Maya Civilization and Guatemala

Intro/attention getter: What do the Great Wall of China, Eiffel Tower, The Pyramids, and the Mayan Ruins in Tikal have in common? They are all manmade wonders located around the globe. In order to visit any of these you have to go outside the borders of the United States. Intro: In today’s society people are constantly busy with school, work, and everyday life. These activities make it hard to believe that the picture on the calendar can be your next destination. The closet wonder, only a two hour flight from Miami, are the Mayan ruins in Tikal. So why not grab your passport, luggage, and take a trip to beautiful Guatemala! (Youtube clip) Specific purpose: At the end of my speech today the audience will feel persuaded to take a trip to Guatemala. Credibility statement: Having a first person experience traveling to Guatemala six times on mission trips to help build schools, feed children, interact with the locals, and of course check out as much scenery as possible, I believe I can help you understand why everyone should make this trip. Preview of three main points:

* Scenery
* Food
* The experience

The first reason you should visit Guatemala is its spectacular scenery. A. Flying into Guatemala you have a bird’s eye view of the sandy coastline, spectacular volcanic mountains, and lush forest. 1. Guatemalan beaches are magnificent. The black volcanic sand at the bottom of your feet and the cool rush of the Pacific Ocean waves finally makes that calendar picture a reality. Guatemala doesn’t have very many beaches but you don’t want to miss out on the few they have. If you enjoy surfing, grab a board and ride the waves everyone is beginning to talk about or you can grab your towel and just relax in the tropical sun. 2. In the Guatemala Highlands are many of Guatemala’s thirty-seven volcanoes. A hike up one of these volcanoes only takes a few hours but will remain a life 3. Hidden among the lush forest of Guatemala are the Mayan ruins of Tikal. My second favorite reason for visiting Guatemala is the food! A. Guatemalan food is everything you’d hope to expect and more! It’s a treat for your taste buds. “Grilled beef, chicken Rice, beans, tortillas, tropical fruit, and fresh vegetables are some of the standard foods that travelers can expect in Guatemala.

A few Mexican dishes such as tamales and enchiladas are also common.” According to Adventure-Life.com. 1. The standard Guatemalan breakfast that is inspired by the Mayan culture consisted of eggs, plantains, black beans, white cheese, flour tortillas, plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and you can finish it off with a fresh cup of coffee from Antigua. Breakfast is the number one meal of the day and Guatemalans start it off right. 2. Lunch and dinner are very similar. Lunch usually consists of chicken, rice, and greens or you could substitute the chicken for some hot fresh soup. Dinner always has some sort of meat whether it is inside a soup or plated with black beans, guacamole, and rice. Both meals are always prepared with fresh ingredients bought straight from the farmers market and leave you wanting more. 3. Beverages are present at every meal. A good cup of Guatemalan coffee or Rosa de Jamaica, which is a hibiscus tea, are popular choices. If fresh squeezed fruit juice doesn’t satisfy your thirst then maybe an ice cold Coca-Cola made with real sugar will or a chilled bottle of Guatemalans favorite beer, Gallo. The cuisine of Guatemala is an exceptional treat you won’t get in the States.