tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9673488669576057872024-03-13T20:36:48.653-04:00Adventures in AntiguaLinda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-34182230464337266282012-03-29T17:24:00.000-04:002012-03-29T17:24:59.144-04:00San RafaelA few weeks ago, we spent a day in the indigenous village of San Rafael. Common Hope has been working with this village for the past 4-5 years. It's in the hills, an hour's ride from Antigua, and is totally agrarian. It was a sobering experience to see rural poverty, as most of the villages we've seen before are close to Antigua and, thus, much more urban. <br />
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Being an indigenous Mayan village, the women and girls still wear the traditional clothing, and the people speak a Mayan dialect at home. Being rural, it is much more isolated - a doctor comes 1 1/2 days a week, dentists arrive sporadically, the only work available besides farming is a job in the local co-op. it's very dusty and stray dogs are everywhere. The majority of the home are cornstalk walls, dirt floors and tin roofs - and the majority of the children don't continue school past third grade. Being the dry season, it was between crops, a time when hunger is a reality if the last harvest wasn't good. <br />
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Ever so slowly - poco a poco - Common Hope has been making improvements. Affiliated families are working sweat equity hours towards cement block houses with cement floors. Families are seeing an advantage to partnering with Common Hope to keep their sponsored child in school. The nimber of children continuing in school for fourth, fifth and sixth grades has almost tripled. Half of the children graduating from primario continued on to basico (middle school). One sponsored child has continued on to diversificado (high school)which necessitates going to a school outside of San Rafael. This is a major triumph, but 30 children finishing sixth grade is also a triumph. Photos won't do this justice, but here are some, anyway.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Medical costs - US$1 = 8Q</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dentists are coming!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main Street</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The primary school</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical cornstalk house</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Hope house </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother in affiliated family - weaving </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spay/neuter clinic was being held for local dogs</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First grade boys bellying up to their snacks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet first grade girls - and me!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHRPpbhyphenhyphenEJZcYSQFZG7ifRZdFwW9f3mX59ihoXAjfSEO0fextt9nJH_C17XqBAVd17Muf2m7uSLlAyRLuPTm6Yy-tBXmFDBhKUV3YS8ypyXhjcWbjaIQAA-xz9YEgpKsg9nBjI9ERKhqg/s1600/photo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHRPpbhyphenhyphenEJZcYSQFZG7ifRZdFwW9f3mX59ihoXAjfSEO0fextt9nJH_C17XqBAVd17Muf2m7uSLlAyRLuPTm6Yy-tBXmFDBhKUV3YS8ypyXhjcWbjaIQAA-xz9YEgpKsg9nBjI9ERKhqg/s400/photo1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3rd grade - ages ranged from 8 to 13</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-28664581894313984162012-03-24T18:26:00.000-04:002012-03-24T18:26:47.434-04:00Coffee- two experiencesLast week we took an afternoon to visit a small family- run cofee farm (finca) south of Antigua and located at the base of Volcan Agua the largest and most prominent of the three volcanoes that ring Antigua .It was a bit of an adventure getting there. We hadn't been that far from Antigua on our own via "chicken bus' ( see earlier posts on chicken busses). But we arrived without a hitch at the small village and found our way to the farm.<br />
We had made arrangements to meet an English speaking daughter of the family for our tour.We arrived on time but she didnt (well, that is according to our definition of "on time") Not to worry, there were two very nice mujeres weaving on hand looms and brewing coffee on an open fire which they shared with us.<br />
Still no Englsih speaker. We were beginning to exhaust the topics that our spanish would allow(weather, where we lived, the weather there, admiration for their weaving, their dogs, the names of their dogs, the language pun"Linda es linda" cracked them up.). We were fine: beautiful setting, volcano view, coffee. but the mujeres were quite relieved to see the English speaker finally arrive.<br />
