Lake Atitlán has been called the most beautiful lake in the world. Although I certainly haven’t seen them all, I have to agree that it’s up there at the top of my list. It’s surrounded by volcanoes and is large enough to be dotted with villages along its shores. My recent trip to Guatemala had toContinue reading “San Juan la Laguna”
Category Archives: guatemala
Antigua again
The picturesque streets of Antigua, Guatemala seemed to welcome me back like a long lost friend. Earlier this year I received an email from a Japanese friend. She was planning to spend a month in Antigua in the summer studying Spanish at a language school. Why don’t I come down and visit? I hadn’t beenContinue reading “Antigua again”
Kites (reprise)
You may know it as the Day of the Dead in Mexico. In Guatemala, November 1st is called All Saints Day. Families flock to cemeteries to decorate graves and visit their ancestors, but the wonderful surprise about this special day is the kites. Guatemaltecas create colorful kites, tiny and gigantic, artistic or whimsical or with sociallyContinue reading “Kites (reprise)”
Kites
You may know it as the Day of the Dead in Mexico. In Guatemala November 1st is called All Saints Day. Families flock to cemeteries to decorate graves and visit their ancestors, but the wonderful surprise about this special day is the kites. Guatemaltecas create colorful kites, tiny and gigantic, artistic or whimsical or with sociallyContinue reading “Kites”
Picking favourites
A fellow blogger and travel photographer, recently posted her favorite three photographs (the title above has the British spelling, as does her post). It was Sarah’s entry into a Lens Artists Challenge on her Travel With Me website. I usually don’t participate in these popular themed challenges, reluctant to spend hours looking through gigabytes ofContinue reading “Picking favourites”
Antigua doors and windows
Although I have pages of photos in the Photography section of this website, I prefer a mix of writing and images in this blog. However, these doors and windows on the streets of Antigua, Guatemala are worth sharing along with the Antigua posts. So many stories behind those doors and through those windows… More AntiguaContinue reading “Antigua doors and windows”
Antigua saints and ruins
Christianity came to Latin America with the Spaniards, with missionaries following conquerors and colonizers. In Guatemala, there is an interesting mix between traditional Catholicism and Mayan religions. The stories and beliefs of the indigenous peoples have somehow infused even today’s culture. Every town and village in Guatemala has a Catholic church, and it also hasContinue reading “Antigua saints and ruins”
Antigua
The old, beautifully preserved Spanish colonial city of Antigua was at one time the capital of Guatemala until it was decimated in the 1700s by a massive earthquake. Now one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country, Antigua Guatemala, or Old Guatemala, sometimes called La Antigua, features countless charming shops in aged buildingsContinue reading “Antigua”
Turquoise pools of Semuc Champey
A Peace Corps volunteer had just completed a trail building project in the Semuc Champey Natural Monument and invited friends and donors to the opening, during my last semester teaching in Guatemala, 2006. It was a five-hour drive, and Sarah, our host, promised the opening ceremonies would wait until we arrived. We made good time,Continue reading “Turquoise pools of Semuc Champey”
Zona Viva
On my first few days in a new place, everything strikes me as fresh and fascinating, then becomes more familiar and taken for granted. So when I travel, I try to venture out early in my visit to immerse myself in the sights and sounds. There is something invigorating about strolling through streets and scenesContinue reading “Zona Viva”
Ruth Rosenfeld 