dichotomy: homes on the lake

there is an interesting juxtaposition between luxury and poverty around Lake Atitlan.  for the most part, the villages surrounding the lake are comprised of indigenous Maya people who live modestly, some on $2 or so a day.  in between the villages, elaborate and beautiful homes can be seen bordering the lake.  it is a sobering mixture.

on the plane down to Guatemala city, nearly everyone was travelling for humanitarian work.  many of them were destined for the area around Atitlan.  the Maya people in the area live mostly in small adobe-brick houses with corrugated roofs.  no running water, no heat, no electricity, often open fires indoors.

the mansions on the lake, on the other hand, would be mansions pretty much anywhere.  they are generally owned by people from other countries who seldom visit.  I do not know whether they generally have electricity (some do for sure), but I am quite sure they have beautiful furnishings and every comfort that may be available.  in fact, most have local “guardian” families that stay on or near the property to protect it, since the owners are usually not there.  they are second or third (or who knows what) houses.

 

there is a humorous side, however.  for one thing, the smaller adobe homes are much more resistant to earthquake damage.  for another, the locals are a lot smarter about where they establish their villages and build their homes.  while they build up the hill from the water and generally not in the mud-slide ravines, the gringos are not so smart.  not only do they end up in mud-slide areas, even more risky they tend to live right on the water.  there is no natural outlet to the lake:  in the last two years, the water level has risen by 15 feet.