The finca is entirely organic with natural fertilizer and pest control. The mayans used these same techniques. The coffee husks are composted and used for fertilizer, the liquid from the compost is sprayed on the leaves for pest control. Had more coffee on the patio after the tour, played with the dogs, former" perros de calle", that the owners had brought from the street. One was named Crusty by the English speaking daughter for its condition pre- rescue.<br />
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A second coffe finca experience happened the next weekend. No photos - sorry. I'm constantly looking for a place to run away from cobblestones and bus fumes. So one of the places Ive found is a coffee finca very close to our house Its been locked the past couple weeks, because coffe picking is finished. But decided it give it a try and run by the tiny village near it. The formerly locked gate was open! <br />
I had a great run among the coffee plants and trees that serve as canopy for the coffee. There were groups of Guatemalans working to trim trees and harvest wood. They all smiled broadly and gave friendly "buenos dias" and "como estas". I stopped to carefully go around a wood pile they had made and an older man asked me the English words "wood pile" and " farm'. <br />
That night a conversation with a neighbor who has lived here a long time put a bit of a damper on the experience. Told me a Guatemalan woman who ran in the finca was warned by guards that they would shoot her if they saw her there again.<br />
Back to cobblestones.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calla Lillies and Coffee</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee beans - red and ready to be picked</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vulcan Agua above the finca</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Composting husks with help of special worms</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vRfJ70Tg3_llZKWbWtlJwg76t2ed250kvIZ6_J6eeG1FX_hkg2EH-TXeXySutZ8kgnvmcKvF0Z6fmq3JQmLK_ryyVt1Xxu3TDwI4OvOIyI-U_O0LjgluoZOYVMHW8oXMvrWS5XX80Ooh/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vRfJ70Tg3_llZKWbWtlJwg76t2ed250kvIZ6_J6eeG1FX_hkg2EH-TXeXySutZ8kgnvmcKvF0Z6fmq3JQmLK_ryyVt1Xxu3TDwI4OvOIyI-U_O0LjgluoZOYVMHW8oXMvrWS5XX80Ooh/s320/011.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crusty - the rescued dog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>.Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-10433184136208592412012-03-14T15:32:00.000-04:002012-03-14T15:32:56.113-04:00Our Little Girl<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErsliXM5m2-iPsRqmsiCfNteOZk3hoJm4rHDG1y47ZAswqOS90maAXMZmQ56Bg7DJ7anzf12WdOe_u6DjP9z87ceyu4knxrShImAbpcQH-64enxr8S5i5__wDGQxqKMeudLPq3BfEfgFQ/s1600/photo14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErsliXM5m2-iPsRqmsiCfNteOZk3hoJm4rHDG1y47ZAswqOS90maAXMZmQ56Bg7DJ7anzf12WdOe_u6DjP9z87ceyu4knxrShImAbpcQH-64enxr8S5i5__wDGQxqKMeudLPq3BfEfgFQ/s320/photo14.JPG" width="239" /></a><br />
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Last week we visited our sponsored child Jennedy. We took Jack's brother, Carter and wife Joy along with us so that they could share in the experience.<br />
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This is the third year that we have visited Jennedy and her family. She is now eight years old and just (in November) passed first grade. This is a huge accomplishment for poor children in Guatemala, who often have never seen a book or a toy before they started first grade. They can be forced to repeat first grade two or three times and often quit school entirely out of frustration. Knowing this, we were relieved to hear that she has started second grade and is doing well.<br />
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She has grown taller since last year. She remembered us this time and was not as shy as past visits. We brought her a copy of The Giving Tree and were happy to see her able to read a lot of it, which she couldn't do last year. Since she had told us in a letter that her favorite animal was the elephant, we also brought a stuffed elephant!<br />
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Jennedy's mother, Feliciana, was very happy that they had just made their last payment on their cement block home (three rooms, outdoor wood-fired kitchen, no obvious bathroom) and now owned both the land and the home, which is a milestone for impoverished families - to know that they have a home that will not be taken from them. She also was embarrasingly grateful for the tiny amount of extra help that we provided last summer (in the form of a few food bags of beans, rice, etc) to help when the father lost his job. <br />
