THE MARKET:
Guatemala has some characteristic marketable items. Around Antigua are several coffee plantations which sell their produce. There's also artisians in the area of hand woven and embroidered textiles, wood carving, and jewelery making. Jade is one of the principle precious stones found here.
RELAXING TIME:
I think it was Sunday afternoon. In front of this old Catholic Church, some of the church children along with a few adults played this large xylophone (9 people played it at the same time). It's right across from Central Park, which unlike locally, is normally filled with people talking and relaxing.
TIKAL RUINS:
The Tikal ruins are located in northern Guatemala (we took a day trip there including an hour round trip flight and two shuttles each way). I didn't get to see them myself (my Mom got sick so we went back to the main plaza/museum area before I saw anything), but my sister Sue did and got this picture for me. This is one of many old mayan temples here. You can't see from this picture because it's too small, but at the top of the stairway seated before the door are a couple people, just so you know how big this thing is. On the way there and back along the roads, people and animals move about freely. We almost ran into a mare nursing a foal, a dog, and a pig, all roaming on or across the road. Such a slower pace there than here.
PACAYA VOLCANO:
Our last tour before going home - a volcano. As you can see by the picture, this flow is quite recent and still cooling. We're still quite a ways from the cone, we'd get cooked if we got too close. Even where we were, it could be quite hot and we had to be careful of our footing - volcanic rock is light and can be fragile when thin and walked on. It's also sharp to the touch. Our guide used this stick to pull some molten lava out (it was like a thick, hot, melty marshmallow but glowing red and larger in amount) then began pulling at it with a stick to form it (my sister said it looked like a teddy bear). He then poured some of his bottled water on it to cool it. When it was cool enough, he carried it with him. He was going to give it to one of us as a souvenier but after sitting down for a rest, when we got going again he forgot it behind. Oh, well, he tried.
All in all, it was an unusual and interesting trip. I sure was glad to be back in the states where the main language is english. I don't speak much spanish and got by with a few words with much gesturing. It's tough work communicating when you don't know the language. Now we're home safe and sound with Gabrielle, my new niece. Welcome to the USA Gabrielle!
posted by Colleen @ 8:43 PM
3 Comments:
wow, your pics are fabulous! they make me want to go there!! gabriella is so precious too. she's a very lucky little girl. :)
What a fantastic journey. I liked the volcano and the huge Xylophone. And of course, Gabby! Glad to have you back.
Sound like you had a wonderful trip! Glad it went well!!!
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