Guatemala ~ Lake Atitlan

Not a week later on Saturday, April 16th we left by car with our dog Chloe to Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, a couple of hours beyond Antigua, but a very different environment. Both of these areas are in the Highlands of Guatemala and the climate is cool for this part of the world ~ in our cooler months of December and January, it gets cold enough in the Highlands (including Guatemala City) to wear real jackets and sleep with down comforters.

The Lake was beautiful and climate fresco, which is why we chose to come here. By boat, we arrived in the small community of Jaibalito along the lake where we stayed in a 2 bedroom house on the same compound as an American there with his wife who is from Costa Rica, son, and dog named Negra (a real sweetie). Mostly, we enjoyed the cooler weather, being by the water (for Cole the dock with fishing), relaxing in a quiet and nice home and surroundings, and exploring different communities (small and medium) around the lake by boat. Chloe enjoyed swimming in the water. Cole made some friends, of course, and on the first day there he went along with the owner's son and a couple other local boys to the village to get some eggs and other things. He was feeling rather "big" - and of course he is almost 6 years old.

Remember how I talked about tourism infrastructure? Well, Guatemala definitely has it in areas and has the making and selling of stuff down. The Mayan women make beautiful cloths and in the highlands areas I saw many who dressed in these traditional cloths. I didn't get the chance to visit a women's cooperative, but I am glad to know they are in place and hopefully assisting women to make a decent income from their wares. There are many gringos in the area too - amazing how many - so much so that you see a gringo on the street selling local and imported stuff (such as toy mice that wind up and go); and there was a health-food store with things that I cannot even find in San Salvador! Funny. So, I can also now appreciate the non-tourism infrastrucutre of El Salvador and it's low key vibe even more.

Guatemala ~ Antigua

Greetings! I am behind on my postings...so let my mantra be brief and concise for this one (and next) ~ a challenge because there were so many interesting things...but my real motivator is Cole's birthday party Sat, May 7th (actual birth day May 8th) and I am excited to share that with y'all.

Antigua, Guatemala

We travelled there by double-decker bus (rode up top and in front) on April 7th and came back on April 11th - nice long weekend. Rich had an Upper School Director's conference with other bilingual, independent schools in Central America. Antigua has quite a rich colonial history and architecture, which makes it a real destination for this area of the world. The hotel we stayed at was amazing - Museo y Hotel Casa Santo Domingo was so lovely ~ it is literally built on and around the ruins of a monastery and beautifully restored and preserved. Take a look:
https://www.casasantodomingo.com.gt/en because I didn't get too many pictures of this incredible hotel (with art and archeological museums, ruins, chocolate factory, candle-making and pottery workshops...).

In Antigua, we enjoyed the cobblestone streets and colonial architecture, exploring the various churches and ruins of the town, cool climate, and eating good food. If you were to ask Cole, his favorite part was the warm pool and the friends he made along the way (Leonardo, Sophia, and Isabella). Lastly, we were able to get a taste of the incredible processions and extravaganza that is a part of Antigua during the Semana Santa (holy week) - INCREDIBLE with the alfrombras (rugs) created out of sawdust, petals, flowers, plants, fruits, vegetables... (Cole helped out); the men (dressed in purple robes) and women (dressed in black) carrying large wooden "floats" with the statue of Jesus and then Mary...; the incense that covers the city as these processions go by; and the uniquely distinguishable fragrant flowers from pods that envelope it all.... The streets are closed off while the alfrombas are being made the same day (finished hours or minutes before) the procession walks-over/stomps-on these beautiful alfrombas - that are then cleaned up and it begins again...until Easter Sunday. It was good fortune that we were able to be here during this time. One gringo (or mzungu:KiSwahili) said upon seeing an alfromba with JHS: what does that JHS stand for - Jesuit High School? Hmmm...what could that JHS stand for in a Christian holy week?