Friday, June 29, 2007

Mayan Priestess

Mayan Spirituality dates back to over 5000 years. This is the begging of a prayer ritual from a Mayan Priestess, only to be preformed on full moons.

Pacaya--- El Volcan es muy peligroso

The warning to the volcano entrance. Everyone should listen.

The lava craters at the initial ascent to the top of Pacaya. The other hikers climbing up Pacaya. See how jagged the rocks are imagine if someone was to fall on them.
Some of the hotest parts of the volcano were white from bacteria. This bacteria only grows in the hotest parts of lava rocks. About 200degree C.

¿Que quieres?

In the central market you can get everything from soccer shoes to beans. Check the assortment. Beans anyone?

A taste of Tikal

The howler monkey is the landmark of Tikal. They are everywhere. They are called howler monkeys because they roar like a lion. This was taken from outside of my hotel room. Tikal is the home of the largest restored Mayan civilization. The park has over 10 temples and numerous town structures.






The hiking crew.

The Canopy tour Tikal. Zipline course 60ft in the air attached to trees.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Los Primero Dias en Antigua, Guatemala

This is Colonia Candelaria. This is the ruin that marks the title of my neighborhood in Antigua. Right in front is a little basketball court. Every morning students can be found playing basketball before school. This is from the walk way right outside of my house. I live with Dona Ruth de Estrada.

In Antigua this is La semana del Expression "the week of expression". This is where all the kids and students all over Antigua celebrate their creativity. They have parades, art sessions on display, dance parties all day at school, music shows etc. This is the week to celebrate the art of expression. ¨I think i came at the right time"

This picture is from Sunday where there was the introduction parades where every age child dresses up in homemade costumes and parades in the street. This group is the 12 year old mummys.
These are the younger children in home made cardboard ships, space ships, taxi´s etc.

The teenagers are each representing a different nation. These are the Greeks. There were Chinese dancers, Spaniards, Brazilian carnival dancers, and many more. This a the central park of Antigua. With a real entrepreneur, if you would like a rid on a horse around the park it will only cost you Q25 (about $3) This is the inside view of La Proyecto Linguistico de Francisco Marroquin. This is my Spanish school. In the center of the school is a path, notice the students of every age, on each side of mini huts with desks and chairs (the classrooms).
On the left side are the ruins of what used to be a church. They are now classrooms. This is where I take my class, out in the middle of the garden. Desk number 29. I can also hear the local high school celebrations near by. They love to lite firecrackers during la semana del expression.
These are the other huts where other students take classes.
Just a sample of one of the streets in Antigua. This is the way to my dance classes.

This is the San Francisco of Antigua. This is the church of San Francisco, otherwise just know as San Francisco. Be sure to clarify where you are from here, because to just say " I am from San Francisco" They will then ask you if you were born in this church, for humor of course.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Love is a color only the blind can see

Got to love the street art in San Francisco. It can make anyone a poet.

Graduation 2007

But I'm making the next step.