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Every year we get more and more bonded to this sweet little girl. This year, I couldn't stop thinking about her after we left. Our dream, of course, is that she graduate from high school - something so few in her economic class are able to do. But every milestone - like first grade graduation - is a step forward to a better life than her parents have had. And a comfirmation that Common Hope is working - poco a poco.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gang (except Joy) - family, social worker, translater, Carter and us</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raising her a Red Sox fan!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErsliXM5m2-iPsRqmsiCfNteOZk3hoJm4rHDG1y47ZAswqOS90maAXMZmQ56Bg7DJ7anzf12WdOe_u6DjP9z87ceyu4knxrShImAbpcQH-64enxr8S5i5__wDGQxqKMeudLPq3BfEfgFQ/s1600/photo14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErsliXM5m2-iPsRqmsiCfNteOZk3hoJm4rHDG1y47ZAswqOS90maAXMZmQ56Bg7DJ7anzf12WdOe_u6DjP9z87ceyu4knxrShImAbpcQH-64enxr8S5i5__wDGQxqKMeudLPq3BfEfgFQ/s400/photo14.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-9416539869092264222012-03-07T12:43:00.001-05:002012-03-07T12:48:13.073-05:00Processions!<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Every Sunday in Lent in Antigua there is a procession from a church in an outlying village. The procession, consisting of a large float or anda carried by 50-100 purple-robed men, leaves the village around noon and processes into and around Antigua, arriving at the Cathedral after dark. It continues back to the village, arriving around midnight. Carriers are changed periodically. It's considered very somber, since it's leading up to Christ's death, and the anda is always followed by a large, loud brass band playing Guatemalan funeral music. Faithful businesses and families along the way create flower carpets or alfombras out of colored sawdust, flowers and vegetables. The alfombras are trampled by the procession as it passes over them. To really get the flavor of a procession, I'm posting two videos, one focusing on the anda and carriers, the other on the brass band that follows. Also some photos of the ill-fated alfombras!</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bye, bye alfombras!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladies float of the Virgin Mary follows</td></tr>
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</div>Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-12999195128147573252012-02-22T09:33:00.000-05:002012-02-22T09:33:02.767-05:00More food....Wanted to post some more photos from our cooking class last week. Food can be so photogenic - even with amateur photographers.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roasting on a <em>comal </em>- we have one now</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyirDD-NJTpfCJJL8EHCx2O35JZ-lk2XcMB0FoCMB_LaVqjg3nQ81Xl75p_Gstlqd-mcAWpKYHoHLeTRz_7_LZwsmyioTwjTm_Y1CbMTlffE1LPfdL_i0nFwnxmhum524bdEyN-2lBNdJ/s1600/IMG_2042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyirDD-NJTpfCJJL8EHCx2O35JZ-lk2XcMB0FoCMB_LaVqjg3nQ81Xl75p_Gstlqd-mcAWpKYHoHLeTRz_7_LZwsmyioTwjTm_Y1CbMTlffE1LPfdL_i0nFwnxmhum524bdEyN-2lBNdJ/s320/IMG_2042.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Guisquil </em>- a new veggie for us - called Chayote in Mexico</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAafveSQ6UaiB3cR_9OFKTKsCUw8-UaYtDS_jJJqumYOhhIiJLMheedj_8SgDdDWsySau1sEJI0kvqns4rYwKvJhXVz-EuTayJr9-pIsI6nBOfm1_NvRmkUDh5kYolEeh_ahAz_DYfpJ-/s1600/IMG_2043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAafveSQ6UaiB3cR_9OFKTKsCUw8-UaYtDS_jJJqumYOhhIiJLMheedj_8SgDdDWsySau1sEJI0kvqns4rYwKvJhXVz-EuTayJr9-pIsI6nBOfm1_NvRmkUDh5kYolEeh_ahAz_DYfpJ-/s320/IMG_2043.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HOT peppers!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNdhJ5-0FmMjNOCttOzMbUnkgViGInYYu-U7Ks4uJqym12HLJHRjqHTF5kohg_WAGZ4dTu1GaeT-xjzU6Ry9cEtTFv0UtU7N6MMKUIlT0wXgMT5ohemtMDPV8Qbp_geiqLCHiSlMzBKQw/s1600/IMG_2050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNdhJ5-0FmMjNOCttOzMbUnkgViGInYYu-U7Ks4uJqym12HLJHRjqHTF5kohg_WAGZ4dTu1GaeT-xjzU6Ry9cEtTFv0UtU7N6MMKUIlT0wXgMT5ohemtMDPV8Qbp_geiqLCHiSlMzBKQw/s320/IMG_2050.