Tomas & Rosa, Guatemala

Tomas Morales has guided us superbly on our month long trip through Central America .

Over the weeks he shared many stories with us. He is one of ten children. His father was a subsistence farmer growing pumpkin, sweetcorn and beans which he sold at the market. Tomas’s first job was shining shoes - he usually got 10 cents for each job but the Americans paid one dollar which was a lot of money to him.

Tomas was born during the Guatemalan Civil War which was fought from 1960 - 1996 between the government and leftist rebels. The government have been condemned for genocide against the Mayans. Hundreds of thousands died. Tomas said getting an education was the key to a better and successful life for him.

He’s very passionate about his job as a guide and translator (he speaks Mayan, Spanish, English, French, Italian and Hebrew) and he’s proud of his country. He’s also a damn good salsa dancer!

We’ve now got three flights and the best part of thirty hours ahead of us to get home.