Sorry I got so far behind. I have not been feeling well now for a week and we also were really busy with the last workshop and traveling back and forth between Pana (on Lake Atitlan) and La Antigua. Friday we fly up to Flores. Thanks to lonely planet for the map.
I still will need to post our last workshop with a GREAT group photo, lesson by Vilma about how to wear a corte, a few market visits and ....
Tomorrow early Vilma will leave us to return to San Lucus Toliman. It has been such an honor getting to know this brilliant, hard working native woman. You'll hear more about her tomorrow. She needs our help to get a visa to visit Joyce. The US consulate will not give her one because she is unmarried and does not own land in Guatemala..... MORE tomorrow when I'll ask the question: Does someone have name recognition with John Kerry?
I still will need to post our last workshop with a GREAT group photo, lesson by Vilma about how to wear a corte, a few market visits and ....
Tomorrow early Vilma will leave us to return to San Lucus Toliman. It has been such an honor getting to know this brilliant, hard working native woman. You'll hear more about her tomorrow. She needs our help to get a visa to visit Joyce. The US consulate will not give her one because she is unmarried and does not own land in Guatemala..... MORE tomorrow when I'll ask the question: Does someone have name recognition with John Kerry?
So the plan for my birthday was for me to rent a van and go over to Aquas Calientes and to walk around with the pictures from when I was weaving there and see if anything would happen.
But it had been such a tiring week and I wasn't feeling great so we decided instead to just "do lunch" at La Pena del Sol and watch the performence. I brought copies of the photos from 1975.
But it had been such a tiring week and I wasn't feeling great so we decided instead to just "do lunch" at La Pena del Sol and watch the performence. I brought copies of the photos from 1975.
As their website tells us: "Children with Blessing" was created in 2006 by Lesbi Chavez - and her husband Juventino - so impoverished children from their village of San Antonio Aguas Calientes could receive a quality education while strengthening their own cultural and family ties.
Click here to visit their website.
As soon as we sat down Genelle, bless her, asked to speak to the teacher and Lesbi came over and explained the program to us. She was VERY excited to see the photos. She was born in the early 70's and there was a major earthquake in 1976 (which killed over 23,000 in the country and cut off water and electricity and access to the town). She had not seen many pictures from before the quake and I gave them to her for the local museum. We also figured if anyone knew the little girl or the young girl they might see them that way.
Lesbi teaches "back strap weaving" so many sometime I'll come down and study with her.
The restaurant had a small number of people which is really too bad because the children did a great performance. The were confident, talented and well prepared! And of course adorable.
Click here to visit their website.
As soon as we sat down Genelle, bless her, asked to speak to the teacher and Lesbi came over and explained the program to us. She was VERY excited to see the photos. She was born in the early 70's and there was a major earthquake in 1976 (which killed over 23,000 in the country and cut off water and electricity and access to the town). She had not seen many pictures from before the quake and I gave them to her for the local museum. We also figured if anyone knew the little girl or the young girl they might see them that way.
Lesbi teaches "back strap weaving" so many sometime I'll come down and study with her.
The restaurant had a small number of people which is really too bad because the children did a great performance. The were confident, talented and well prepared! And of course adorable.
Lisbi introduced herself to the audience and then each child in turn came to the microphone and in a nice clear voice introduced themselves in Spanish or English and told about their clothes and from what region they came.
     Waiting to perform and |      watching others. |
The corn dance honored the planting, tending and harvesting of corn/ maiz.
First the seed is presented and then blessed by the priest.
It's planted, watered, and harvested and celebrated.
First the seed is presented and then blessed by the priest.
It's planted, watered, and harvested and celebrated.
   |    There was a courtship dance. Here's just the girls waiting.  |
Two of the marimba players. Pictures of all of them did not turn out.
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We were asked to dance - first we thought we were being asked for money so we said no. I am not sure why we said no given that we intended from the beginning to donate to the program.
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