Leaving Xela

Well, today is my last day in Xela. It´s hard to believe I´ve been here three weeks! I´ve definitely enjoyed my time here, but am equally ready to move on. Out of the city.

Here´s a brief recap for the visually inclined:

Pretty great view of Xela from my front yard --

I will say I have seen some amazing cloud formations in this city

 

 Also a cool view from my school... Mercado Las Flores with lots of local produce.

And great people-watching.

Fuentes Georginas -- hot & awesome

Xela is very quiet on Sunday mornings...

... which is crazy because it seems like there is a parade or festival in the streets every day of the week!

This is Dia de los Niños (children get their own day in Guatemala, Christopher Columbus gets his in the US).

Look! I learned how to make a rug. Sort of. This is Momostenango, and the 9-person family living here was crazy generous. They taught us their (very particular & all-by-hand) process, then fed us fresh tortillas with queso fresco & salsa. Happiness.

Futbol games are tons of fun! Xela beat Reu (a small coastal town) 1-0. A big celebration with lots of people, lots of band music, Super Chivos (wild fans who sing along to all the songs), and... of course beer!

One LITER of Gallo for 25 Quetzales (just about three dollars!). An irresistable deal for a Sunday afternoon.



I couldn´t resist this guy. He had a megaphone for an amp and his prosthetic leg by his side.

In Parque Central, there was a fair (one of the many - I really can´t keep track with which Saint is celebrated when). We ate tacos de cerdo, with fried pig skin to boot. The woman was seriously cutting off the rear of this charred beast, grilling up the shredded bits, and then tossing it with cabbage into a tortilla. SO GOOD. Eating street food can be highly questionable, but I survived. I think my stomach is stronger after the epic illness.

San Andres Xecul -- This thing (said church) was vibrantly colorful! Kate & I took a bike ride out of town (a good distance on some seriously bumpy roads - no bueno for mi culo).

Well, we rode almost the whole way there. Some of the hills were ridiculously steep (even though I realize it doesn´t look too serious in this photo...)

Once we got to the top though, the view was amazing. And of course that yellow church stood out brilliantly.

This was the first Christian church built in Central America (c. 1524). We got to go inside too, and though the outside has naturally aged, the inside is pristinely maintained. Located in Salcaja, and part of our bike journey.

Wow, uploading those photos took for-e-ver. Certainly the internet connection is slow, but I also started the process two nights ago, right before the power went out. It´s fascinating when the power goes out because the outage encompasses most of the city, so the streets are pitch black, with candles in all the windows. It´s quite common and usually lasts about 2-3 hours. Usually it happens after a heavy rain, which also happens frequently, almost every afternoon at least a little. But, starting in November, it will be verano (summer). No rain, but extreme cold. Not disappointed to miss that...

... And THIS is why I´m so very ready to get out of the city. My time here has been spent wisely I think. I´ve definitely learned a lot of Spanish (but also have been speaking more English than anticipated), and now I´m ready to continue my sojourn.

Tomorrow I´m headed to San Pedro La Laguna, a small(ish) pueblo on Lake Atitlan. I´m very excited to see the lake, as it´s supposed to be quite spectacular. Aldous Huxley deemed it the most beautiful lake in the world. Well, a lot of people have said that I suppose, but they didn´t all write Brave New World.

Anyway, I´m very excited for a new place! I´m actually hiking there with a group of folks from Xela. It´s about 30 miles, in two days. Volcanoes and farmlands and pueblos, oh my!

Hope all is well with you lovely people.