University of San Carlos 2

On our way back this afternoon, I took this photo of the front of the University of San Carlos (1675), here in Antigua. It's now a museum and the University of San Carlos is the secular, national university to which any student meeting the admissions criteria can attend free...and maybe graduate some day.

Gate Finished!

The young man repairing the bamboo covering the gate that I shared photos on March 28 (Building Materials), finally finished his project and here it is.

I imagine that at about this time next year, the job will have to be done again.

They took my advice!

This morning we went to Café Contesa to attend the weekly expat breakfast. Afterwards, since it was almost 10:00 a.m., I suggested that Linda go with me to Ochenta, where she could study her Spanish or read, while we waited for lunch. After lunch, we walked back to our casita by a different route.

On my way back to Ochenta, I passed by the gate where I had suggested that with a little paint, some carpet, perhaps some greenery and a large fountain, that it was be quite easy to fix up an old property. Obviously, someone reads my blog, as I discovered that they are doing exactly that. It appears that they decided to start with some greenery, and thus needed some soil.

I can't wait to see what color carpet they choose!

Any Ideas?

As I was walking past Escuela de Christo Church this morning, I saw a stone carving above the front door that I'd not noticed before. I have no idea what it says or means. There's a hand holding what appears to be a compass and a large snake. Enlarge it by clicking on the image once or twice. You might even use your browser to enlarge it more. It didn't help me understand what it meant, but maybe you can figure it out.

Another Agua photo

We've had some beautiful, clear mornings lately, which makes it very easy to get a good photo of Volcán Agua. This one was taken about a block from Ochenta. The red flowers on the tree that you see down the street are Jacaranda. They are all over the place displaying their beautiful color.

Are you starting to pick up that I like to take photos of volcanos?

Escuela de Christo cross

Above the door of Escuela de Christo (School of Christ) Church is this very unusual cross.

One of the two arms is obviously that of Christ. I wonder who the other one, the one with the sleeve, belongs to? Mankind, perhaps?

A Fixer-Upper?

Walking to and from Ochenta, I pass this gate across from San Francisco El Grande.

It's really quite old, as the plaque above the gate notes. Dated May 1, 1760, it describes two indulgences granted by the Archbishop. The first was for 90 days if you knelt before the image of Our Lady of Light, while the other was for 40 more days for saying a Hail Mary. Unfortunately, I'm afraid that I need a lot more than that,.

Back to the building, I'm thinking that it's a real fixer-upper. A little paint, maybe some carpet and, of course, a large fountain for the courtyard should be just what it needs.

(Note: the above picture is a replacement that I took this morning. I thought it better illustrated the true potential of the property for development.) I'm joking, I hope you understand.

I've Been Robbed...Almost!

Last year, on the Third Sunday in Lent, while watching a Lenten procession, I was robbed by a pick-pocket. It was a humbling experience, but I ended up only losing about $60 in quetzales. The charges to my check card (over $400 were refunded by VISA, with the help of my friendly bank.

Last Sunday was also the Third Sunday in Lent. I was prepared this time. Both of my pockets were closed with a large safety pin. Even if someone got their hand inside, they couldn't get anything out. I felt very secure. I was also wearing a Guatemalan shoulder bag.

Getting into the van this morning for the ride to Ochenta, I discovered that my water bottle and some mints had fallen out of my bag. I assumed that I had forgotten to zip it shut, but that wasn't the case. What I found instead was a cut in the side of my bag about 5-6 inches long. Evidently, someone wanted what I had in my bag during yesterday's procession. Unfortunately for them, I didn't have anything in my bag except some Transitions brochures I had forgotten to take out, a free map of the Sunday procession (showing the wrong street for the time we were going to watch it), and my floppy brimmed hat. I had brought the bag to carry my flannel shirt, since it gets rather cool in the evening, but had put it on. All in all, a very bad selection of items to steal. I'm sure the thief was very disappointed. Linda stitched up the cut, but we'll probably be getting new shoulder bags, especially since the zipper on the pocket of her bag broke.

I'm thinking of buying a rat trap, setting it and carrying it in my bag. That would give them some excitement.

Wood for Cooking

Many Maya women like to cook on a wood fire. In fact, the kitchen in the home of the Maya family we lived with in 2007 in Xela had two stoves: a gas stove run on propane and a wood stove. Some foods are only cooked on a wood fire.

Here are two men (one is behind the other) carrying wood for someone to cook with. Even though their load is heavy, they were moving fast. They had deliveries to make.

Building material

Today, while walking to Ochenta after lunch at the casita with Linda, I saw this on the street.

You probably think that it's just a bundle of bamboo, but actually it's building material. Here's a picture of a bamboo gate that a young man is repairing with fresh bamboo.

Bamboo is typically used by the poor, who can't afford more expensive materials. They make entire fences of bamboo. The gate is actually made of wrought iron and the bamboo is being used for privacy, evidently. I wonder why they don't just replace the iron gate with a wooden gate that would insure their privacy. The property behind the gate is probably worth a small fortune.

Dinosaurs

Today, while walking to Ochenta, I looked over at the small park facing Escuela de Christo Church and saw a dinosaur. I thought they were extinct.

