A Whole Mess of Places

We were fortunate enough to be in Chichicastenango for the twice weekly market. Held every Thursday and Sunday, this is one of the largest markets in Guatemala. The city is closed to cars as tents selling fruits, vegetables, meat, cheese, notebooks, bike parts, batteries, t-shirts...


Por jueves y domingo, esto gimnasio cambia a un mercado...


Los calles y el mercado de Chichi

Justin and I took a hike up to Pascual Abuj a Mayan shrine. We were quite lucky and got to witness a Mayan ceremony. About thirty people were atop the hill overlooking Chichi. The ceremony involved a lot of chanting and incense. At the end of the ceremony they burned candy and alchol as a sacrafice to the gods. I talked to a young boy who said that they were thanking the gods for their health and praying for those who lost their homes or lives during the tropical storm Agetha.



After Chichi we headed for two days to Nebaj, a small town high in the mountains. Despite the rain we managed several long hikes. While waiting in one of the towns Justin began some camp songs with children who were at recess... good fun.



We then made the long 10 hour ride back to Guatemala city. I forgot about the volcano that rained ash on the city two and a half weeks ago. The city is still littered with piles of ash.





We took a day trip to the beautiful city of Antigua. Antigua's economy is based on tourism, and the city certainly does not hide that. Again it was beautiful, but I am very happy we only spent an afternoon there...


Una iglesia de los Jesuits. El edificio rojo es el embasia de Espana. For those of you who know the history of the Jesuits this is pretty neat


Prf. Ocampo dijo que esto es un puente famouso


Una vista de la ciudad y el Volcon de Agua


I was out of spit by the time I finished tacking all these stamps on

Tomorrow we leave for El Peten and the ruins of Tikal. Another long bus ride... Que bueno!

Adios Xela, Hola Chichi

We left Quetzaltenango this morning and arrived in Chichicastenango. However before we left Xela we had a good rest of the week...

We went on a tripto Zunil, a small city 10 miles outside of Xela that we biked to earlier in the week. However given the rains the roads we closed and we had to walk the last 2 miles into Zunil. Along the way we saw a bit of the problems that Tropical Storm Agetha has caused on the Guate highlands.



Justin and I and the rest of the group finally managed to fit in the hike up Volcano de Santa Maria. We started good and early (4am) and hit the top at 8:30. It was a great hike with fantastic weather. The guides were great and humored me by entertaining my spanish. Mike, my bad brother, I forgot to snag you a volcanic rock...






Hay un volcon activio abajo de Santa Maria


Este perrito nosotros segio arriba el volcon. Ella sube el volcon cada dia!



After two weeks at the Hotel Modelo it was quite sad saying good by to the staff. They were great people and we will certainly miss them...


They friended all the fellas in our group on facebook... no big deal


Mi desayuno cada dia en el Hotel Modelo

The drive to Chichi this morning was awesome. Steep climbs and windy roads... Very neat. When we arrived I dropped off my stuff and checked out the city. Dodging the most common form of transportation in Chichi, three wheeled taxis, I swung by la Iglesia de Santo Tomas and caught the tail end of a wedding. I went to mass this evening. A great mass but it started 30 min late beacuse the priest was blessing thirteen families that lost thier homes during the rain storm...




La Iglesia de Santo Tomas

I ran into a fella named Tomas. He owns a cloting shop and was eager to show me his shop then he showed me his home. His home is perched on a steep cliff. Given its location, Tomas's home is at great risk during rain storms. He showed me the problems that the most recent rain has left on his house. I then met his son and grandchildren who live next door. I spent the better part of two hours talking to his son, Sebastian, about his work, his past, and the struggles he has had to deal with post Agetha. Ma and dad, Tomas asked for you two to pray for his family...


Tomas y su casa.

Gracias todos...

Casa Numero 7

Today we painted one of the houses at the Aldeas Infantiles SOS orphange...

