The Sounds of Sirens

I woke up this morning to the sounds of sirens.

A scary symphony of sirens… wailing, whining, warning.

I jumped out of bed (ok, ok… reluctantly crawled out of bed) and anxiously made my way to the window. There, 16 floors below, were fire engines, ambulances, and rescue units as far as the eye could see.

“Hmm,” I thought “this can’t be good.”

My mind raced to find an explanation… was the building on fire? Had I slept through an earthquake? Had, perhaps, the zombies come after all?

I watched as the Sunday crowds in Central Park came running up to the edge of the road and… waved. Waved at the passing fire engines. Waved at the parade of passing fire engines.

“OK, then,” I nodded, and went back to bed.

And slept until the bombs went off.

No, not that kind of bomb. Not the “another martyr for Allah” kinda bomb. These are the “big ol’ fireworks” kinda bombs. Launched from a metal tube set on the ground, they shoot up approximately … oh, let’s say roughly…16 floors high, where they explode with a massive, reverberating, gringo-awakening blast.

Once again, I headed to the window. This time the streets were lined with women dressed in religious apparel. “Fire-fighting nuns?” I wondered as my sleepy brain tried to catch up with my eyes.

And then I saw about fifty women carrying a wooden processional float decorated with flowers and a statue, and remembered that today is the celebration of Our Lady of the Assumption, the patron saint of Guatemala City.

As the firecrackers crackled and the marching band played, I realized that living next to Parque Central isn’t terribly conducive to sleeping-in… especially on the weekends!

Mumbling something about “if you can’t beat them” I showered, dressed and descended to the people-packed park. It was definitely a festive atmosphere. I too became swept up in the excitement when I realized that, along with all the other concurrent celebrations, there was a Book Fair!

Much to my shock, amazement, and delight I found a vendor that was selling “like new” hardcover books in English!!!! I picked up six (including titles by Ann Patchett, Robert B. Parker, Anne Rice, and Dean Koontz) for $25. A major find, given that I’ve already read all the paperbacks I brought with me four months ago!

So, yes, living in the city’s center can sometimes be rough on sleep… but it also has its advantages!

You’ll have to excuse me now, I have some reading to do!

Posted by elcanche at August 15, 2004 09:49 PM