Cuaresma flag

Today, as I walked by Escuela de Christo Church, I saw a purple flag blowing in the breeze. I thought it was a Cuaresma banner, but was mistaken. When I enlarged the photo, I discovered that it was a Escuela de Christo parish flag. Does your parish have it's own flag?

Volcán Agua

This morning the sky was clear and cloudless. Volcán Agua was very visible to the south.

Exercise

I don't have time a regular exercise program, except for walking. On any typical weekday, I might walk anywhere from 3 to 5 miles. On most days, I hitch a ride to Ochenta on the van that brings the guys who work in the wheelchair workshop to work. If Linda doesn't walk over for lunch, then I might ride back to the casita with the van bringing the wheelchair workshop crew's lunch, but sometimes, especially if the van is going to San Felipe first, I'll walk home with lunch. After lunch and sometimes a short nap, I'll walk back to Ochenta. I almost always I walk home after work and, if we have an important 6:00 p.m. Skype call, will walk back to Ochenta for the call and then walk home afterwards. Now you know why I don't have any time to exercise. If we eventually find an apartment closer to Ochenta, I may need to start exercising.

Tercer Domingo de Cuaresma

This Sunday's procession was a late one. It came from a village church outside Jocotenango (village just north of La Antigua), but didn't hit La Antigua proper until after 4:30 p.m. We decided to meet it closer to the center of La Antigua and left for supper at the Rainbow Cafe at about 5:00 p.m. We finished dinner  around 5:45 p.m. and headed over  to the street the procession would be coming down and we waited. The first part of it finally arrived around 6:00 p.m. - the tow trucks. The processional routes are all marked no parking and, while such things might be overlooked in La Antigua most of the time, this is not the case during processions.

There were several alfombras visible from where we waited for the procession. This one was quite elaborate.

This one included roses, which aren't that expensive here in La Antigua, except on Valentine's Day and Mother's Day.

This alfombra was long and narrow.

This woman is selling sliced mangos, which she will sprinkle with chili powder, salt and some other spice, if desired. She's dressed in a modernized version of the Maya ropa tipica (typical dress).

This older Maya woman is dressed in traditional ropa tipica and is selling wrapped candies. Both vendors have portable stands that they will move farther up the processional route as the procession approaches.

This vendor has already decided to move to a new part of the processional route.

The procession approaches, led by Roman soldiers.

This group of Roman soldiers, unlike earlier processions, was rather small. It consisted of only a drum and bugle corps. I guess the remainder of the Roman soldiers were in the provinces fighting the barbarians.

About every block, they stop, line up and play a fanfare announcing the procession.

Soon after the Roman soldiers arrive, a group of young men approach carrying the fourteen Stations of the Cross, which forms the theme of these processions.

Standing behind the Roman soldiers, they wait for the rest of the procession to come closer.

This man is definitely middle-management. It's his job to start and stop the group of young men carrying the Stations of the Cross. He does so with the wooden clapper he's holding in his right hand.

Soon the fellows wearing the purple robes who carry the large barge begin to come down the street.

Like in other processions, this group recruits at a young age.

With so many men dressed in purple, it's obvious that we'll be seeing a larger processional barge today.

This little fellow is swinging his censor for all he's worth.

The first processional barge appears and it's obvious that it's larger than the ones used in earlier processions.

The front part of the processional barge seems to represent the final judgement with God the Father looking on as the flames of Hell consume sinners.

In the center part of the processional barge, an angel plays a concert harp, which seems to delight the fish in the sea. The iguana at the angel's side seems bored, however.

Towards the rear of the processional barge is a very elaborate statue of Jesus carrying his cross, while the sun and the moon look on. Can you see the bird just in front of Jesus? By the way, not counting the extras needed, it takes at least 80 men to carry this processional barge.

Just as the processional barge passes us, the band following it begins to play.

How many bands do you know that have seven tubas?

The percussion section dresses pretty sharp too!

It's now time for the woman's processional barge to arrive.

It always depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary.

This processional barge, though smaller than the one carried by the men, is definitely not made of balsa wood.

As usual, small, four-man barges carrying individual saints follow the women's processional barge.

The second band, with only two tubas, follows the women's processional barge and the two smaller processional barges with the individual saints.

The procession has passed and people immediately begin to go their own way.

They never give the clean-up crew the respect they deserve.

Laid Back Saturday

Since Linda wrenched her ankle yesterday, we decided to have a lazy day at home on Saturday. Around 5:00 p.m., however, we began to hear voices outside our casita. Opening our exterior door to see what was going on, I saw several young men in purple robes and knew that a procession was coming. We hadn´t gotten out today and didn't know that there were any Saturday processions.

Looking down the street, here's what I saw.

Like previous processions, I saw young children dressed in robes, but this one was different. Dad wasn't dressed in a similar robe.

The Roman soldiers also looked shorter than they had in previous processions.

All processions have an older Maya male playing a drum in a unique rhythm and sometimes playing a Mayan flute.

Yes, there is something very different about this procession.

I finally figured it out. This was a children's process with a child-size barge for them to carry.

 From their faces, you can see that they are as serious about what they're doing as the adults who carry the larger barges. You'll also notice that, unlike the adult processions, both boys and girls are carrying this barge.

The band is still composed of adults who know only one volume...loud!

The clean-up crew is also composed of adults.

This was a very pleasant surprise, as we had no idea that there would be a procession down our street today.