Charming Abode in Guatemala: A Two-Week Journey (Weeks 16-17)

Charming Abode in Guatemala: A Two-Week Journey (Weeks 16-17)

This week marks my fourth month here in Guatemala. Since catching the travel bug in 2003, I haven’t often stayed in one country for four straight months. After a round-the-world trip that concluded in 2004, I spent 2004 to 2006 in Guatemala but kept exploring the region, returning to Europe, and even taking a trip to Argentina. Following this, I lived in Barcelona and the UK, frequently traveling out of the country at least once a month. In 2010, I moved to Morocco and revisited France every six weeks or so. In 2011 and 2012, I undertook six-month motorcycle trips to the US and Europe respectively. I know, it’s exhausting just reading about it!

But it feels good to be home. Like I mentioned last week, it feels even better that it’s a home I’ve paid off. Now, let’s get back to what’s been happening with the house.

So, last Friday, we decided to buy a car. A man came over, offering his car for sale along with a boat. We ended up buying both. He also offered us a piece of land, but as a real estate enthusiast, I had to resist the temptation. If anyone wants a plot by the lake and would like to be neighbors from four miles away, let me know.

Regarding the car, I’ve only owned one car in my life and was content sharing my boyfriend’s SUV. However, it was a gas guzzler, and we didn’t need such a big vehicle just for grocery shopping and getting around. We aimed to get either a four-wheeler or a small jeep, like a Suzuki Samurai. We ended up buying a 1998 model for $3,000. Cars here are pricey due to customs fees, but this model is common in the region, so maintenance should be more manageable. You should see the repair shops in Guatemala, especially far from the city—they get quite creative when parts are delayed or unavailable.

I hadn’t planned to buy a car just yet; I preferred to invest in land first and then sell some plots before making other purchases. However, to make my boyfriend happy, we got some wheels and a small boat, since we already had a motor for it. The previous owner left some items on the land, including a cattle scale, which we sold for nearly $2,000—making the motor essentially free. I wasn’t eager to spend $1,000 on a boat just now, but it’s nice to have, and it gives us the option to go shopping by boat since there’s a mall with a dock nearby.

After spending $3,000 on the car (which I consider a sunk cost), we weren’t about to skimp on the house. Here’s what we’ve accomplished in the past few weeks.

The bathroom is almost finished. The sink sits on a flat lake stone that the builders found. Although it’s unusual to build with stones here, the builders have embraced the idea and are helping us source some amazing stones. They even carry larger stones joyfully to accommodate us.

The rest of the bathroom is ready, including the toilet and shower. To the right is a smaller-than-expected walk-in closet that will soon have shelves. We also ordered a big mirror for the sink.

The concrete bed, which was unpopular last time, has been covered in white concrete, and the bedside tables are also made of concrete. We placed wooden disks on the floor with beige fillings, though the color ended up brownish.

My boyfriend jokes that the Flintstones would love living here, as the floor resembles their clothing. The glass door, shower door, and mirror are due to be delivered this week. The shower is designed to close tightly enough to function as a sauna.

With a rooftop terrace that covers the entire footprint of the room and bath, we didn’t necessarily need a terrace at room level, but we built a small one anyway. It features a red-painted area for sitting and a drainage system to redirect heavy rainwater to the lake to prevent landslides.

Upstairs, we partially enclosed the terrace using a traditional technique: placing wooden sticks in two lines and filling the space between them with stones for added privacy. This method also provides seclusion for a potential neighbor who might decide to build nearby. The top area includes a skylight from the shower below.

We now need steps to connect the terrace to the room downstairs. I’ve lost track of exact expenses since my boyfriend took over the accounts, but we’re just over $10,000, which isn’t bad for two nearly complete levels of about 40 square meters each.

The electrical work is also finished. My boyfriend did a great job installing three-way switches so we can control the lights from both upstairs and downstairs. We also installed an AC unit, though I’m not a fan of air conditioning. Did I really lose three arguments in one week?

That’s what happens when you spend all day blogging and swimming! How did your week go?