Guatemala was a happy place because mom and dad were happy. They prospered with their native crafts store at the Palace Hotel. We could afford some pleasures which, though inexpensive and insignificant, were not affordable for every one. The carnival was the most exciting. It introduced me to icecream. (The only tantrum that I recall was when a sore throat prevented me from being served icecream at a party). A broken generator did not stop the carousel. They charged the little kids 5 cents to ride it and paid the bigger ones the same amount to push it. This added to the fun of it and made that first merry-go-round more memorable.