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CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE 
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1. Who is Tom Lingenfelter and why is he living in Xela? 
2. Interesting Web Sites I have found. 
3. " I AM NOT AS YOUNG AS I USED TO BE..."  by Nancy Hoffman 
4. Travel Writers Wanted! 
5. Publishing Information 
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1.  Who is Tom Lingenfelter and why is he in Xela? 
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Well, I am 33 years old US citizen who was tired of  seeing more than 1/2 of his pay check go to support the 
tax structure of the United States. Originally from West Virginia, however, I spent the last 15 years  in 
California where I went to California State University at Chico and obtain a BS in Business Administration with 
a concentration in Finance in 1988. 

After school I moved to San Francisco and tried my hand at being a stockbroker. After 8 month of this I decided that what I really wanted was to know how the Markets worked, not just ask people for money. So I found a job on the Options Trading Floor of the Pacific Stock Exchange. At the beginning of 1992 I was given the 
opportunity to be a Market Maker (the guy you see on TV yelling and screaming Buy/Sell and throwing paper 
everywhere). I trade for my own account in a Partnership and had various other jobs on the Trading Floor for the next 5 years. 

In 1993 I met and married a very beautiful Guatemalan woman named Mary Lu, not the most Guatemalan name, but she is Guatemalan nonetheless.  We spend a year or so planning a trip to Guatemala so I could meet her family. 

In December 1995 we traveled to Guatemala and ended up staying for three months.  We traveled by bus into 19 of the 22 departments of Guatemala and at that time I noticed that many of the simple things we take for 
granted in the US were not even being tried in this country. 

During the next 2 1/2 years I tried to convince my wife that we could move to Guatemala and set up some type of business venture that would provide us with a much better or at least equal  lifestyle to the one we 
currently had in the US.  It just so happened that during this period I was getting more and more involved 
with the Internet.  I could see that the Net would provide us a way to live outside the US but still make 
US Dollars.  So,  I focused my attentions on the Net and began designing web sites and marketing products online. 

In August 1997 we had a bouncing baby boy, now 2 years old named Kain.  Who is the light of our life! 

It took almost 3 years but I finally  convinced my wife to returning to Guatemala and see if we could make a go 
of it.  We are very lucky because we have a place to live (rent free) and a supportive family. 

So, in March 1998 we made the move. We actually drove a Jeep Cherokee and pulled a Nissan Sentra from San Francisco to Guatemala it was quite the adventure, but I will leave that to another issue. 

We currently have a small advertising/Internet office in the town of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.  We design web 
sites,  offer Internet dial up accounts and are working on a variety of local advertising projects. 

In June 98, I met another "gringo" named Brian Smallwood.  Brian was in Xela teaching english, computer 
courses and doing translations.  We began talking about the fact that Xela did not have a central web site for 
all the various Spanish Schools, Hotels, Restaurants, Bars, Volunteer Groups...etc.  So we decided to build 
one.  Brian had the contacts in the local tourist spots and I had the web design and promotion knowledge, we 
made a very good team.  From this combination the Quetzaltenango Travel & Resource Guide or Xela Pages 
was born! 

And that is where we stand right now! I hope that wasn't to long winded but I thought it was important for you to 
know who I am and the reasons I am living in Guatemala. 

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2.  Interesting Web Sites 
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Escape From America Investment Page - The largest offshore Investment Directory on the Internet. 
http://www.escapeartist.com/muny2/muny2.htm  

A Great Online Picture Collection  of Guatemala 
http://www.infovia.com.gt/inguat/ecatfot.htm 

Xela.net - Canadian - Guatemalan Connection! 
http://www.xela.net/  

Driving Thru Mexico or Latin America - Sanborns has the best travel logs I have ever seen.  Mile by Mile 
trip information.  The logs are must if you are driving! 
http://www.hiline.net/sanborns/ 

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3. . " I AM NOT AS YOUNG AS I USED TO BE..." 
        by Nancy Hoffman 
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As part of my role at VISION ~ Sevicios Turisticos ~, I help create itineraries for people traveling around Guatemala.  We always are packed full of travelers of all ages, looking through the many guidebooks available to read, scanning the maps, and talking with other clients about their many adventures. 

