jandjinguatemala

san pedro to relax and wander, santiago to the market and more wandering, san marcos to meet marta, kique and ati...lovely people who are building a home with the rocks they uncover then to panajachel to spend more time with marta immersing ourselves in the ´mayan traditions´ weaving cooperative as well as their other projects. explored the solala tuesday market. had a fascinating time at the soya dairy started by plenty back in the late 60´s. lots to report. a great time meeting people and making friends. apologies for the lack of capitals...sticky keys. joni... read more

FOR SOME VARIETY THE MAN WITH A WAY WITH WORDS IS ADDING A DRAFT OF AN ARTICLE THAT WILL BE PUBLISHED DOWN THE ROAD. JACKIE TO HIS OWN SURPRISE HAS RESURRECTED HIS SPANISH AND HAS BEEN A GREAT HELP TO ALL. WE ARE IN SAN PEDRO LA LAGUNA (ELEVATION 1610 M )ON LAKE ATITLAN FOR THE BEGINNING OF A WEEK OF R&R. WE PLAN TO TAKE IT SLOW AND EXPLORE SOME OF THE VILLAGES ON THE LAKE. THE DESCENT TO THE LAKE WAS EXCITING. THE ROUGHED MOUNTAINS ARE MORE TREED THAN THE REGIONS WHERE WE HAVE BEEN TO DATE. SEEING THE LAKE EMERGE AROUND ONE OF THE HAIRPIN TURNS WAS A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT. THERE IS MORE TO IT THAN MEETS THE EYE. WISH I COULD SWIM HERE BUT THE WATER QUALITY SUFFERS, A CONSEQUENCE OF POOR ... read more

THIS TRIP HAS BEEN AN EYE OPENER AND VERY REWARDING. YESTERDAY WE DROVE 90 MINUTES NORTH. WE WERE WELCOMED BY VILLAGERS GATHERING IN PANAMAQUIM FROM THE NEIGHBOURING VILLAGES - READ - GREAT DISTANCES ON STEEP PATHS . THEY DECORATED THE IMMACULATELY TIDY CENTRAL SQUARE WITH STREAMERS AND BALLONS. THE DIFFERENT GROUPS DANCED, GAVE SPEECHES AND A WEAVING TO EACH OF US. SOMEONE TRANSLATED FROM KICHE, A MAYAN LANGUAGE INTO ENGLISH FOR US. THIS VILLAGE IS A COHESIVE COMMUNITY WITH A REAL STRONG LEADER. FELT LIKE A KIBBUTZ IN THAT THEY SHARE IN CREATING A BETTER LIFE FOR THEIR PEOPLE. A SCHOOL WAS BUILT IN THIS VLLAGE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO IN MEMORY OF SAM CLARK, RITA AND TOMS SON WHO WAS KILLED IN A BIKE - CAR ACCIDENT. ALSO A KITCHEN FOR THE NUTRITION ... read more

Well it´s been a few days since the last entry. Too off the beaten track for adequate internet access. We are well but tired. The roads to Comitancillo ( pronounced Komeentansee-o ) ( elevation 8,000 feet )are hairy aka windy and hair raising with some turns so tight a three point turn is needed. We happened to be passed by an ambulance way up there and arround the next corner the back door of the ambulance swung open. We had a laugh. We might survive the acciden but no the ambulance ride. Four wheel drive is a must. The design of the road surface with rock and concrete sections assist during rainy season when they would be impassable if smooth. It took 3 hours from Xela to Comitancillo but we have had good driver thankfully. I ... read more

Our trip to Guatemala was seemless with TACA Air last Monday. Flying over Guatemala City there were spots of bright colour disguising the dangers lurking in this city. The drive to Antigua where we spent the first night through the rugged, convulsed terrain of the land. Volcanoes are everywhere on the horizon. Actually the whole country is built on the remains of past volcanoes. We see farmed plots, often on dangerously steep conditions, cover the land. It´s both beautiful and awesome. Antigua, the old capitol, with ancient reminders...buildings 700 years old, some left in ruins after major earthquakes. This city is wealthy in comparison to where we are heading. Our hotelroom is perfect with shower and toilet. We wandered the streets and it seemed that it could take a long time to figure this city out ... read more

January 29. 2011. Perth ON We are leaving our home today and all its comforts: guaranteed hot showers, glass after glass of potable tap water, a bounty of raw vegies … It is very exciting but these last few days the odd butterfly has fluttered in my stomach. It’s been many decades since we have donned backpacks and headed to such a different and distant place. We are up for it. All the prep has paid off and we are buoyed by the encouragement and support from dear family, friends and the amazing women at Lanark County Interval House. It’s 07:20 and as the day brightens I look out the window onto the many shades of gray. It is a beautiful winter scene. On Monday afternoon we will walk into the flamboyant colours and brilliance of ... read more