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anne mixing the chili relleno filling</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaWo9tljS0k3y0AbKsZ_KBvuYZGOLNvM2ySwVmA7IKc3boruIo296XFXBLu6Rym-guKXiAZShMWKC2meUsyxKyZP4smbhrZCjeJzcVWzVkyvtwJ5oPznXp8FEmORtYtIIauY-N1RSiyi0/s1600/IMG_2053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaWo9tljS0k3y0AbKsZ_KBvuYZGOLNvM2ySwVmA7IKc3boruIo296XFXBLu6Rym-guKXiAZShMWKC2meUsyxKyZP4smbhrZCjeJzcVWzVkyvtwJ5oPznXp8FEmORtYtIIauY-N1RSiyi0/s320/IMG_2053.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wonderful batter!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4fx_7-mpPXLlPV1t_rky8d78gO-oKee9wIMrvyD_UbvlX37x1EhokWO7kpSBQveZafonvnl7kqeg91OTenmG78TBi_ibC-B_-4q2iNFHGE-Agp1Y_Fy1B85IiRhe7YYCqbBi8rg5LZtj/s1600/IMG_2055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4fx_7-mpPXLlPV1t_rky8d78gO-oKee9wIMrvyD_UbvlX37x1EhokWO7kpSBQveZafonvnl7kqeg91OTenmG78TBi_ibC-B_-4q2iNFHGE-Agp1Y_Fy1B85IiRhe7YYCqbBi8rg5LZtj/s320/IMG_2055.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coating chili rellenos for frying</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXHx57ie47ap4jMZPBmSKJ7OQfs-lpYrRlgo0eopmcIfupJGcxPjEM0LUhHceTrUfcwwcGKHE3vHsgBVrBm9YU_5eMf9g91VTjx1aN4aVOx_sy8Gd0ADgaJz6rGY8YFkyA6tC8x9hbiJt/s1600/IMG_2059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXHx57ie47ap4jMZPBmSKJ7OQfs-lpYrRlgo0eopmcIfupJGcxPjEM0LUhHceTrUfcwwcGKHE3vHsgBVrBm9YU_5eMf9g91VTjx1aN4aVOx_sy8Gd0ADgaJz6rGY8YFkyA6tC8x9hbiJt/s320/IMG_2059.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished chili rellenos</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHGmWwnerAmvjamwmf-9J18L3NNC2XryKqytp6fTf6BWWCXAbEQfs1b6QfcGjRQTD7jf1XZDJyBu_aCTjFoF2BRcVAdxD_srEWv9WO25H9KK8tLlL59QgPVdSw-UNq_1NahTlljbSUlNy/s1600/IMG_2062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHGmWwnerAmvjamwmf-9J18L3NNC2XryKqytp6fTf6BWWCXAbEQfs1b6QfcGjRQTD7jf1XZDJyBu_aCTjFoF2BRcVAdxD_srEWv9WO25H9KK8tLlL59QgPVdSw-UNq_1NahTlljbSUlNy/s320/IMG_2062.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chilaquilas (NOT chilaquiles as in Mexico) - <em>guisquil y queso fresco</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQcn1v0tWw-V_H-MNRNWSFD4TML1tr3apJSCS8u7WTyuFYbeBnsklRp727L8g5SrpIRIBkVf8HveczY4WcfdNBuZ-HhV9OKFlhbSjd7rvM7ajOh_oe3UEfSCjEGGWGpuc9kmq0tbP4KWx/s1600/IMG_2064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQcn1v0tWw-V_H-MNRNWSFD4TML1tr3apJSCS8u7WTyuFYbeBnsklRp727L8g5SrpIRIBkVf8HveczY4WcfdNBuZ-HhV9OKFlhbSjd7rvM7ajOh_oe3UEfSCjEGGWGpuc9kmq0tbP4KWx/s320/IMG_2064.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mole ingredients</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuXu-0mqpGidg1ISw2tF8Y3KJFxcDjWmIZAm-5XVjcIya6j3FUVkaT1JsTsQpn6DIy_ZrZfRD3jGw7qDwjCCHoB16SpLFwI2fd8mQeMG3m_S2FQHwUJnPSeuWCAaaINpfIUgke_k5fQ1O/s1600/IMG_2065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuXu-0mqpGidg1ISw2tF8Y3KJFxcDjWmIZAm-5XVjcIya6j3FUVkaT1JsTsQpn6DIy_ZrZfRD3jGw7qDwjCCHoB16SpLFwI2fd8mQeMG3m_S2FQHwUJnPSeuWCAaaINpfIUgke_k5fQ1O/s320/IMG_2065.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Mole</em> <em>con platinos</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJDOmwAtyjP5S3fVYikaHBPQIOL8vfqiAAga5OcS_xOgkkF_m6N9NC3lgB9Mvf-uI0wczH3hYTVc1Xsw31bk_obLR19mrQtmhlMINANVsNsx5zwW0hBOIy00cJbbk6R0iUPB49H8zzwCG/s1600/IMG_2066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJDOmwAtyjP5S3fVYikaHBPQIOL8vfqiAAga5OcS_xOgkkF_m6N9NC3lgB9Mvf-uI0wczH3hYTVc1Xsw31bk_obLR19mrQtmhlMINANVsNsx5zwW0hBOIy00cJbbk6R0iUPB49H8zzwCG/s320/IMG_2066.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Embarrisingly misshapen tortillas!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHryRyeAx0wf3-ga4JnS8YetBIeOcZVGQBYVNzRo-NMiM2nCrSXJnBkrailbxEDaVUJDOk_9dEGRGW1ZY3KdXbH5VwWzWAkgMgPsGnfqAFtntpOWS-jFFtOGeLjgWZK0SneU6KDXvGZueP/s1600/IMG_2068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHryRyeAx0wf3-ga4JnS8YetBIeOcZVGQBYVNzRo-NMiM2nCrSXJnBkrailbxEDaVUJDOk_9dEGRGW1ZY3KdXbH5VwWzWAkgMgPsGnfqAFtntpOWS-jFFtOGeLjgWZK0SneU6KDXvGZueP/s320/IMG_2068.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished products</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-54631342715529332772012-02-19T22:03:00.002-05:002012-02-19T22:09:57.423-05:00Lake Atitlan, Chichi Market and Guate CookingWe've had a great time with our friends Anne and Jim for the past week. We've been busy working with our mentees, and Jim and Anne had projects connected with Common Hope this past week that were very successful. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmnV6uSRoagl-WWPLsClFpgUHVX2QXrA_9f1V46f9cvh2rR59a-wn2mDAbjR0l1xobhJOezPynvBiDbB-E8_oBnqsVNOIOAfh_bOrB_Q2jvoOI-SwqJfglRlfjBEvPozdxNY86JcjAIV-/s1600/IMG_2020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmnV6uSRoagl-WWPLsClFpgUHVX2QXrA_9f1V46f9cvh2rR59a-wn2mDAbjR0l1xobhJOezPynvBiDbB-E8_oBnqsVNOIOAfh_bOrB_Q2jvoOI-SwqJfglRlfjBEvPozdxNY86JcjAIV-/s200/IMG_2020.