Blogs from Capital Region, Guatemala, Central America Caribbean - page 105

Brennende Kerzen, kreisfoermig angeordnet auf einem geschwaerzten Opferstein; darum verstreut Bluetenblaetter. Ein Schamane schwenkt brennenden Weihrauch, der Geruch verbreitet sich ueber den Platz. Dazu gemurmelte Worte in Kakquichel, waehrend verschiedene Riten ausgefuehrt werden. Neben dem Schamanen, der ein buntes Tuch um den Kopf geschlungen hat, steht ein weiterer Indigena. Er traegt eine blaue New York Rangers-Jacke und blickt in unsere Richtung. Sein Daumen und Zeigefinger machen eine typische, reibende Bewegung: Geld! Denn wir sind Touristen, die Fotos von dieser heiligen Zeremonie machen moechten. Wenn es denn eine waere- denn ausser uns ist noch ein Kamerateam vor Ort mit einem offiziellen Fuehrer der INGUAT, der guatemaltekischen Touristen-Info. Der Platz des Rituals, Pascual Abaj, liegt nahe dem Bergdorf Chichicastenango. Er ist tatsaechlich eine schon seit Zeiten der May... read more

Just last year, I made a decision to sponsor a young child from a Third World country. I went online through Compassion International (www.compassion.com) to make my selection. At first, I was not even sure in which country to begin my search. I thought back to my father's recent travels in Guatemala, in which he accompanied Vine International. He had told me so many good things about the country that I decided to narrow my search there. After several minutes of scrolling through the children's pictures, I came across the cutest little girl that I instantly knew was the one. Gresly Yessia Ordonez is her name and she lives with her mother, father, and 3 siblings in Zunilito Suchitepequez, Guatemala. This small village is located just North of Mazatenango in the Western Highland region of the ... read more

Dad’s time in Central America is coming to a close as we spend Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Antigua, along with everyone else in the country. This is the busiest week of the year for Latin America and Antigua is the heart of the action. The town is alive with hundreds of people dressed in purple robes, massive parades, floats depicting Christ’s Crucifixion, clouds of incense, and beautiful carpets of colored sawdust and flower petals (Alfombras). Processions and other events actually take place every weekend through Lent (The 40-day period prior to Holy Week), but the ones during Holy Week can't even be compared. Good Friday is the peak of the festival with enactments of the Crucifixion in the Parque Central, floats of Jesus bearing the cross, the Virgin Mary, and numerous Roman soldiers on foot ... read more

Though there were surprises, my trips from Xela to here and from here to Tikal and back went well. Internet is more expensive here so I´ll keep this brief. At Tikal I toured the Mayan ruins as planned and spent the night at the Tikal Inn, the classiest there it turns out, even with a nice swimming pool (but only electricity in the morning and evening for a few hours). I missed taking a ride on a cable (like a zip line on the level for abvout 2 km due to a shortage of cash and the lack of any banking machines at Tikal. There weren´t any banks or machines at Flores either, but it turns out that across on the mainland there are lots in Santo Helena). and I bought more souvenirs after a shopkeeper ... read more

Back home again in Antigua after 10 days in the Lake Atitlan/ Panajachel area. Antigua is gearing up for the full court press of processions, alfombras, and probably a million people visiting a very small city. The pickpockets have most likely moved in and the police and militars are out enforce on just about every street. Tonight is a chidlren's procession. It is deligthful to see the (mostly boys) dressed in their purple robes and flowing white headresses running down the street sometimes eating an ice cream cone. Some are as young as 2 years old. All have a name and placement tag dangling from the front of their gowns. The processions are run like miltary manuvers. Each participant has to know where he will stand, when the carriers will shift, and at what corner he ... read more