a lovely viaje

This past weekend we spent in the mountains where there lie a volcanic crater that just so happens to now be filled with water creating the beautiful Lake Atitlan.

We arrived Friday in the pueblo of Panajachel where we had time to mosey about and do some shopping, (or looking) before heading to Solomon's Porch for dinner - a restaurant ran by an organization that ministers to the people of Panajachel.

Saturday morning we set off across the lake to San Juan where we would stay for a night...

We were all packed in this little boat, so cozy... and this picture is far from quality but... i had to post it... see that small girl on the left... that's my friend Emily! :)

I have a slight obsession with flow pants (pantalones tipico) and... well there were TONS in Panajachel! SO...I failed to resist, these are the latest addition to my wardrobe

This is volcan San Pedro(?) I think...there's lots of volcanoes around here...

These poor people... due to all the rainfall over the past several weeks, the lake is high leaving this house halfway submerged... I really don't know how they're still living in it?!

This is our hotel in San Juan, the perfect get-away...slightly desolate, and with a great view of Lake Atitlan, I loved our stay here

They even folded my towel cute!

While in San Juan we had the opportunity to tour two cooperatives, the first one was a coffee co-op. Here we toured the gardens and learned all sorts of things about the coffee production process.

Along the way, we passed these two small children, carrying stacks of sticks on their heads so that their families could use to cook... :-/

These green grape-lookin things are coffee beans... NOT ripe!

So the coffee beans grow in the fields...

when they're red, they're picked

next the miel (honey) surrounding the bean is removed,

then they're rinsed,

roasted,

ground...

and enjoyed!!

this picture is of a dude, riding his moto, in the streets of San Juan... I just happen to really like it

Next we went to a woman's co-op called Llema where we learned how the mayan woman use all sorts of plants to create natural dies that they then weave together to form beautiful merchandise.

In the shop they showed which plants, leaves, figs, etc. were used to create which colors...

Each of us students then were able to learn how to, and help create a woven chalina (scarf) - This lady was who I worked with and, I forgot to add a picture of the final product but... I did work on it some... she was just much faster at it lol

I liked the side of this building and the man sitting there made it picturesque

This was our view standing outside my room at the hotel... simply amazing really...

And I also really liked this shot of the dock and how the water was so glass-like that morning

i heart hamacas

Sometimes photography gets me...

Me and Emily

The tuk-tuks in San Juan are way cooler than the ones in Antigua...they're much nicer, and red!!

We came across this lady outside a church in Santiago Atitlan (another pueblo we visited, on Sunday) and she did a demonstration of how to properly wrap that immaculate traditional head piece of hers.

These kids are cute... and dressed in traditional Mayan clothing

Sunday evening we returned to Panajachel and had dinner at Sunset Cafe overlooking the lake

Monday morning Emily and I wandered a bit and enjoyed some freshly squeezed OJ from a street vendor while we sat next to this pooch who was working on his tan

This is a grandeur overview of Lake Atitlan, the city down on the left is Panajachel

And these are mis companeras :)

Oh, and not from the trip but... from something I found in the artesan market the other day and absolutely LOVE... tres monos!!

And this is my new purse I purchased at the woman's co-op in San Juan.

This is now the second time I've commented on these pictures for this post... yesterday for some reason my comments didn't save, which is sad, because they were more original but... Anyway, the weekend was quite lovely and now today back at it with 8 hours of spanish (4 this morning, and 4 after lunch)... One week left and I'm heading to Costa Rica!!!

This Sunday we're taking a day trip and flying to the Mayan ruins of Tikal... will surely have some more sweet pics to share then!

Tchau for now amigos!

good news!

...The sun is shining here in Antigua, what a delight!! - Going on about three days in a row now, woohoo!!!! I know I haven't written in forever...I've started several blogs but... not finished them :0/ Lo siento!