El grupo con los niños de casa 7

After spending the equivlent of $50 on paint (loving the exchange rate) with Justin yesterday afternoon, we hauled it over to the orphange today. With borrowed brushes and old newspaper from our hotel, the beautiful Hotel Modelo, we got to work paining the living room and dining room area of the house. This was not exactly what I had in mind but I am farrr from an interior decorator or painter so we carried on.

School has been cancelled for the week for the niños at the orphange given the huge amount of rain we have recieved. This turned out to be a great blessing. The kids were eager to help and even more eager to play and hangout. (We were also lacking in brushes so it kept everyone busy... which is always nice!)

Osvin ayudando en la cocina

We also put in a small mural with expertly crafted replicas of the niños living in the house...

"Our Home"

The work we did was quite small, even in the scope of the orphange (there are ten other houses), but it presented the niños y los estudiantes (us) with a great afternoon of sharing and laughing. And hopefully the nine niños of Casa 7 will take a bit more pride in their home after today. I know I felt welcome...

More information on Aldeas Infantiles SOS: www.aldeasinfantilessos.org.gt

I went for a quick bike ride as the sun was setting on the city... love it.

Adios y gracias todos.

Volcan de Santa Maria

After a long, frustrating 48 hours of solid rain here in Quetzaltenango, the weather finally took a turn for the better...

However two days ago just as the rain really began to fall I biked my way out to the base of el Volcan de Santa Maria, 5km outside of Quetzaltenango. Justin and I were planning to hike it this afternoon. Anyway, while I was there I ran into Juan (changed name). I pulled over to ask Juan for directions and we got talking about his family and he invited me into his house to check out the family picture album. Juan spent two years living in Charleston, South Carolina. After fifteen minutes of pictures I saddled back up and continued to the base of Santa Maria.

On my way back I saw Juan hiking towards Santa Maria with a big bucket, shovel, and machete. He was headed to work work on his plot of land about 1/2 mile up the volcano. I asked if I could join him and he said absolutely... Its funny how these things work out. Turns out Juan crossed the US border in Nogales, the exact place I will be working in Mexico in the fall. He told me about his struggles crossing: Having to walk two days and nights through the Arizona desert with no water. He crossed with a group of 17 and from what I understood an elderly gentlemen in the group died during the journey due to exhaustion. He took this risk because he had to pay school fees for his four grandchildren and feed his large extended family that all live under his small small roof. He worked in SC for two years working construction consistently sending money home until he hurt his arm badly and had to return to Guatemala. He says things are much harder now for his family. He blesses the good harvest that he has yielded thus far but worries about the future... I was blown away with Juan's willingness to share and simply his overall demeanor.

We spent forty five minutes digging a large rain water hole. Then we headed back down the volcano. He taught me a bit of Pichel, a Mayan dialect, and I taught him a bit of English. This afternoon Justin and I made the 5km walk to the Santa Maria but got a call from one of the professors asking us not to hike the volcano due to mudslide threats... However I did catch up with Juan and left my copy of I, Rigoberta Menchu with him.


Juan y su familia preperando por mas lluvia.


Mine and Justin's White Whale: Volcan de Santa Maria

Tuesday is painting day... I'm pretty excited. Adios todos.

La Iglesia de San Andres Xecul

Yesterday Lizzie, Justin, Rose and I took the bus to San Andres Xecul to see one of the most bizarre churches imaginable...





It is a mix of Catholic and Mayan iconography that results in an extremely stunning church. After the bus ride we had a nice 2 mile walk into San Andres Xecul. Right as we reached the church is started pouring. We took the chance to eat a quick lunch under the church entrance. Right as the rain let up, the church opened and we headed inside...


The Alter


"Fisher of Men"

Julie and I headed to the orphanage to determine what kind of work we could help out with there. Thanks to an idea by Rose, we presented the idea of painting and refurbishing a few of their houses. The director liked the idea. So next week the group is going to spend an afternoon painting and spending time con los ninos.

