25 April 2003
"Good News!!!"
Renee has made a surprise visit to Antigua! (for those of you who don't know...that is Jen's boyfriend) And what did he bring with him? A DIGITAL CAMERA for us to use for the rest of our trip! You know what this means....many more photos and much more excitement to islandindigo.com. Thanks bro! It is great to see you again...even though we did tell you we were leaving Guatemala yesterday!
For other news...last week in Guatemala was the biggest celebration of the year and we returned just in time. Semana Santa, which translates to "Holy Week" brings in TONS of tourists and locals. There were processions (and not just last week, but every weekend for the past 6 weeks...) and alfombras (colorful sawdust and/or flower carpets), and did I mention people? I have never seen Antigua like this. The park was a sellers paradise. Everything from balloons, food, and jewelry to blinky crosses, blow up toys and other flourscent unmentionables. Bands were playing all day and all night. The purpose of this celebration is to reenact the death of Christ. Good Friday was the biggest day, that is the day Christ died. People walked around the streets dressed in black carrying Christ on their shoulders. There are about 40 men or so and they trade off every few blocks. The processions last for hours. Young men carry insense and you can smell it throughout the entire city. The 'alfombras' are created all night long and destroyed in the next days procession and rebuilt again. It was a wonderful week to be in Antigua!
Monday we went with the Icelanders to Lake Atitlan (Panajachel). 3 hours and 5 chicken busses later we made it! Tuesday Jen and I took a tour around the lake and visited 3 villages; San Pedro, Santiago, and San Antonio. We did some shopping and just relaxed. The Icelanders leave on Monday and we will miss them dearly! Who knows...perhaps I may show up at one of their doors in the future?
Back in Antigua and waiting for a package from Jen's mom...then we will head to El Salvador and Nicuragua before greeting my friends on May 11th in San Jose, Costa Rica! Alya, Sommer, Laura, Amber, Becca, and Jenny will be joining us for the last leg of our trip. Can it really all be coming to an end?
Renee has made a surprise visit to Antigua! (for those of you who don't know...that is Jen's boyfriend) And what did he bring with him? A DIGITAL CAMERA for us to use for the rest of our trip! You know what this means....many more photos and much more excitement to islandindigo.com. Thanks bro! It is great to see you again...even though we did tell you we were leaving Guatemala yesterday!
For other news...last week in Guatemala was the biggest celebration of the year and we returned just in time. Semana Santa, which translates to "Holy Week" brings in TONS of tourists and locals. There were processions (and not just last week, but every weekend for the past 6 weeks...) and alfombras (colorful sawdust and/or flower carpets), and did I mention people? I have never seen Antigua like this. The park was a sellers paradise. Everything from balloons, food, and jewelry to blinky crosses, blow up toys and other flourscent unmentionables. Bands were playing all day and all night. The purpose of this celebration is to reenact the death of Christ. Good Friday was the biggest day, that is the day Christ died. People walked around the streets dressed in black carrying Christ on their shoulders. There are about 40 men or so and they trade off every few blocks. The processions last for hours. Young men carry insense and you can smell it throughout the entire city. The 'alfombras' are created all night long and destroyed in the next days procession and rebuilt again. It was a wonderful week to be in Antigua!
Monday we went with the Icelanders to Lake Atitlan (Panajachel). 3 hours and 5 chicken busses later we made it! Tuesday Jen and I took a tour around the lake and visited 3 villages; San Pedro, Santiago, and San Antonio. We did some shopping and just relaxed. The Icelanders leave on Monday and we will miss them dearly! Who knows...perhaps I may show up at one of their doors in the future?
Back in Antigua and waiting for a package from Jen's mom...then we will head to El Salvador and Nicuragua before greeting my friends on May 11th in San Jose, Costa Rica! Alya, Sommer, Laura, Amber, Becca, and Jenny will be joining us for the last leg of our trip. Can it really all be coming to an end?
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