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atitlan Volcano View from our Hotel</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqd_N3yStER6JlMlY_9nLWRlZ4VWMYUSxUVP1X7vKlWex8kmaVgJNYXD9G_4CtQkK8ygPCrK-J2Nx8ZafFhtfYLbd68E747NXJ5-7VjrdBU3duVj26UYlgkwMBNidgTbqGv8z6s3YB4Hge/s1600/IMG_1386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqd_N3yStER6JlMlY_9nLWRlZ4VWMYUSxUVP1X7vKlWex8kmaVgJNYXD9G_4CtQkK8ygPCrK-J2Nx8ZafFhtfYLbd68E747NXJ5-7VjrdBU3duVj26UYlgkwMBNidgTbqGv8z6s3YB4Hge/s200/IMG_1386.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very fresh chicken at Chichi market</td></tr>
</tbody></table>As Linda mentioned we travelled to Lake Atitlan with them last weekend and visited Chichicastanango on the way back to Antigua on Sunday. We covered both those destinations last year on our blog so wont detail them here but are such favorites we decided to go back with Jim and Anne.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6LSHaKx7bg0rIZ8GVI4VryTSIroiNsEy1UYfVYgC9AGzF3nG02NseJwMXJeOApQdzkzAxv2OZ9MxCtW01kWOX2EiZVF6GsiMyPjkmU1w4YL7NitPDDhCJETP5mgvp61IItOqbXeqK58j/s1600/IMG_1394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6LSHaKx7bg0rIZ8GVI4VryTSIroiNsEy1UYfVYgC9AGzF3nG02NseJwMXJeOApQdzkzAxv2OZ9MxCtW01kWOX2EiZVF6GsiMyPjkmU1w4YL7NitPDDhCJETP5mgvp61IItOqbXeqK58j/s320/IMG_1394.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To market to market</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We had a very comfortable ride for all this with the manager of the house that we are renting in his minivan. There were alternate methods of transportation that we observed on the road seemed less comfortable but got the job done.<br />
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The four of us took a Guatemalan cooking class on Friday, cooked a four course dinner and enjoyed the results in a lovely court yard at the restaurant.<br />
Chile rellenos Guate style was my personal favorite. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_JjhlG-oWe5MVE0mZku3nw_CteVIOoa0rctt4yJHoKit30IHc80DQtolKy8aFcxM_pKjcB60qZo8VzG_tLxmDaB_ohrCZS2TQaRUn_5OCcH-wHEkk7zxFO-pJ8QQeuu084Msxd1EiAPE/s1600/IMG_2051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_JjhlG-oWe5MVE0mZku3nw_CteVIOoa0rctt4yJHoKit30IHc80DQtolKy8aFcxM_pKjcB60qZo8VzG_tLxmDaB_ohrCZS2TQaRUn_5OCcH-wHEkk7zxFO-pJ8QQeuu084Msxd1EiAPE/s320/IMG_2051.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teacher and Student</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZU2TzFS2dgcWmn7gIVTBO1UNPAE95fG_ElNxSgy_m0zTXPP_kvdFWj4yK_0gJgFjDBSICyRm5F7fYqTGHK2qooecApRTp2O1P_xIoWLNUk-GPd2SB3q80kYpetMNQmTqatQXV-QuP7a3K/s1600/IMG_2071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZU2TzFS2dgcWmn7gIVTBO1UNPAE95fG_ElNxSgy_m0zTXPP_kvdFWj4yK_0gJgFjDBSICyRm5F7fYqTGHK2qooecApRTp2O1P_xIoWLNUk-GPd2SB3q80kYpetMNQmTqatQXV-QuP7a3K/s320/IMG_2071.JPG" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guate feast</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-16177797486589372882012-02-08T11:46:00.000-05:002012-02-08T11:46:59.041-05:00We're Back!!!!After ten months at home, we're back in Antigua, Guatemala and we thought we'd resume our blog where we left off last year. We are still volunteering with Common Hope. This year we each have six Guatemalan leaders of Common Hope that we are mentoring in business and English skills, plus assorted other projects. <br />
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It has been wonderful to be back - and not just because (but a little bit because) of the weather! We left many happy memories and good friends here last year. In my experience, Guatemalans are very loving and demonstrative - and I don't think we've been hugged so many times in one day as on our first day back!<br />
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We have rented a house in the same neighborhood as last year - it's very comfortable, with good wi-fi and volcano views (our two musts). Of course, the first weekend we made for the market to stock up on fresh veggies - particularly the wonderful avocados. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglc0_arqB-kcqSPxYgPm9ZGP4nVdcH-yLMZUZMLjuPxuQtbOMFV7gjwjwVqti4B-cJkDeWBx-MY36NwTklI8QFc0Cv4ajJiaWKIldDu_VVqsGWjTiCyV_1W_eQX4z1yiDNDSv3wpmJo2QF/s1600/IMG_1999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglc0_arqB-kcqSPxYgPm9ZGP4nVdcH-yLMZUZMLjuPxuQtbOMFV7gjwjwVqti4B-cJkDeWBx-MY36NwTklI8QFc0Cv4ajJiaWKIldDu_VVqsGWjTiCyV_1W_eQX4z1yiDNDSv3wpmJo2QF/s320/IMG_1999.