Dia de los Muertos – Guatemala

Giant kite at Santiago Sacatepéquez, Guatemala

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated in Guatemala on November 1 and 2. We travelled to Santiago Sacatepéquez, Guatemala to view the celebration of the holiday. The streets were full of vendors of food, kites, toys, cloth, and flowers. The traditional food cooking in the streets added an inviting aroma to the air.
We walked through town and up a hill to the cemetery. Outside the cemetery we were able to see a kite being assembled. In the cemetery we could feel the sense of celebration. Graves were decorated with flowers, children were flying kites, vendors were hawking their wares, and final preparation of the giant kites was completed. The highlight was when the giant kites were raised to the upright position for display. 

View our photos at photobucket

Or view slideshow of the photos

Revue magazine has a couple of articles with more details of the celebration:
http://revuemag.com/2009/10/dia-de-los-muertos/

http://revuemag.com/2009/10/traditional-kite-making-in-santiago-sacatepequez/

http://revuemag.com/2008/10/messengers-in-the-wind/

Tanzania 2009 – Katavi National Park

 Day 11 of our trip was a safari in Katavi National Park.

We started in the morning by driving near the Sitalike Headquarters. The drive bordered the Katavi Plans, providing views of wildlife herds.

Location of Katavi National Park, Tanzania

 Wildlife viewed included: Waterbuck (Kuru), Zebra (Punda milia), Vervet monkey (Tumbili / Ngedere), Pelican, Hippopotamus (Kiboko), Duck, Egret, Lapet-faced Vulture, Spotted Hyena (Fisi / Nyangao), Buffalo (Mbogo / Nyati), Giraffe (Twiga), Impala (Swala Pala).

 Other sites of the morning included ‘The Spiritual Tree of Katabi’, Sausage Trees, Hyenas and Vultures picking on a Buffalo carcass, Hippos grazing in the open.

After lunch, we drove along the Katuma River ending at the Hippo Pool of Ikuu.

The first part of the drive was beside wide open plains where a groups of Zebra, Giraffe, Warthog and a Hippo were at a small water pool. Next we viewed a couple of Elephant grazing on palm leaves. Following the river we observed groups of Giraffe, Elephant, Hippo, Lion, Crocodile, Gazelle, Waterbuck, and Monkeys.

The highlight of the afternoon was a pride of eight lions resting on the river bank. The final stop was to view over 300 Hippos in the mud pool at Ikuu.

Our photo slideshow in this site

Our photos at Photobucket

 

Visit the website http://www.katavipark.org/ 

   or

The Tanzania National Parks website: http://www.tanzaniaparks.com/

 

 

 

Antigua, Guatemala

Shopping in Antigua

    We took a day trip to Antigua on Monday the 25th. We wanted to get out and do something since we had Memorial Day off from work.  We did a bit of walking around town, taking in the sights and eating lunch.  We also did some shopping at the Artesians Market.

  Antigua was founded in 1543 as the capital of Guatemala (this was actually the third capital).  After damage to the city, as a result of earthquakes in 1717 and 1773, the capital was ordered to be moved to present day Guatemala City. Antigua is a popular tourist site, with its ruins and architecture, shops, markets, hotels and dining.  It is about a 45-minute drive from Guatemala City to Antigua.

Our Photo slideshow in this site

or Photos of the day here

Some info about Antigua

Mixco Viejo

Double Pyramid, Structure 3-B

(MEESH-koh vee-EH-hoh)

Mixco means “Place of the Clouds” in Pok’omam´ Maya

Viejo means “Old” in Spanish

     Pok’omam´ Mayan  community in the 16th century. Loacated northwest of Guatemala City, about a 2-hour drive.

Photo Slideshow

Here is a link to Susan’s photos

Information about Mixco Viejo

Getting settled in

Living room

    Susan has moved into our apartment.  In addition her freight that was sent by air was delivered to our new home.  It may still be some time before the remainder of the household shipment shows up.  There is some furniture in the apartment that we will use until ours arrives.  The apartment has plenty of room for us, with 3 bedrooms that each have a bathroom, an open living room/dining room, and a kitchen with a small dining area.

Semana Santa (Holy Week) 2009

   

Carpet on the streets of Antigua

 Antigua, Guatemala is famous for the Holy Week celebration. Procession include hundreds of people carrying large floats. Carpets are made of sawdust, flowers, fruits, vegetables and plants.

Slideshow of Carpets

Slideshow of Processions

Susan’s Photos here

Information about Semana Santa

Popol Vuh Museum

Museo Popol Vuh, Guatemala City

  Our first sight-seeing trip in Guatemala.  This museum is in Zona 10 of Guatemala City.  Greg has been reading “Time Among the Maya: Travels in Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico” by Ronald Wright.  The book includes excerpts from the Popol Vuh, a narrative history of the Quiche Mayan.  The museum is named after this narrative.

 

  Museo Popol Vuh contains a large display of  Mayan art and artifacts as well as a small collection of items from the colonial era.

Our Photo Slideshow

or Our photos from the museum       

 Museo Popol Vuh website