So I'm gonna try to bullet point so I don't bore you with too much information, but then... I do have a couple sweet pictures to share! :0)

• The rainy season, (hopefully), is about to come to an end!!
• The storm has finally passed after two weeks straight of nasty weather...
• I haven't made it to El Salvador (with my teacher), because it's been dangerous to travel the roads due to all the rain
• This past Tuesday we went into Guatemala City, it was the longest day of my life! ...Traffic to and from the city is just horrible, it's like driving through Chicago during rush-hour, what a dread! But we toured the U.S. Embassy which was fairly interesting, I learned a lot about the U.S. in other countries... then we checked out a school that my friend Cassie will student teach at next semester, and swung by an orphanage before heading home.
• Spanish classes are still going well, some days overwhelming and draining, but... well, it's like a J-term course that never ends... but my ability to speak the language is improving so much!
• This week I booked a ticket, I'll be heading to Costa Rica in a few weeks to spend some time with my friend, Alejandra, who I met while doing mission work in Costa Rica several years back, and I am SO excited to get to spend a week with her && mosey around C.R. once again!
• We are praying that the weather stays nice so we can take our group trip into the mountains this coming weekend, to Panajachel and Lake Atitlan - which is supposed to be SUPER beautiful, so I'm really looking forward to going!

I think that about sums up this past week or so... I have 3 weeks of Spanish left, and we're working over-time in the afternoons, so prayers for my ability to FOCUS would be greatly appreciated. Although I love it here, I superly miss my family and can't wait to be home with them over Christmas! But 8 more weeks, trying to make the best of this opportunity of course... I've been doing lots of wandering && lots of interaction with Guatemaltecans..

Here's a few pics!

Me and Jen made friends with a waiter at Fridas... he made me this flower- hahaha

...but you have to admit, it's pretty sweet so... I resifted it to Marta that night, she loved it! :)

I took this while I was walking the other day... love the colors... and the little buggy on the right is called a "tuk-tuk" it's like a fancy enclosed motor cycle they use here to transport people

And the volcano was just beaUtiful yesterday with a ring of clouds creating a frame around the peak!

And this lovely girl, is who I'm headed to see very soon!!!

(This picture was taken over Christmas in 2006, holy cow, it's been a long time since I've seen her!!)

Tienes un buen día hoy! Mucho amor por todo ;)

rain rain (please) go away...

It's been raining for like 7 days straight and... don't get me wrong, i love me some rain!... while i'm sleeping, or cozy inside...watching criminal minds, or spending time with a good friend... but really? for 7 days in a row?! ...I'm about done with this now.

Ojala hoy es el ultimo dia!

Guatemala City Dump && Cemetery

Again, quite a delay on my posting, but... nonetheless, an update! :)

We spent last weekend in Guatemala City... Friday we visited an organization called FAFG (Forensics Anthropological Foundation of Guatemala) where they are uncovering several mass graves throughout Guatemala, removing bodies, and attempting to reconcile these to their loved ones. The work they are doing is rather fascinating, yet a closer look and grandeur realization of the tragedies of the civil war that happened here...

We also visited the city cemetery (which I have included several pictures of, because I love cemeteries...) and the back end overlooks the city dump, which also was a rather saddening view, but eye-opening.... Not many years ago there were hundred of people living in this dump below... Now there are less, but still many people who live off this dump...

I've never seen so many vultures, sick!!

In a predominately Catholic society... LOTS of crosses in the cemetery...

These pull-out graves are rented out monthly... if the persons responsible to not pay, the bodies are pulled and dumped :(

This weekend I was supposed to be venturing down to El Salvador to visit my teacher's family, however, due to the constant rain over the past several days, travel is not safe... lots of mudslides and destroyed roads, so, I will relax here and try again

possibly next week to head south!

it's a grandioso morning here in antigua...

And... when i first started this post i had planned to write a little more but... now i'm about to be late for school SO... my primary request is PRAYER. Lots of things to pray for, always, but this morning for health. Lots of people are feeling ill, including a roommate, my house-mom, and my teacher... and so prayers for restored health, and good rest, and cleared minds... greatly appreciated all the way around. Thanks!

new pants + sweet pic

I got new pants in the market yesterday... pretty much AMAZING and I want to wear them every day!!! haha ...they are somewhere between pants and a skirt and... SO comfy!

and this is the front of the latest issue of "Que Pasa" a very popular advertisement magazine that you can find everywhere here.... I love this pic!!

Not a lot happening this past weekend... mostly RElax time with my housemates and Jesus... Tonight we went to salsa dancing at the gym && that was super fun! ...I have a busy week of classes and Friday we're heading back to Guatemala City for some more touring and learning :0) Probably post some more pics at the beginning of next week. For now, it's bed time!

¡Buenas Noche!