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowers at the market - bought a dozen calla lilies for 50 cents</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXs1KL1lzwKDbKe28UhUzRTNZUFx5YmDcWbE8MzrOuDeOVAKTBCOj0M40cOWpQp9CB9O4_gKSRiRU-t8Vi9NKBQ3qGOTHID0RFbvKCI6cUzecU8ipd0mhyphenhyphenPGCCDQTNk5YGFZY7ZGjNG_Pz/s1600/IMG_1360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXs1KL1lzwKDbKe28UhUzRTNZUFx5YmDcWbE8MzrOuDeOVAKTBCOj0M40cOWpQp9CB9O4_gKSRiRU-t8Vi9NKBQ3qGOTHID0RFbvKCI6cUzecU8ipd0mhyphenhyphenPGCCDQTNk5YGFZY7ZGjNG_Pz/s320/IMG_1360.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect avocados</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtdZW7Va1BCNo2W-ac8CSZ6MHuTOOkjQye8RIk6Hd8WUYFsrytdZydfLLOcshS3jihpqgMXXF6Vs-jks5fBlLyzMHf3kfCZix4sA5Ms7Mi5Lk_uOa2GzXLD4_Oilft2QJclN075LfDde9/s1600/IMG_1354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtdZW7Va1BCNo2W-ac8CSZ6MHuTOOkjQye8RIk6Hd8WUYFsrytdZydfLLOcshS3jihpqgMXXF6Vs-jks5fBlLyzMHf3kfCZix4sA5Ms7Mi5Lk_uOa2GzXLD4_Oilft2QJclN075LfDde9/s320/IMG_1354.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sox caps at the market - $1.30US</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIf2Ju-L_TCSKDKdJr8FQ0VEWw87qDifeWUhfY91HwKsrs7JeCMwAFQKkQRrgnkcHpJcwhVvyZjT2sUM0ypiCksBwJFXrbBd3lGaEJG9rtlUH2hv8m8kED36KRos9sB3d_vdO_kM98wA0/s1600/IMG_1349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIf2Ju-L_TCSKDKdJr8FQ0VEWw87qDifeWUhfY91HwKsrs7JeCMwAFQKkQRrgnkcHpJcwhVvyZjT2sUM0ypiCksBwJFXrbBd3lGaEJG9rtlUH2hv8m8kED36KRos9sB3d_vdO_kM98wA0/s320/IMG_1349.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our favorite bumper sticker!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7sddCmd1Pl_dQanWYTh1vNpGX57gP18sbtY05DexLKf6OCRxa2-Jw5UrMuvczPHvymFzGRW1IlKce0DFa_T_g6lmAjIDb3SnS-DEOcKoOF2sPXBIo2g7k9vFKQOM1uufdAxjwSVbmYOI/s1600/IMG_2004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7sddCmd1Pl_dQanWYTh1vNpGX57gP18sbtY05DexLKf6OCRxa2-Jw5UrMuvczPHvymFzGRW1IlKce0DFa_T_g6lmAjIDb3SnS-DEOcKoOF2sPXBIo2g7k9vFKQOM1uufdAxjwSVbmYOI/s320/IMG_2004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our casa - white house on the right - volcano in the background</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuK15NiQLbgP10NCI_WSlQwXvQiYHlbZ0XlFOYhjvZYWpbprfwoQCNFQRvLyW56WP9NBfbyzkTm8249a8FG_wazO0FWNxZI3LIHnu8DcEerwjaUaRNnerrmN0Tu2pQ1QcvfGYfPIWAX891/s1600/IMG_1998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuK15NiQLbgP10NCI_WSlQwXvQiYHlbZ0XlFOYhjvZYWpbprfwoQCNFQRvLyW56WP9NBfbyzkTm8249a8FG_wazO0FWNxZI3LIHnu8DcEerwjaUaRNnerrmN0Tu2pQ1QcvfGYfPIWAX891/s320/IMG_1998.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">banana delivery to the market</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXBrIdFk-ByF0JrE603ViwSfZmoz-oQ9uZunUwKmoyo5MsfNBM_yM0GPtw8AlEyzGgt8XCtMoK_WsFsiJxms84OFBs4LAQq_z5MZkeLFH78nDMS0GN1KvioU9IAwUJ6fr0k2-amxcrmnC/s1600/IMG_1366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXBrIdFk-ByF0JrE603ViwSfZmoz-oQ9uZunUwKmoyo5MsfNBM_yM0GPtw8AlEyzGgt8XCtMoK_WsFsiJxms84OFBs4LAQq_z5MZkeLFH78nDMS0GN1KvioU9IAwUJ6fr0k2-amxcrmnC/s320/IMG_1366.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">flower carpet for the procession</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYSq-MzPa12wWH8AWTU-sSyl8GDAgmw5FB1wIQpJ9kdThZvatGCTgRLnMybglnbJkQZz6OYVD4VduGJ0FeIjvUcuK4qmxVMWbYI4Jg-DZGBNJP-P8G0UCjNPSxpVjtmPRWIJZGXRQrYOL/s1600/IMG_1359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYSq-MzPa12wWH8AWTU-sSyl8GDAgmw5FB1wIQpJ9kdThZvatGCTgRLnMybglnbJkQZz6OYVD4VduGJ0FeIjvUcuK4qmxVMWbYI4Jg-DZGBNJP-P8G0UCjNPSxpVjtmPRWIJZGXRQrYOL/s320/IMG_1359.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">weekend breakfast - fresh tortillas, chorizo and eggs</td></tr>
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We were aware, from last year, of all the traditional processions you see during Lent, but figured we were a bit early for it to start yet. Little did we know that there are processions on February 2nd, marking the day that Mary went to the temple to be blessed, 40 days after the birth of Jesus. This traditionally marks the end of the Christmas season. The day here is called Candelaria, but, interestingly, around the world it's also Candlemas, Imbolc, and Groundhogs Day! (and my sister-in-law's birthday).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrV56nC6hmIcjNPYexm_hi4i5wRce0svten-MZM2o1oo9eJB6TpnSh8y6dBhwDyXgXoqxivf0Utf8Thn79pjOU4gaq2_htKQhi-Xn6S7zAiWkdXecZXjd2kZZskxeMcOQzwQg6bGL9e-R/s1600/IMG_1370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrV56nC6hmIcjNPYexm_hi4i5wRce0svten-MZM2o1oo9eJB6TpnSh8y6dBhwDyXgXoqxivf0Utf8Thn79pjOU4gaq2_htKQhi-Xn6S7zAiWkdXecZXjd2kZZskxeMcOQzwQg6bGL9e-R/s400/IMG_1370.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Candelaria procession</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEu5FzwwLh4AwT2X6bK6bW6erp7QmSNxmkAmvQPZvGM4qxu3J6u5gTEBLL4thwTV9OvHkdSeVWc9oY8XMAzNqLRAoHQEJm2gdIZYNA09nieFb7e7wmzg8KXnEJMSEM_m9kRvcnShKv7lI/s1600/IMG_1351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEu5FzwwLh4AwT2X6bK6bW6erp7QmSNxmkAmvQPZvGM4qxu3J6u5gTEBLL4thwTV9OvHkdSeVWc9oY8XMAzNqLRAoHQEJm2gdIZYNA09nieFb7e7wmzg8KXnEJMSEM_m9kRvcnShKv7lI/s320/IMG_1351.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The band follows</td></tr>
