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History The countess was born in Lund, Sweden on March 24, 1899. Her father was Count Harald Spens, Captain of Cavalry in the famed Skaanska Hussar Regiment. Her mother was Countess Herta Spens (née Södermark), also from a distinguished military family. She married Robert Cook (of Cleveland, Ohio) in 1923 and the age of 24 years. During the first years of marriage, the Cook family lived in Colorado, Ohio, Denmark, France and Connecticut. Following a separation and finally a divorce, Aimée with her adventurous spirit left to Palma de Mallorca, then Italy, France and Havana. With the start of World War II found her in Miami, Florida. In the summer of 1946 Aimée Spens and her daughter set their first trip to Guatemala and after a short stay in Guatemala City boarded a bus to Panajachel to explore the beautiful lake they have heard so much about. They stayed in the first Hotel in the area the Tzan Juya located on the shores of Lake Atitlan. In a very short period of time, she had found her special place in which she build her inn. It was a busy and happy time for them both and the beginning of a new life for the countess. After selling her house in Miami, her daughter Aimée was off to college while her brother already went. The following year 1947 the countess decided to return to Guatemala via ship, in fact a freighter carrying a handful of passengers, to Perto Barrios on the Atlantic coast of Guatemala. Accompanying her, and securely stowed in the ship’s hold, was our trusted family car – 1936 Chevrolet. After a rough passage, the countess and her car arrived safely in Perto Barrios. The ensuing drive to Panajachel was no doubt an adventure in itself as road conditions in those years left much to be desired. A rented house in which the countess opend a small gift shop was to be her first home for a year whil a suitable lot was purchased and plans for the inn were drawn up. It is interesting to note that, after studying architectural magazines, she created her own plans and, with the assistance of local laborers and acted also as part contractor. Work on El Cakchiquel Inn began in 1948, later that year, when near completion, the countess just moved to the house, a devastating flood hit the area of Panajachel. There was heavy damage – power and communication cut off leaving the village isolated and on its own. Particularly hard hit the indiens whose huts had, for the most part, been washed away. El Cakchiquel (the name chosen for the inn) stood on slightly higher ground and was spared severe water damage. Learning of the Indians’ plight, the countess opened her doors to the homeless families. The large sala, permanent flooring not yet laid, was to accommodate these families with mother explaining they might use the big fireplace for their cooking needs. She was awakend that first night by smoke seeping into her bedroom, coughing and with eyes smarting, she hurried out to the sala which was filled with smoke as each family had chosen to build their own individual little fires on the dirt floor! The families remained for several days or weeks – small fires burning every evening, the countess sleeping with her bedroom door to the garden wide open. She was later to learn that the Indians of Panajachel had dubbed her new inn “The house of Many Fires”. In the months and years that followed, many of the Indians who had found refuge at El Cakchiquel during the big flood would stop by with gifts of strawberries, onions, or whatever they were growing. An American writer of children’s books (Alida Vreeland) staying at the inn some years later was so captivated by the countess account of the story surrounding “The House Of Many Fires” she chose to incorporate it in a book called Carlos and Conchita in Guatemala. El Cakchiquel prospered during most of the 1950’s with United Fruit Line Tours, as well as others, introducing tourists to the beauty of the country from the coast to the highlands – Lake Atitlan always a popular stop-over. Guests at the inn often included finca owners, artists, writers and an occasional spill-over from one of the hotels. Today El Cakchiquel would be called a “Bed and Breakfast” as guests always enjoyed a breakfast of fresh fruits, fresh orange juice, freshly baked buns from the village bakery, local honey and, of course, excellent Guatemala coffee. The cocktail lounge was popular with both the tourists and local residents – a samm gift shop at the entrance to the inn was to occasionally attract passers-by. The countes became keenly interested in Mayan mythology, took up painting in pastels and always found time for daily swims in the lake and long walks when time allowed. The late 1950’s and early 1960’s were difficult times in the country with on-going political upheavals and revolutions. As a result, tourist travel diminished drastically with U.S. travel agencies discouraging travel to Guatemala. Hard times followed for most everyone in the tourist business. A grand event, particularly memorable was the weeding of the countess daughter Aimée in 1960 which took place in the lovely back garden. A local marimba band entertaining after the ceremony. No account of Aimées life in Panajachel would be complete without paying tribute to her devoted helper, Rufino Vasquez Figueroa. They were, through the years, to experience good times, hard times and sad times. Rufino remained with the countess from the time of his employment in 1949 to the time of her death in 1969. Don Rufino died in 2016 in Guatemala City where he lived with his wife and family. The countess Aimée Spens is buried in a small cementary in San Andres (above Panajachel) overlooking her beloved Lake Atitlan. Recollections of Aimée and Eiler Cook and children to countess Aimée Spens, Santa Barbara, CAL & Hendersonville, NC - 2006