Blogs from San Juan La Laguna, Western Highlands, Guatemala, Central America Caribbean

What a lovely village! It's the only place where they won't sell land to outsiders, which makes it very authentic. It's an artsy place, which you notice as soon as you're off the boat, walking uphill on a narrow street with colourful stuff hanging above you. There are many murals, art galleries and art stores, and local handmade products such as traditional medicines, cosmetics, clothing, chocolates, etc. We visited a women's weaving co-op (Asociacion De Mujeres En Colores Botanico)where local women use old-style backstrap weaving techniques and natural colours to make traditional huipils (shirts) and other clothing, tablecloths, pillowcases (got one!), hair ribbon band (Carolyn got one!), and more. Then we had a nice (big) lunch at Alma De Colores, which is a project (including restaurant) that supports and hires people with disabilities. And finally, we ... read more

From Las Ninas When you look up at the Nariz from San Juan, it looks steep and hard to climb, but possible. It is most definitely steeper and rockier than any of the mountains at home. It’s fun to find the two different faces in the mountain and wonder what the person could possibly be doing sleeping (face # 1) or talking/ screaming (face #2), but it is even more fun to look up at the face in the mountain and say that you climbed to the only place that does not change between faces, the nose. Let’s skip all the sweating, panting, drinking, slipping, and sweating some more, to the part where we actually make it to the top. It took about three to four hours of climbing straight up hill. So you can imagine ... read more

We took another shuttle to Lago Atitlan. It should have been quicker, going direct, but it took 50 minutes just to get around Antigua and pick up all the passengers. It was a long but lovely drive, with a well timed pee stop at the turnoff for the lake. We also had a photo stop as we followed the road down to Panajachel. Panajachel was a bit of a shock. All touristy. Full of shops and restaurants. I think the driver took us to the wrong dock. Wrong because kids started dragging us down to the boats, quoting some other people ridiculous prices, initially Q$500 or Q$50. We knew it would be more like Q$10 so were OK when it was offered at Q$20. They were awfully quick to take our money. The lake was clear ... read more

Nos trajets autour du lac Atitlan se font maintenant a bord de boites de pick up avec nos bagages entasses parfosi a plus de 25 personnes. Arrivee a San Juan, nous avons constate que le deuxieme etage de l'ecole promis par notre stage de l'hiver passe avait bien ete construit. Dans la famille, nous avons eu la chance d'etre presentes le soir de la grande fete, en l'honneur de la graduation de Juan, le grand frere de Pascale. Plus de 250 personnes etaient attendues a ce festin. Plusieurs membres de la famille sont venues pour s'assurer du bon fonctionnement de la fete et aider a la preparation de la nourriture. Nous avons aide a faire quelques tortillas et avons servi les plats. La famille etait tres sympathique, mise a part l'oncle saoul que vous pouvez voir ... read more