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This all happened at night, so the photos aren't great, but it went through our neighborhood and we met the neighbors who were making alfombra (flower carpets) for the procession to pass over. During and after the procession, there were very loud - and very close - firecrackers. Firecrackers seem to be a way of life in Guatemala and nary a day goes by when you don't hear a few. Comically, we had a car in the neighborhood whose alarm was set off by the firecrackers. So that night, laying in bed, we would hear a firecracker, hold our breaths for a second, and then hear the car alarm go off! <br />
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Tomorrow our friends Anne and Jim arrive to work and play with us for a week. We're all heading to Lake Atitlan for the weekend. Stay tuned.Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-86291958373530500632011-04-08T12:51:00.000-04:002011-04-08T12:51:32.832-04:00Hasta luego, Guatemala<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>We're on our way home after our amazing two month adventure. Before signing off and getting back to our old life, I need to acknowledge an amazing discovery we have made - the Guatemalan people. <br />
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Life has not been easy for Guatemalans. Surviving a 36 year civil war, they are now mired in a cycle of corruption, crime and extreme poverty. <br />
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And yet, they are some of the kindest, gentlest, most considerate people we have ever lived among. They are always quick with a smile, speaking slow and patient Spanish for our halting attempts at communication.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">One of my cherished experiences - I was walking alone through Antigua and passed an old man who was obviously down on his luck - unkempt, unshaven. I decided to be Guatemala-friendly and chirped "buenos dias" even though it was the middle of the afternoon (requiring a buenos tardes). He smiled and said "buenos tardes" back to me and I stopped and acknowledged my mistake, saying "buenos tardes." With this he launched into a long speech (in Spanish) on when you use "buenos dias", when "buenos tardes" and when "buenos noches." I stood dutifully listening, even though I was well aware of my mistake. When I finally said I understood and turned to go, he put his hand on my arm and gently said "poco a poco." (Little by little!) What a kind gesture from a perfect stranger.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>So here are some wonderful faces from Guatemala. Viva Chapines!<br />
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It's been a great experience and we just hope that we were able to give a fraction of what we received!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadPL9-fRS47oBXH0IXOdb2F4qwOpaKA6xMhzD8kZ77kkdWGBgUr8H8rWUS-P9fnnUSvpJ4OYTfbCsDLyR76dVwbNcNHLn8HeXK-JJqedGnu5r6MVfikUlf2og4bFRIPp9SyFDI49JuXS_/s1600/IMG_1355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadPL9-fRS47oBXH0IXOdb2F4qwOpaKA6xMhzD8kZ77kkdWGBgUr8H8rWUS-P9fnnUSvpJ4OYTfbCsDLyR76dVwbNcNHLn8HeXK-JJqedGnu5r6MVfikUlf2og4bFRIPp9SyFDI49JuXS_/s640/IMG_1355.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-82401780556983179012011-03-29T18:28:00.002-04:002011-03-29T18:30:17.293-04:00Volcanos<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Cathedral</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivR5ar0ItitdNF-oIShHkrSdc1q_FG8Dj44fEpegbFNJnNtcB4xW-PGBYerScDj22h_nF7_3EuA-p467K072y8ZwVQhIwEkOxYPlRoJ7b1NPAdi33no72rX_To4Wlp4EixgvLWfDDxHYZ5/s1600/IMG_1130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivR5ar0ItitdNF-oIShHkrSdc1q_FG8Dj44fEpegbFNJnNtcB4xW-PGBYerScDj22h_nF7_3EuA-p467K072y8ZwVQhIwEkOxYPlRoJ7b1NPAdi33no72rX_To4Wlp4EixgvLWfDDxHYZ5/s320/IMG_1130.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volcanoes in the mist</td></tr>
