tomorrow bright and early i hit the road for my new digs for the next 3 nights. a crystal blue lake about a thousand feet higher up in elevation with a few new volcanoes under which i might bask.
i’m only confused by one thing. it’s under 40 miles away but it takes 2.5 hours to arrive. hmmmm… hopefully the relief bands that i’ll wear around my wrist will prevent me from getting too dizzy. and sick. thanks for the recommendation susan s. i’ll let you know if they work.
remember that movie joe vs. the volcanoe with tom hanks? me neither, but it seemed like a nifty post title.
i have some photos ready so i thought i’d do another post this evening. let’s begin with my stroll over to iglesia de san francisco. it was built in 1542 and has been partially destroyed by earthquakes 4 times, the latest “big one” in 1773.
how delightful are these construction paper monks?
i went here in the late afternoon when the light was golden.
the church sits inside this enormous walled courtyard.
a mass was in session so i crept in and sat in the back. the priest spoke with a microphone and stopped occasionally to play some beautiful ballads from his laptop, which was connected to some speakers.
that’s my house on the corner!
i’m under the spell of the volcanoes. night and day.
these are photos of an evening stroll. by the way i’ve gotten used to the cobblestones. they no longer seem as treacherous, but maybe i’m kidding myself.
in addition to being in a constant state of volcano rapture, i’m also truly madly deeply in love with these painterly cloud swatches. they move across the sky all day long. swirl around the volcanoes, and set such a dramatic scene for la antigua.
the pics above are from my visit to the convento de santa clara. magnificent!
at one time antigua was the capital of guatemala. until, that is, all of the seismic/volcanic activity became too intense so it was thought prudent to relocate to guatemala city. during the time of the conquest it was the provincial capital of the spanish empire.
okay i’m off to pack for the next round of adventure and intrigue! further up into the forested mountains of the sierra madre. see you soon!
I would KILL to be there with you… well not really kill, but I would adore to be there with you. I’d leave you with lots of time to wander alone, really. Those textiles, those big bags the ladies carried. I would lose my mind there and be running about like a mad American buying up everything I could! LOVE the photography!!
Gorgeous. The textiles. The color. Those cobblestones.
I’m so curious about the food and smells and bird chatter.
And do you speak Spanish? Have you bought any souvenirs?
Okay, inquisition complete. Carry on….
Absolute best thing I have found for motion sickness in cars, buses etc is Scleranthus – a flower remedy. The brand that has it
is Bach. Doubt you will find it there but file it away for the future. Not sure if it works on boats…enjoying your photos and words very much. Thank you for taking me back to Guatemala!
The sun is sinking here as it must be at your new hidey hole on the lake. Thinking of you and your abentures as I shower and slip into my bed. Can’t wait to see tomorrow what you’ve been up to.
Photos grand again. You never disappoint Mary Ann. Excited to see your new digs and the views. The adventure continues. I’ll send lots and lots of good vibes your direction for the climb upwards. You are made of pretty sturdy stuff Mary Ann, the elevation ain’t no match for a Moss raised gal but none the less, wishing you a gentle journey and transition to the altitude, hopefully what you’ve armed yourself with, will do the trick. Safe and happy trek Miss Moss.
Loving the beauty all around. It seems primary colors abound there. Glad to hear you haven’t turned an ankle on those cobblestones! No help on the motion sickness. We used to be told by mom, when riding in a car for long distances, to look straight ahead at the road, but not sure if that is possible in a most likely crowded bus. About swimming in that lake…I read that raw sewage and farm run-off flows into it daily there. Lots of it. That is why they occasionally get huge blooms of algae, (it is thought). I probably wouldn’t do it, but that’s just me. I know you to be much braver than I am. Also unusual is the fluctuation of the lake levels. Some people have lost their homes and land to the lake when it rises. Then for some reason the levels drop again. They don’t seem to know why this happens. Thanks to Househunters International, I have seen how impossibly beautiful Lake Atitlan is. I cannot wait to see your dwelling there, and the view. I think there must be views no matter where you are on that lake because of the several volcanos. Have you met any locals? Expats? Have you seen any other sketchers about? Be safe, dear MAM, but have the time of your life! Thank you again, for taking time to post your journey!
yes karen lots of info floating around the internet about lago de atitlan. however, the waters are tested daily. there are many parts of the lake that are clean and safe for swimming. if i had brought my suit i would most definitely get in! from my perch the waters are crystal clear and blue, but the overall health of the lake is indeed in peril. many scientists both from guatemala & the u.s. are working hard to get her back in tip top shape.
That is good news, Mary Ann…that they are working to improve the purity of the lake. She’s a beaut! Looking very forward to photos of the new lodgings:)
Your photos are a tactile feast! I’ve never thought of photography as being tactile until now, but you are truly capturing region’s texture with your amazing vision – the buildings – the textiles – the landscape – It’s almost as if I can rub my fingers over them and feel their lushness. Ahhh, I’m full and content.
I absolutely love taking this trip with you! You are such an artist in so many ways! Thanks for taking all of us along! Can’t wait to see Lake Atitlan!
Breathtaking photos, every one. Enjoying them so much.
Oh, MaryAnn! Stunning photography. You capture the intensity of the locale so well. I especially love the colorful textiles used for utilitarian purpose. The costumes in the storefront are gorgeous! I imagine the fun you could have as you sashay into your classroom decked out in Guatamalan finery to the utter surprise of your students! Ah, the fun…
I love that mustard yellow color on the church–yummy! And the shop with the womens clothing in it! Wonderful photos-can hardly wait to hear about your adventures 1000 feet higher!
such depth of history – layers and layers. love that. buildings are incredible. makes me want to go. enjoy the next step of your journey.
Gorgeous photos!
The best advice on altitude sickness I had was (going up to the observatories at Maune Kea) was to drink lots of water. Those bands haven’t been effective for me. Dramamine for car sickness would be a better choice imho.
Looking forward to seeing photos from the next stop. Love how you framed some of them… Especially the arches and the doorways.
Beautiful photos.I am such a gardener.. I spotted Cobbler’s pegs growing out of the top of a wall at the convento de Santa Clara, silhouetted against the blue sky.. My first thought? Ahh they have those pesky weeds too!They do compost well if you catch them before they go to seed. Thankyou so much for sharing you travels. Cant wait to see the next ones.Are you going to get one of those colourful bags?
Stunning photos! Thanks for each and every one… xox
Gracias big time, Senorita Moss!
I feel your joy and thank you for sharing your gifts.
Thinking about you being there with Fuego being active. Holy shit! Enjoy your ringside seat and keep safe.
beautiful photos sister! Love the colorful fabrics. Don’t go swimming in that lake by yourself. A black cod might bite your toe.
Have a safe to your next abode. The photo’s in today’s blog are mesmerizing to me, and yes I still love the bus.
Wonderful pics! Awesome trip.