems, or suggestions.

Remember, each photo has to have you in it, too! Have Fun. Each route has 7 steps in it, so getting on the internet (everybody wants to be there, right?) isn’t really even that hard.

The following festivals can be found in or around Xela in the months of May and June 2010:

Powered by: Altiplano’s Tour Operator

With God’s Help

English: One day, a man was walking through the jungle when out of nowhere a group of cannibals (who didn’t look like they had good things in mind) surrounded him.

“I’m screwed!” shouted the man.
With that, the sky opened up, a ray of light descended, and a voice was heard:

“No, not yet. What you have to do is take the spear from the head cannibal and throw it through the heart of his son.”
So the man singled out the head cannibal and fought him, he grabbed the spear, and threw it through the young boy that was beside him. The man looked at the sky questioningly, and once again they heard the voice:

“OK, now you’re screwed.”

Con la Ayuda de Dios

Spanish: Iba un hombre caminando por la selva, cuando de pronto lo rodearon un grupo de salvajes caníbales que no parecían tener muy buenas intenciones.

- ¡La cagué! – gritó el hombre.
En eso, el cielo se abrió, apareció un rayo y se escuchó una voz:

- No, todavía no, lo que debes hacer es quitarle la lanza al jefe caníbal y clavársela a su hijo en el corazón.
Entonces el hombre pelea con el jefe, le quita su lanza y se la clava en el pecho al pequeño que estaba junto a él. El hombre mira al cielo, y se vuelve a escuchar la voz:

- Ahora sí, ¡¡ya la cagaste.!!

We’ll be putting a warning on the next paper map, but for now it’ll go here.

DON’T USE “5B” ATMs NEAR PARQUE CENTRAL.

In fact, maybe you’d be better off not to use ATMs near Parque Central at all, but the ones we’ve heard of people getting their card cloned from are the 5B ones.

Be careful!