The other day on my way back from finding paint costs and whatnot I stumbled upon this hole in the wall bike shop. The owners name is Miguel. He used to be a professional cyclist here in Guatemala. We spent the better part of an hour talking about his cycling career and my cycling aspirations. He pulled out newspaper clippings, medals, and photos when he was in prime form. It was clear he was eager to share this stuff with somebody. I am just happy that I was able to be an ear for him. I rented a bike from him for the week. A real beater, but it got the job done this morning...


Mi coche nuevo y la ciudad.

Grandma, you would have been proud. I biked my way out of two dog attacks with nothing more than a soaring blood pressure. They got mighty close! Also, I told Miguel about you and Grandpa's trip across country. He was very impressed.


Miguel y su tienda.


sigh*

Adios todos!

Amo mi bicicleta

We arrived in Quezteltenango on Saturday after a beautiful van ride through the mountains. We spent that afternoon unpacking and touring the city. I also was determined to find a bike shop where we could rent bikes from. Eventually I stumbled upon one and we rented 8 bikes for an amazing ride to Los Fuentes Georgeinas natural springs on Sunday. It was a great all day ride full of ups and downs.




There was a REAL bike race during our little trek...



The last 8km hugged the side of a mountain that is used by hundreds of farmers. While I was waiting, I stopped and "helped," well sort of, a family harvesting carrots. I have a new appreciation for the process of farming my favorite food.


Mientras esperaba por el group "ayude" un familia con sus zanhorias.

This morning I went for one more ride before we had to get the bikes back. I wound my way up into the clouds. I stopped at an especially steep part to take a break and grab some water and an elderly women with a huge sack of onions on her back walked right passed me and gave me a little smirk. I then walked my bike up the rest of the climb with a fella named Roberto. He is twenty and works Monday-Saturday, 10 hours a day, on construciton. He bikes to all of the construction sites regardless of the distance. Roberto and the old women are only two examples of the Guatemalan work ethic. Anyway, the rest of the ride was amazing and beautiful...


Mi Carro!


Una familia con verduads en su tierra.


Mi carro y la ciudad.

Today I hunted down an orphanage that welcomes volunteers. I spent an hour or so walking and asking around for an orphanage in the area until Fina, an extremely nice women took me by the arm and dragged me onto a bus with her. She and the fellow riders discussed and eventually came to the consensus that I would continue riding with them until somebody got on the bus who knew the location of the orphange I was hunting for. After twenty minutes, a women got on the bus and Fina assualted her with the question. This women happened to know of an orphanage. So after another ten minutes on the bus I was pushed off the bus and told "Sigue recto!" I continued straight and found the place I had been looking for. I went in and had a nice chat with the director, Franciso. He is a fine fellow and told me about the different ways the group could help the center. I'm headed back there again tomorrow to tell him some of the activities, games, and work we could provide for the center. Looks promising!
It is the people like Fina who make this world such a beautiful place. Que bueno!


El Parque Central por la manana

Muchos gracias todos!

Plaza de la Constitucion

Today, our final day in Guatemala City we spent in el Centro Historico in the Plaza de la Constitution and el Cathedral Metropolitana. We bused our way to the Cathedral Metropolitana in the AM and were given a nice tour of the cathedral. Given that we are a group of 17 gringos, they busted out all the stops. We were brought up onto the roof of the cathedral. It was a nice view of the city. Four adventurous Guatemalan students followed us up and jumped in on the tour. They were a lot of fun to talk to and had a lot of good insight about the city. Further, like many of the men and women I have talked to, they are pretty excited about the World Cup. Much to my disappointment however, I have yet to have found a Guatemalan pulling for Mexico... I am going to have to be a bandwagon Mexican fan during World Cup...

Tomorrow we are off to the mountains in Quetzaltenango. I'm off to eat a quick dinner (PBJ and a huge carrot) and then un partido de futbol in el Estadio Mateo Flores. Gracias todos y adios!


La Plaza de la Constitucion


La vista del Cathedral Metropolitana


El grupp saliendo la aeropuerta