July 8th, 9th and 10th:

July 8^th, 9^th and 10^th: Friday morning we got up and had breakfast at the hotel and then headed to Santa Cruz del Quiche’ by way of Sacapulas.  The drive over the mountain is beautiful, although the road is steep and very windy.  We decided to stop in Sacapulas because we had been driving for 1 ½ hours and we needed to walk around.  We found the local market and mom bought a red sutil, with black and white stripes.  It is a square piece of cloth that they use for carrying things or keeping the sun off their heads.  We had to cross a one way bridge to get to the center of town.  

Guatemala is such a beautiful country.

We really noticed the influence of modern fabrics in Sacapulas.  The hupiles were all shiney and sparkly.  Very different.  

The church in Sacapulas.

The government building in Sacapulas.

This little cutie was playing in a box next to her parents stall in the market.  She was delighted to have her picture taken and I was delighted to take it. Her little brother is in the box with her.

The sutil mom bought in Sacapulas.

Close up of the weaving.

The bridge to and from Sacapulas.

We then drove to Santa Cruz del Quiche’ and parked.  We thought we might spend the night here, but after walking around a little bit and reading the guide book we decided that we would just keep going and that we would end up at Lake Atitlan. 

Government building at Santa Cruz del Quiche.

Church in Santa Cruz del Quiche'.

The faithful approached the altar on their knees.

And it is quite a ways to the front.

Church doors in Santa Cruz.

K'iche warrior, Tecun Uman, ready to do battle with the conquistador, Pedro Alvarado.

A parade with fire trucks filled with children. Santa Cruz del Quiche.

We stopped in Chichicastenango and mom bought a flying angle with a trumpet to add to her collection of angles with trumpets.  She now has 5.  

Iglesia de Santo Tomas in Chichicastenango.

Inside the Iglesia Santo Tomas where the rituals are distinctly more Maya than Catholic. 

Mom is collecting Guatemalan angel Moronies.

We kept going and when we got to Solola’ we stopped because it was market day and Sister Province had said that she loved the market in Solola’.  It was a really fun market with a lot of interesting things to see.  The men still wear traditional clothes.  It is one of the few places where the men still keep to the old traditions.  

Looking down the main road in Solola'.

Market in Solola'.

When we arrived in Solola we noticed a big change in the traditional clothing.  There are over 110 different outfits in Guatemala.

Lots and lots of colorful fabrics.

Most of these are cortes, skirts,  They have a Mayan cross embroidered on the fabric.

Dinner is served.

Dawn buying a shinny huipile.

The church in Solola'

Cowboy hats are part of the attire in Solala.

We were surprised to see so many of the men in Solala dressed in  their native dress.

A family headed to the market.

One more cowboy,

Catching a ride home.  There were more than 20 people in the back of this taxi.

Impressive balancing act!

We then drove to Panajachel which is on Lake Atitlan.  We tried a new hotel and it was a little more money, but was nice and had easy parking for the car.  Parking has become a priority for me.  We had a late lunch and then drove to Santa Caterina Polopo, a small town just south of Panajachel, which is known for its weavings.  We walked around and looked at more shops with things to buy.  

Lunch in Panajachel.

Looking down on Santa Catarina Polopo

Santa Catarina Polopo, a village on Lake Atitlan, almost looks like Italy.

Atitlan--the most beautiful lake in the world with 3 volcanos around it.

We went back to the hotel and sat around the pool.  

Sitting by the pool Saturday morning before breakfast.

One of the trees at our hotel in Panajachel.

Saturday we decided to go to San Antonio Polopo, which is just past Santa Caterina Polopo.  San Antonio is known for its ceramics.  Passing through Santa Caterina we came across a truck unloading wood.  He was pulled over as far as he could and we had to pull in our mirrors and pass him with about an inch on each side.  This happens multiple times a day.  We had stopped in San Antonio by boat the last time we were at the lake and mom loves the ceramics.  Coming into San Antonio there was the option of going to the lake or the center of town.  We chose the center of town.  The street just kept getting narrower and narrower.  We asked a mototaxi driver if there was parking up the street and he said no and that we would be better off turning around and parking down by the docks.  That was much easier said than done.  We found a place where I thought I could do a 15 point turn around and with luck and a prayer, I was successful.  Driving in Guatemala, especially in small towns, is a truly unique experience.  We found a number of pieces of ceramic to buy.  I wasn’t really sure if mom could find something she liked. (Not) We loaded up and headed for Antigua.  

This truck was unloading firewood which made it almost impossible for the traffic to pass.

With patience you can always get past.

I am getting very good at turning around on roads that lead nowhere. 

We had a great time with Fernando at the ceramic co-op in San Antonio Polopo.

This is not a collection they are going to be gifts.

We love the ceramics of San Antonio Polopo.

Scarf from San Antonio.

Water fall between Santa Catarina and Panajachel.

Driving around you always have to have your camera ready.

Collecting, selling or buying firewood is a common occurrence.

When we got back to Panajachel there was a parade going on.  We had to take back streets to get past it.  It took us an extra 30 minutes to get through a very small town.  We just made it onto the main road as the parade was approaching us.  

Hooray!  We ran into a parade with high school bands.

Here comes the parade we made it out of town.

So many people still cook over an open fire.  Collecting firewood and water are two very time consuming chores.

There was a demonstration on the road outside of Panajachel.

In Antigua Mom wanted to find the condo we have rented for next week when my family, Tad and Tove, Van, and Alice (my two brothers, one of their wives and my sister) will be here.  We found the condo and decided to have lunch at Santo Domingo, a beautifully restored old monastery. After lunch, we headed home, arriving back in Guatemala at 3:30pm.  

Beautiful carved doorway in Antigua.

Painting of the Last Supper in the lobby of Casa Santo Domingo.

Santo Domingo part of the old convent.

It was a great trip and one we will remember for many years to come, especially when we look at this blog.  Sunday we went to church and rested and worked on the blog of the first two days of our trip.  We are so lucky and blessed to have had this opportunity to see so much of Guatemala.