I decided to travel one very popular route -  Rio Dulce/Poptun/Tikal. There were 6 of us traveling. Taking 
information I have gathered from others, as well as information from VISION, we set off.  Knowing that we had a long bus ride from Guatemala City to Rio Dulce, we decided to take a shuttle ($5.00 per person) from Antigua to the bus station in Guatemala City.  At 7:30 am, we boarded the FUENTE DEL NORTE bus bound for Flores (Tikal), by way of Rio Dulce.  The cost for us to go to Poptun - 4 hours south of Flores - was 40Q per person.  We were in high spirits, looking forward to our great adventure.  We already had made a reservation at 
Finca Ixobel in Poptun for the night.  On the bus, we each had our own seat and had packed banana bread, snacks, and water. 

Four hours later, we were only as far as Rio Hondo - the junction where you turn for Copan, Honduras...   Soon after, we pulled over to change a flat tire and took advantage of the opportunity to relieve ourselves behind a building.  About 1 hour later, we were given an "official" rest stop, and pulled into an area that sold over priced 
drinks and snacks. By then, it was after 1 pm, and the bus was very hot and stuffy in the midday heat. 

We pulled into Rio Dulce a little bit before 3pm, and the bus filled up with as many people as it could fit.  At that point, though we each had our own seats, we were subjected to people and their belongings hanging all over us.  All we wanted to do was arrive in Poptun, shower, eat and sleep... 

Just past Rio Dulce, the road deteriorated to a thin, unpaved and dusty trail.  We continued to stop and take on passengers.  By the time we arrived at the turnoff to Finca Ixobel, it was just before 6pm.  We were hot, tired, hungry, sore, and not real happy...  and, we had a 15 minute walk ahead of us to reach the finca.  Thankfully, 
an angel appeared - named Ceasar - who was driving a 1972 Land Rover and took us to the front gate.  We immediately put our things down and headed for the community refrigerator for a cold beer. 

We were given a choice of accomodations, and the guys took a tree house in the primitive campground area, while us 4 women stayed in a dormitory - next to the hot water shower and near the bathrooms. 
Needless to say, we were happy to be off the bus. 

After receiving our brief orientation to the finca and feasting on the freshly prepared dinner buffet, we each went to sleep early, only to wake to the sounds of birds and the wind in the trees. 

We then spent the next 2 days doing various activities - hiking, swimming, resting, meditating - available at the finca, while feasting daily on the fresh fruits, veggies, beads and meats offered and served.  We were completely over the trauma of the initial bus ride, when it was time to board another bus headed for Flores and El 
Remate. 

The final bus ride from Poptun to Santa Elena airport (where some of us headed back to Guatemala City by plane, and others stayed to see TIKAL) was another almost 4 hour bus ride over an unpaved dusty 
road .  I guess for 20Q each, it was unreasonable to think we would be in anything other than a  "good old chicken bus". 

All in all, if we were to do it all over again, we all agreed that it is best to spend $35. and fly to Flores, then take only one bus for almost 4 hours to go to Poptun, then return to fly back.  The Finca Ixobel is a GREAT place to spend time and relax, and El Remate is an economical place to stay when visiting TIKAL. 
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For More Information See Vision - Servicios Turisticos in Antigua 
3a. Avenida Norte #3 Antigua, Guatemala  Tel/Fax: + (502) 832-3293 
Owned by  Nancy Hoffman & Luis Ramirez 
mailto:ecovision@inter.net.gt 
http:www.cyberwebsite.com/vision 
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4.  Travel Writers Wanted! 
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I am looking for people who would like to share their travel 
knowledge with my subscribers.  You do not have to be a 
professional writer, just someone who has an experience to 
share.  I can not promise you that I will publish your article 
but all articles will be reviewed.  Submit your experiences to 
mailto:xela@trafficman.com 

Thank you! 
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5.  Publishing Information 

Xela Pages Guatemalan Newsletter is published online from 
Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. 

This newsletter will be published at least once a month or more 
often as time permits. 

If you would like to advertise in this newsletter send request to 
mailto:xela@trafficman.com 

Have a great trip!! 

Tom Lingenfelter - Editor 
4 Calle 19-48, Zona 1 
Quetzaltenango, Guatemala 
+(502) 765-2072 
http://www.trafficman.com/xelapages/ 
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