Guatemala City

Guatemala City has a high level of crime. Check the U.S. Embassy website (http://guatemala.usembass...) for a summary of recent crimes against foreigners. These include carjackings on the road from the airport, robberies and assaults of tourist vans, and ordinary buses and cars.

Even though it has a high level of crime, if you use some common sense and good travel practices, you should not be exposed to any of it. Make sure you sharpen your street smarts because as with any other big metropolitan urban area, you might be exposed to crime. Just make sure you are aware of your surroundings at all times just as you would be in any big city around the world.

If you experience a robbery, please be advised to give away anything the robbers want. Though some would suggest to just stay inside in most places after sunset, at night you can have fun safely in Zona Viva Zona 10, Zona 14, or 4 Grados Norte.

Guatemala City is at a somewhat high elevation about 1500 m in the mountains plus the air is very polluted in Zona 1, so if you are coming from a location near sealevel, you might wish to plan to take it easy and get extra rest on your first day while your body adjusts to the altitude.

Also, make sure that any food that you eat is well-washed and well-cooked, or you might get quite ill.

Centro Médico

6 Avenida 3-47, Zona 10. Tel 334-2157/384-2600/332-3555. 24 hour service.

Hospital Bella Aurora

10 Calle 2-31, Zona 14. Tel 384-3535. 24 hour service.

Hospital Universitario Esperanza

6 Avenida 7-49, Zona 10. Tel 362-8626.

post office (el correo)

The main Post office is in 7 Avenida/12 Calle, Zona 1. A stamp for a postcard to Europe costs around Q4. The postal system in Guatemala has a reputation for not being very reliable, and many Guatemalans have a P.O.Box in Texas where they receive post/magazines/online purchases brought to Guatemala by courier. You can't buy stamps or post mail anywhere but at the post offices/affiliates. Look/ask for El Correo (http://www.elcorreo.com.g...).

7 Avenida/12 Calle, Zona 1

The airport, Zona 13

Av. Reforma/14 Calle, Zona 9

cope

If you have electrical equipment that need 220-240V 50Hz input instead of the country's standard 110V 60Hz, you can find a transformer at Electronica Panamericana, 3 Avenida y 11 Calle, Esquina, Zona 9. They have various models with prices depending on how much power you require. Q230 for a 500-Watts transformer.

Also, in the smaller hotels/motels, the electrical outlets only take 2-pronged plugs. So, if you have a laptop, for example, you'll need a plug adapter that will allow you to utilize the 2-pronged outlets.

pharmacy

Pharmacies are all over the city.

Ovnitech

3rd floor, edificio plaza vivar. q3.50/hour. tel 230-0335.

Fatima Cafe Internet

10 avenida 7-23, zona 1. m-sa 8:30-18:00. q7/hour.

@.com

Centro comercial los proceres, third floor, locale 310 next to bancafe. tel 332-3439. q15 1/2 hour, q20/hour, cheaper with prepaid cards of 3, 7 or 10 hours.

E@sy Web

2 avenida 9-72, zona 1. tel 2220-4645 and 5689-7315 q4.00-hour. scan, print, burn, copy,

Global Net Cafe

Edificio plaza vivar, 6 avenida/10 calle, zona 1. 1 room in the 1st floor and 4 in the 2nd. m-sa 9:30-18:00. q3.50/hour.

Cyber Blue

1st floor, edificio plaza vivar, 6 avenida/10 calle, zona 1. m-sa 8:00-18:00 q4/hour, 18:00-20:00 q6/hour. scan, print, burn services.

[email protected]

2nd floor, edificio plaza vivar, 6 avenida/10 calle, zona 1. scan, print, burn services.

Cafe Internet 2M

Edificio el centro, basement, zona 1. q6/hour.

Net Club

Local 328, centro capitol, 6 avenida/13 calle, zona 1. q8/hour. sells computer accessories.

J&J Internet Services

5 avenida 9-42, zona 1. m-sa 8:00-17:00. q5/hour.

Cafe Virtual

Centro comercial los proceres, ground floor, at the main entrance, zona 10. tel 332-8027. mo-sa 08:00-21:00, su 09:00-20:00. steep prices, but includes coffee of your choice. q20 for 1/2 hour inc. coffee.

EvolutioNet

1 avenida/12 calle, zona 10. m-f 9:00-20:00, sa 9:00-15:00. q15/hour.

Y2K

2 avenida 13-17, zona 10. tel 366-4783/93. mo-sa 10:00-22:00, su 10:00-15:00. q16/hour. scan, print, burn, copy.

Jv Servicios

1 calle 1-02 y 1-04 zona 1. tel 2251-6543 fax. 2251-6543 q6.00-hour. scan, print, burn, hardware new and used and suministries.