Guatemala - 2012

Day 05 - Sun, July 1
San Pedro

Sundays the families do not cook, so we fend for ourselves. Some go to the myriad of nice restaurants and spend American prices. I go to the bread shop just down the block for a pastry or two, trying to keep Guatemalan in my caloric intake and money outlay.

We just missed the bus that goes straight to San Pedro, where Maria's church is. This is the bus to San Juan del Obispo, which gets close.

At the "cruz" (cross road) we begin our half mile or so walk.

Unfortunately Maria's stomach is a bit off today. Here she is buying some Alka Seltzer to try to calm her stomach. Doesn't work. She feels bad most of the day.

Here is the city (village) of San Pedro. Obviously there is not a lot of tourism. Compared to this, Antigua is very posh. Notice the girls at the right carrying something.

Maiz (corn for flour). Here is the grinder. Afterwards they will take the flour and hand make tortillas. I have never seen this in Antigua.

Three interesting things in this picture. 1) The girls with their maiz. 2) The runner preparing for the half-marathon on July 15. 3) The side of the volcano in the background. We are further up the side of the volcano here in San Pedro. It looms very large and its fertile soil is why their is corn grown here.

Maria Elsa's church after the service. I didn't want to take a picture during.

A Japanese couple that is living here in San Pedro. Missionaries, maybe. This is a Jehovah's Witness congregation.

During the service there was a lot of "bulla" (ruckus) outside. "Bombas" (large fireworks) and firecrackers. After the service we saw a crowd on the way toward the buses. Maria said it was a procession for the Catholic church.

We went a different route to get around the procession and found the whole town decorated.

What is this gentleman doing (and in the middle of the street)?

It is a form of "laying palms" as on Palm Sunday. They look a bit like pine needle, but I don't know what they are.

Some of them are more elaborate.

Some are very elaborate, indeed. This might be in the very center of the town, since it so elaborate and has the name of the town. In many cases they are decorated with flower pedals.

But upon closer inspection, these are wood chips with paint.

A very narrow neighborhood blocked to allow them to work. Some people are washing the streets or, at least, putting down water to help with the dust.

Maria took off for Antigua and I decided to stay for this, my first hispanic church procession. The procession started with three musicians: flute and two drums, then the banners of the church.

Then lots and lots and lots of people. O - and incense.

 

Many of the children were dress this way. At the beginning they walked. Later they were all carried. Even angles need help, I guess.

What always follows any large crowd? Venders!

This was at one of the most elaborate palm patches. Notice that the crowd had separated and that only the priest and the cross walk on the palms. I was surprised how respectful people where with the palms. Even in the busy main street cars and motorbikes went far out of their way to avoid them.

Reminds me of New Orleans: able to clean up a parade immediately.

In the main street I thought that there were trucks stuck behind the procession, when in actuality they were there at the clean up crew.

When they came to the small neighborhood (the one blocked with the ladder earlier) they were too many. I think they stopped here for a prayer or something. They were jammed in.

What is they carrying?

A mortar for shooting "bombas": the loud giant fireworkds. I saw this device earlier (at the start) and didn't know what it was until it shot off right next to me.

The procession continued around the town, but I had followed it around the town for quite a ways and it was time for me to poke around the actual town. Notice the Volcan de Agua in the background.

In all the world kids are playing at arcades.

On the other side of the main square were more palm patches, right in the middle of the main road.

Here was proof of the lack of tourism and/or the level of income: the clothes washing pool is large and busy. There is one in Antigua, but not used much.

Finally, here is the Catholic church.

I looked around for lunch and ended up at this small place. I chose it because I saw him deep fat frying the chicken and fries and therefore was sure it was safe.

For about a dollar I got a piece of chicken, some fries, and four blazing hot tortillas. There were girls making them in the back of the shop. The drink came from next door. In all, $2 for lunch.

No surprise, but food attracts the street dogs. This one came soon and didn't leave. I gave him part of a tortilla and threw him the left over chicken. I know chicken bones aren't good for dogs, but I've seen these guys eat thru garbage worse than that.

I went to the bus stop. The good drivers are very proud of their buses. A well kept bus shows people it is safe.

On the busy I ran into this family that had sat in front of Maria and I in church. They were going to Antigua for lunch.

Later I went to the ATM and ran into this gentleman selling flutes. AND he had in his possession a type of oboe. Since instruments are another addiction I have (though I have been doing better) and I don't have any double reed instruments I was unable to resist. He called it a "Chichimira" or something. The reed is actually made from #8 plastic cups.

When it rains everyone goes under the cover, but commerce continues.

After I bought the oboe ladies with other things converged on me like a pack of wolves. One lady said "por su esposa" (for your wife). I said, "I don't have a wife." I expected "for your girlfriend", but instead she said "for your secretary". I laughed really hard at this, as did she.

When I got back to the house Maria was leaving to go to the supermarket to buy the things she can't (or doesn't wish to) get at the mercado. Notice the American breakfast cereals. :(

A type of cucumber we bought on Sat. Maria has never bought these since they are expensive: about 80 cents.

Very impressive. Taste was a mix between a cucumber and a melon.

Later we got dinner for $3. Notice the back of soda. You can't take the bottle, since there is a return price.

The table was full of Jocelyn's school work (she is a 2nd grade teacher). Here are the report cards.