8/12/06

  Four couples from Mario's Marina met in Guatemala City to go to Antigua for a few days.  Antigua is a beautiful town, surrounded by three volcanoes, two of which are active. 

While in Guat. City, we met four university professors, and one was an art professor.  He drew our picture on a piece of scratch paper with a ball point pen.  We were impressed.  What do you think?  Do you recognize us?

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8/12/06

  In Antigua, upon arrival

Aaron (taking picture) and Lila, "Blow Me Away"

While we were in search for the tourism office, we asked a group of policeman at Parque Central for directions to Cerro de la Cruz.  After discussing in Spanish among themselves for a minute, they told us to all get in their truck.      We thought they were giving us a ride to the tourism office.

But, before we knew it, they were chauffeuring us around and drove us up to the cross overlooking the city.  It is not safe for tourist to walk, so the five special force policemen gave us a ride.

We are in the courtyard at our hotel		Three of our new friends took photos with us
"I have the radio and the keys to their truck..... Hurry and get in Karyn and let's go!"		This gentleman was my guard.  At the local market, he assisted me in getting good prices.
Cerro de la Cruz		Kay with two local girls

Then, they told us they were taking us to Jocotenango to a fiesta. 

The policemen were very protective of us. 

While Kay was bartering with the locals at the Mercado, the policeman would stand nearby and softly tell her the lower price to offer.  And.....It worked......

We took them all to dinner in appreciation of our day with them.  As we talked to them, they said they are a special force "swat team" out of Guat. City, that goes to different towns on the weekends. 

They said they basically just "hang out" in the town, and if the local police force needs them, then they will step in to assist.  

They told us it was their first time to spend the day with tourist.   We felt privileged.  

We think they had fun too.

They also took us to the nearby village of San Felipe that made boots.  

They spent most of the day taking us around to the sights.  

Roberto and Any were able to catch up with us and so the six of us had a great time with great memories of our day with the policemen in Antigua. 

The beautiful scene at the top of the hill overlooking Volcan Agua and Antigua.

The Cerro de la Cruz

We missed Aaron and Lila though.  We tried to catch up with each other, but it was impossible.   The policemen were going from place to place too quickly.

The policemen would have the guys jump in the back of the truck and the "flowers" would get the back seat.  I guess they thought we might wilt.  They must not realize we live on boats......

This is the Arco de Santa Catalina  in Antigua and was built in 1694 to allow nuns to cross the street without being seen.

Catholic Church near Parque Central

La Merced began construction in 1548 and was struck by an earthquake in 1976.

8/14/06

All eight of us, Aaron and Lila, Roberto and Any, Mike and Karyn and Sonny and Kay took the mini-bus to Volcan Pacaya, 25 km from Antigua.  This volcano is one of the most active in Guatemala and is 2,552 m high. 

Upon arrival, we started the trek up the mountain.   As others came down, they passed their walking sticks on to us.   The sticks helped us climb the steep mountain. 

It took us 2 1/2 hours climbing straight up the mountain.   With the altitude and climb up, we all got a workout.

We Are all climbing up the volcano.   Whew!		A long, hard trip up the mountain.
Sonny still climbing to the top.  Volcano Pacaya is in the background.		It's Hot!
Sonny put a stick on the hot lava		Sonny and Roberto with the hot lava

Once we climbed to the top, our tour guide was ready to come down, but, Sonny, Roberto and Mike wanted to go all the way up so they could see in the volcano.   They "almost" made it! 

But, they were sure disappointed he made them turn back.

We climbed over the hardened lava getting up and were within 10'  of  the hot lava spewing out.

 Antigua

We toured a coffee plantation today in Antigua where they grow, harvest, dry and roast the coffee.  Very Interesting.

We are taste testing the local coffee and, above,  Sonny is standing near the coffee bean plants with an active volcano, Volcan Fuego, in the background.  See the smoke from the volcano?

We had to stop to rest in Parque Central on a bench for a moment or two.

After one doctor appointment, the charge for both of us was 400 quetzals.   We questioned the receptionist, because we thought that was high, but realized, that was less than $25 each for the doctor visit.

Across from our hotel, we found a small casino.  For 100Q (or $12.50 US) we played slot machines for several hours.

They brought us cokes, water, and sandwiches.

Here we won big....probably made $4 US on this jackpot.

We had fun.

My favorite thing in Guatemala City......

a delivery motorcycle for McDonald's! 

And, we just thought we were in a 3rd world country.

  We took a van to Panahachel today, with a "lay-over" in Antigua.    Panahachel is a small village on Lake Atitlan, surrounded by volcanoes and mountains.  

