Friday, April 13, 2007
With everything closed in Sta. Caterina Ixtahuacan, I headed to beautiful Antigua for several days. Antigua is noted for its elaborate and multiple processions during Semanta Sana (Holy Week). There are multiple processions every day, featuring very large scenes on huge carved wooden bases carried by 50 to 75 pilgrims. The route is long, and is paved with delicate hand-made carpets of colored sawdust, flowers, and fruit.
The night-time processions are illuminated, and particularly impressive.
With all this activity, the town is crowded with tourists. I met a vivacious woman from Allentown PA, a professional storyteller who has been leading literacy projects in Belize and Guatemala for several years and helping to record some of the old Maya legends.
I did take a day to catch a tour to the Pacific and jump waves in the ocean. Monterrico is reputed to be one of the best beaches in Guatemala - there aren't many. It is a black sand beach, and the beach in front of the town was impossibly crowded and unpleasant. However, just half a kilometer farther there was a delightful beach bar, the crowd was much much thinner, and the ocean was delicious. I talked with a very relaxed couple who were enjoying the sun, and selling homemade fruit-based hot sauces. They have been supporting themselves this way for some four years or so.
In the bus, I met a very interesting grizzled old guy. He was retired from the US Dept of Commerce, and had been all over the world promoting trade. One of this two kids was born out of wedlock, despite his four marriages - two of them to Brazilians who, he inferred, have special attributes unique to Brazilian women. He claimed to still be on very good terms with all of them, a result of his continuing financial arrangements with them. He was a proponent of supporting the advancement of underprivideged young women by providing them with educational and language opportunities while enjoying their company. This seemed to suit our companion Jim just fine - Jim was an oily computer programmer, maybe 45 or so, who traveled between Hawaii and Guatemala regularly. He was with his intelligent and stunning Guatemalan bride of 4 months. Sandra got her start with a sugar daddy who was considerably older than Jim, and was now looking forward to living in Hawaii. She had only good things to say about Jim, the relationship, and her previous sugar daddy. Interesting discussion.
