Blogs from Todos Santos Cuchumatán, Western Highlands, Guatemala, Central America Caribbean - page 2

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Places Visited:- Nebaj, Todos Santos The next hike was a 7 day hike from Nebaj to Todos Santos. The main reason to go was to watch the day of the dead festival and the famous horse race. The day of the dead is a huge festival in Latin America and they celebrate it on the 1 & 2 of November. They take this time to remember past friends and family and visit the local cemetery with loads of different brightly colored flowers and celebrate the life they once had. In Todos Santos they also have a huge horse race, which is hundreds of years old. Before we came we weren’t sure what the race was all about and now after even more confused! Firstly the race is not a race as there are no winners, it ... read more
Day of the dead festival 2
Day of the dead festival 3
Shhhhit, slow down!


I´ve been away for almost a week on a trip with the quetzaltrekkers through the villages of the Cuchumatane mountains, which less than 20 years was the scene of many devastating massacres during the civil war between the rightwing government army and the socialist Guerillas. Many young men were conscripted by force into the army only to have to kill their neighbouring villagers. Horrific happenings, and the people who survived all this still have the memories fresh in their minds. Hardly surprising that the villagers were a little wary of us as we passed through. Spent an interesting night staying with a family though who were prepared to talk to us about what it was like, and the current state of affairs for the people who live in the villages, which in short is pretty grim. ... read more
local women
why dont we have more hammocks at home?
Rockscape day 2


Semana Santa! Das bedeutet hier in vielen Teilen Guatemalas den Ausnahmezustand. Plakate werden ausgehaengt, wie man Staus vermeidet oder aushaelt, das Haus sicher hinterlaesst und wie man sich im Meer zu verhalten hat (schaetz mal ist das gleiche wie hier auch, Seepferdchen nur bis zur Markierung, danach muss man mindestens den Freischwimmer haben.... und natuerlich nicht direkt nach dem Essen ins Wasser!). An solchen Aktivitaeten nimmt allerdings nur der un- oder geringglaeubige Teil der Bevoelkerung teil, ansonsten hat die Kirche- bzw. eher haben die Kirchen- Hochsaison. Am schlimmsten ists wohl in Antigua, aber nachdem schon in Xela in der Woche vorher staendig Weihrauch geschwenkt und wahlweise Jesus, Maria oder jemand anders durch die Gegend gezogen wurden, haben wir uns in der Osterwoche fuer das Bergland und dort Todos Santos Cuchmantin entschieden. Ein rotweissgestre... read more
Nachmittagsgestaltung unter Maennern
Ueber den Wolken
Savannengefuehl in den Bergen Guatemalas


Up in the highlands near the Mexican border is the village of Todos Santos. The village is famous for the traditional dress of the locals, mam - a Mayan language, the use of a 260 day Mayan calandar and the murder of a Japanese tourist in 1998 for taking photographs. So armed with my digital camera I boarded a bus bound for Huehuetenango where I could change bus for Todos Santos. Sharron and Ann from school decided to accompany me... well actually - Sharron had planned the trip and kindly offered to let me accompany them. We left at 7am, stopped at McDonalds for coffee and a sausage and egg muffin, yep McDonalds has made it to Xela - sorry world I've eaten there now. The chicken bus to Huehue took 2 1/2 hours, an hours ... read more
The chicken buses
The kids
The washing line




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