FLOWERS and ART

So many beautiful flowers; 1st, at the Cooperativa school...

...and then around town.

A local art gallery has a program for kids; Beca Project sponsor and friend Kim sponsors a student in this program and was helping the day I visited.

A new mural on the way.

I enjoyed watching the creation of this beautiful mural of local midwife legend Doña Chona.

And there she is!

You can find the complete photo sets for this trip HERE.
Happy trails!

WORK and PLAY in SAN PEDRO

This post and the next 1 are an attempt to fit in a few more photos of my time in San Pedro, loosely organized into themes.

So much work happens here that goes unnoticed or unphotographed, but the photos below will hopefully project a sense of how hard many San Pedranos work, regardless of size, age, comfort, or renumeration.

Selling medicinal herbs, demonstrating the cough they'll cure.

This expat, Mike, volunteers to teach English to students of all ages at the Cooperativa school 6 days/week.

And now for a more playful side of San Pedro - an obsession with KITES. I pass this wall several times/day and can see it from my homestay.

You can find the complete photo sets for this trip HERE.
Happy trails!

SHOPPING in XELA

I have looked forward to yesterday's events for months and they did not disappoint. I rose before dawn and walked to the park by the Catholic church to the tunes of a school band practicing with gusto. Yes, at 5:45 in the morning. 

They paused briefly to let the smoke from firecrackers dissipate, then continued on their way.  

I had a few minutes to enjoy the park before my ride arrived and we were off - Mynor, his wife Josefa, the builder, his assistant, and the driver. 

Josefa and I got to sit up front with the driver; the others rode in the back of the truck and missed the scenery. Their compensation was lots of fresh air.

A welcomed break in the middle of the nearly 3 hour journey to Xela (pronounced 'Shayla', also known as Quetzaltnenago), these views of Lake Atitlán and San Pedro.

Típico breakfast at Pollo Campero, a Guatemala institution.

And then the shopping to populate our apartment, Ti Wachooch, commenced! Below for your viewing pleasure, good success, good company, a few pauses for the store people to catch up, transitions to other stores, Sopa Azteca, and home!

Back in San Pedro, we emptied the truck into Mynor's house - along, productive, exciting day. 

You can find the complete photo sets for this trip HERE.
Happy trails!