Antigua Guatemala Week 5

I'm a bit late on this post, but here are a few more photos around Antigua.

Me with Maria Elena, my first friend in Guatemala. We met 25 years ago when she was a social worker and I was on a leave from teaching. 

Another fast food bus.

This is for my friend, Karin. 

There was a series of free concerts at the art gallery in Santa Ana. Richard and U chose to go to the afternoon dress rehearsal. I found it fascinating to see and hear what goes on. They would often stop mid-piece to tweak something a little. Each of the musicians (from the Julliard School of Music), provided input, suggesting small changes. I hadn't realized there was so much room for interpretation in a classical piece. 

 

After the rehearsal we discovered that Santa Ana was preparing alfombras (carpets) for a procession. Some are very natural with flowers, seed pods and fruit. Others are created by forming designs with coloured saw dust, using stencils. 

We left Santa Ana before the procession came through. 

The next day, February 22, was the first lenten procession in Antigua, and it was the day we had booked a shuttle to take us to Panajachel. Many roads were closed to traffic, so we had to meet the shuttle at the north end of town. No probs after that.

Antigua Guatemala Week 4

More photos around town:

               Vertical sun dial above door 

Bonnie and I bumped into Sue on her new motorbike.

Love this door knocker

            Beautiful lighting on Volcan Agua

Morning glories just suddenly burst into bloom

 

                        Bird on fountain

Richard admiring Maureen's banana plant, which apparently is a berry! And a strawberry is not a berry!! Who knew?

Tommy, Liza, Richard at a party at Maureen's.

Great doorway, and magnificent blue sky.

We occasionally see fabulous old cars here.

            Pensive Richard at Toko Baru

                             Is this Mary?

Cool grill on door, reminding me of Icelandic runes.

Another wall with multiple layers of paint. I wonder what will be next?

             Another bird, another fountain. 

          Part of San Sebastian Church ruins.

          Richard thinks this is a 1964 Bel Air

 

Me having coffee at Fernando's

Antigua, Guatemala Week 3

More photos from around Antigua:

Blue skies, smiling on me ...

Art installation by Sheila Hicks, called Peregrinación, made of bamboo wrapped in textiles.

As it is nearing Lent, the stations of the cross on the way to El Calvario are open to view.

 

Hungry but well behaved dig eyeing my papusas. I shared.

And eyeing Richard's sandwich. He didn't share.

Preparation of my papusas. They were delicious.

Awesome cafe created by connecting these two chicken buses.

Fuego poufing.

Bonnie organized a Chilifest as a fundraiser for Casa Sito. It was a huge success and a good time was had by all. They even had a mechanical bull with soft landing pad.

Great country and western band.

Tess, above, has for many years organized the cleft palate surgeries here. Through her work, many hundreds of children's lives have been improved. 

Friends having a chin wag.

Feral cats patiently waiting for breakfast.

Blue corn tortillas. The cooks asked not to be in the photo.

More poufs from Fuego.

Cool dude by a cool wall.

The fruit here is fabulous.

More beautiful walls.