Guatemala - 2012

Day 07 - Tues., July 3
Ciudad Vieja

My teacher from three years ago was Conchita. She had Tuesday off and invited me to her town: Ciudad Vieja (Old City). It is my first time to initiate a trip on a Camioneta by myself. I am not worried about getting a bus to the right town, since the name is on the front and the driver will help. But Conchita wants me to go to a particular spot. So in Spanish I have to tell the driver: "Past the gas station, over the little bridge, past the supermarket, and around the corner at the pasuela grande (big park)". He understood.

In the bus: Princessa (they are all named). I tried to get a picture of three Guatemalans sitting in the same seat. In the US it is hard to fit two of us. Here then can sit five.Three is comfortable. In my seat there are two of us: me and a computer programmer.

Here's my drop off point where I texted her to let her know of my arrival. I felt pretty stupid just standing there.

The "pasuela grande". Doesn't look very grand to me.

And here she comes.

The park. Conchita said that there is another much smaller (?) park nearby.

Turns out her house is right down the road. I was surprised that this picture is missing two brothers. Conchita is the second oldest, I think. Why are they all home on a Tuesday?

Look in the background. The house is also their place of work. They make caskets. The father also made the kitchen table and chairs and it looks professional.

The workshop (taller) is in the back.

They do the sculpting and inside work, but not the staining.

Here is where the father and all four brothers work. They do most of the work by hand. The only machine they have is a table saw.

This brother wanted me to get involved, so a little sanding for me. We ended up talking so much that I only did this for probably two minutes.

Looks like one of Conchita's siblings borrowed my camera and took pictures while I was in the shop. This is actually their roof. Notice the clothes and the wood planks at the right.

Notice the sign at the door: we sell lunch.

One meal was spaghetti (just starch), beef with salsa, and a mayo based salad with pasta and veggies. Mine was chicken, rice with veggies and the mayo salad. Orange drink (like tang) and tortillas came too. All together Q36 or just over $4.

The TV at the left and an aquarium.

Not only are they good cooks, but are Yoli's parents (my friend who works at the travel agency).

After the picture we were ready to leave and another patron turned to me and, in English, said "You must be Steve". In my mind I was thinking "What? Good guess." Turns out she is Yoli's boss and has heard of me from Yoli. Wow! What a small world.

Yoli's boss: Miyra said she would take us to see Yoli, nearby.

Here we are walking by the cathedral, which is the oldest in Guatemala.

A new park across from the cathedral. It is was finished last year. This is all new to me. When Hugo and I were here two years ago it wasn't this nice.

Yoli's boss and the director of the school.

This school is the main project of Miyra. The travel agency where Yoli works helps pay for the school. The school is for poor children that can't afford an education without help. The school has grades K-8 and is hoping to add two more grades.

And here is Yoli. Usually I see her in the agency every day, but she has been very busy working here and with American volunteers.

One of the classes. I showed them my website and my videos I have been recording, since one of my primary motivations was to help schools that don't have gear or money and teachers that don't have experience. This really is the ultimate of that. Even though my videos are in English, they have English teachers here and are teaching English to the students.

Back in town. This is on the side of the Cathedral. It is the patron of the city.

This is a monument to the conquistadores of Guatemala. I actually asked Conchita how she felt about the conquistadors. It was the first time she ever really thought about it, I think, because she took a long time before answering. She said she had mixed feelings about it. Even though most Guatemalans have mixed blood (mayan and spanish), they were still robbed and conquered by the Spanish. It wasn't a clear opinion.

Back in Antigua. The doors are multifunctional. Together they open to allow the car inside, like a garage. The small door in the right side is the front door for people. Very clever.

Don't remember the gentleman's name, but the dog is "Coffee". He is only 1 year old. He and his Guatemalan wife have lived here for 2 years and he misses the US. They are going to drive back to the US. Conchita was VERY scared of the dog. He's a sweetheart, though. :)

A student showing his DNA molecule project. He even was able to tell me about it.