It is absolutely beautiful.  

But. the village vendors persistently try to sell  gringos their goods.

How old do you think she is?

We made a run through the market at Panahachel. 

There were the best fruits and vegetables we have seen.  

Very nice.

But.....I think I will be a vegetarian from now on.  

We passed an old pick-up parked outside the market with meat piled  in the bed.  

When we walked back by, this man had lifted the meat out and was carrying it to market.

Dinner tonight?  Hopefully not!

We are taking another week of Spanish classes in San Pedro. 

 The total charge for one person for one-on-one Spanish lessons for 20 hours, plus activities, and staying with a local family and three meals a day for seven days is $106.   The San Pedro School is rated among the best in Guatemala.

Upon arrival, we met our family.   They were a Mayan family, Antonio and Vicencta, Joshua, Debra, and Sara.   Antonio is a pastor in nearby Santiago.  

We had a very good stay with them.  Their house was nice, but very modest.   The chore of washing dishes was such an ordeal for them.  There is no running water in the kitchen.   It is outside nearby.  I truly admire the Mayan people for their hard work habits.

Kay and Vicenta

The outdoor sink and running water

 Day 1 of Spanish Classes - Sonny and I both had individual maestros.  Sonny's instructor was named Lady, who we became very close to.  

She was an excellent maestra and invited us to her home.  

She and her husband, Chino and their son live with Chino's parents in a very nice home with a great view of San Pedro.

As we walked around the village, we became friends with an elderly lady, 83 years old.  

When locals meet her on the street, they kiss her on the hand, out of respect. 

We went to visit her three different days. 

She sure did like Sonny.  She wanted to keep him.

She was a real sweetheart.

       Huge plants

Can you find Sonny?

  I could study

    Spanish here.

Guatemala is such a beautiful country.

Fishermen in the Lake

We rented motorcycles and went to a Mayan temple in the woods.

This photo was in the ceiling of the temple.

While we were kayaking, we met this local fisherman in his cayuca.

After a short visit, he paddled away.

8/25/06`

 We took the launcha back across Lake Atitlan to Panahachel and spent one night there. 

We had a nice room, for $10 a night  This is the courtyard outside our door..

It is about an hour's drive.

We passed apple orchards, waterfalls, corn fields (taller than the houses), and terraced mountains that were planted in fruits and vegetables along the way.

Upon arrival, we found our hotel and went downtown to watch the vendors set up for the next day's huge Mercado. 

 It was unreal the work the Mayan people go through.  

They are such hard, hard workers.  

Everything for their booth has to be hauled in.  

Mostly by men and women.

The men put a strap around their forehead and haul huge loads.

The huge Catholic church, Iglesia de Santo Tomas, dates from about 1540 and is often the scene of rituals for the Mayans.  It is at the Mercado. 

It is customary for the locals to place incense of copal resin and offerings at the steps.

8/27/06

Sunday.............it is the day of the huge Mercado in Chichicastenango.  

This is one of the places everyone says "you must go". while you are in Guatemala.

 But, it is truly overwhelming.

Children and women follow you for blocks attempting to get you to purchase their handmade crafts.

You constantly hear, "How much will you pay lady?"

At some point along the way, you have to firmly say...

"No, I do not want it"

or tell  them a ridiculously low, low price and they will finally leave. 

But a block or two later, they will still be following you. 

Very persistent.

However, the prices do get better, the later in the day, so they do not have to haul them back home.

8/28/06

We rose early to catch the 7:30 a.m. "Chicken Bus"  to Guatemala City.    "Chicken Buses" are retired school buses from the US and Canada that are brightly painted. 

We were a little nervous about the 3 hour ride, but, thankfully, we had a "somewhat" safe driver.  

Buses tend to pass on blind corners in the mountains,  honking their horns, go at high speeds, toss the baggage and baskets of fruits and vegetables on top, and are overly crowded.  

Sonny and I also had a lady in our seat.   On two seats across from each other, you have at least six adults  where four children normally would sit. 

Again, we did hear live chickens chirping from the locals who sat behind us.

When we arrived at the bus terminal, the 8 a.m. bus was actually a 9 a.m. bus, so we waited around an hour.   We had a good trip back until we got within 40 miles of home. 

Two trucks hit head-on and the road was completely blocked for 4 hours.  

In Guatemala, no one can move any vehicles in an accident until an insurance adjustor comes to the scene.

 So our 5 1/2 hour trip back to the boat lasted 9 1/2 hours. 

 It sure is good to be home.

"There is no place like home!"

September Log

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