So, I am sure most of you’ve read The DaVinci Code. In the story, there’s a shadowy religious fanatical organization that has these monasteries located all over the world, and they are refuges of calm but hide all sorts of crazy espionage and are outfitted for the end-times.

We have our own version here, located in one of the major cities in Guatemala. On the surface, it looks like your typical run-of-the-mill Guatemalan Catholic mission: it has a contemplative courtyard, a seminar room, and rooms for meditation and sleep. But a closer look reveals perimeter defenses and concertina wire atop the parapets. What is afoot here? Well, it’s a Peace Corps hideout/ command center. We went there last weekend to pick up our packages; when we approached the door, the staff saw us and asked, “Peace Corps?” We nodded, and were left to wait in the courtyard. Soon a footman appeared and took us downstairs and through a door to a room equipped with computers and Internet. This is also where we go if there is a national emergency; it is stocked with food and supplies. The best part: we found a hatch that goes down to an even DEEPER level. It’s where you hide americans… or maybe it’s just a water tank. I dunno.

UPDATE: The day after I wrote this, we all got emails that PC is going to shut down this command center due to budget cutbacks. Darn!