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They're everywhere you look in Antigua. Three of them - Volcan Agua, Volcan Fuego and Volcan Acatenango - loom over the town. There's little that's more photogenic - they change with the arrival and departure of sun and clouds, day and night, and they just look powerful. And Fuego ("fire") is prone to "burping" a plume of steam every once in a while. Add to that Lake Atitlan, which is surrounded by it's own three volcanos. What you end up with is many, many photos of volcanos - which I am sharing now. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">The streets of Antigua</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow cone!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Common Hope</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjAjebBqCHguv7RyGm5el2vZJu7OUC1yB5SJdZIniKK38eNjrQlauwZ_OkykNzbQY6w8vgBjQybA-d7MQ6omII7ysPBRNf7AQJBOu5faWqoDFX9Tuik4nRBwNy9X5G156fR2R9h4ck0Lk/s1600/IMG_1345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjAjebBqCHguv7RyGm5el2vZJu7OUC1yB5SJdZIniKK38eNjrQlauwZ_OkykNzbQY6w8vgBjQybA-d7MQ6omII7ysPBRNf7AQJBOu5faWqoDFX9Tuik4nRBwNy9X5G156fR2R9h4ck0Lk/s320/IMG_1345.JPG" width="239" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A burp from Volcan Fuego</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset at Lake Atitlan<br />
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</tbody></table>Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-72260498587073366252011-03-28T00:02:00.000-04:002011-03-28T00:02:06.682-04:00New Hope Village <br />
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New Hope Village (Nueva Esperanza) was built by Common Hope in 2005 in response to the terrible devstation experienced by Hurricane Mitch. Hundreds of thousands of people formerly living in gullies around Guatemala City were displaced with few options. Common Hope built a village in the hills outside Guatemala City and a built a school that is staffed and run by Common Hope. This school consistently surpasses national standards and is part of overall initiative by Common Hope to improve the quality of education available to affiliated families. For expample first grade promotion rate in Guatemala averages just over 70 percent whereas the New Hope school is in the high 90's.<br />
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The director of the project asked me to work with his team on some organizational improvements via some selected leadership workshops with his team of school leaders, education support leaders and administrators <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">A village on the way to New Hope</td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I met with him once a week in Antigua to plan the project and then traveled to New Hope on three consecutive Wednesdays to work with him and his team. The trip involved two and a half hours through Guatemala City and then through increasingly poorer villages and rougher roads to this new village of block houses laid in neat squares with a school and playground at its base. It is indeed like reaching an oasis, not only physically but in the hope shown on the children's faces. The Director gave me a tour the first day and we were repeatedly 'interrupted" by kids hugging and greeting us. </div>These were families among the poorest of the poor, in a situation made even worse by the hurricane and their children now have a chance to break the cycle of poverty<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Road</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQHLBO311g5lqoyOza6DsqYRBorJe2kN58lwOv9oDLiSkxLomZ-bgAL43Q0hdB9-W4tuhNJRhqeRcK9ek5kx3IpUzVG-NKB1gcI9vF2nY_s5qJyQtMysfCcfHaDhy_HhZAIxLen0WdDML1/s320/IMG_0589.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Way to New Hope</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0wIxGDINS2ljTFGFxh7AnyuKkKmUxcxoU35B8C1kxY1W8YIfPlXPC_domzc3a5J01YpunDPd15MQhWMGDqbZX6dll9TGCxFu1b7hIg-ciprrSSNQ9GD2z91GRbyFArxV-oyut7lIg-SA/s1600/IMG_0656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0wIxGDINS2ljTFGFxh7AnyuKkKmUxcxoU35B8C1kxY1W8YIfPlXPC_domzc3a5J01YpunDPd15MQhWMGDqbZX6dll9TGCxFu1b7hIg-ciprrSSNQ9GD2z91GRbyFArxV-oyut7lIg-SA/s320/IMG_0656.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Leadership Team on 'Graduation ' Day</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRa_GNpgAQh4ryjh5EyJNAw6HMFpfR5Ms1I7TMHri1mAbPuZKppkZOlvHIa0hvBoIRy9u_kzyQg8_rG8D3HZGV1Rc6KhNRuNh-JEwn58RM6fr1OqBQBV__U-ZjKqq0A8P2iUwPPmvPlkft/s1600/IMG_0587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRa_GNpgAQh4ryjh5EyJNAw6HMFpfR5Ms1I7TMHri1mAbPuZKppkZOlvHIa0hvBoIRy9u_kzyQg8_rG8D3HZGV1Rc6KhNRuNh-JEwn58RM6fr1OqBQBV__U-ZjKqq0A8P2iUwPPmvPlkft/s320/IMG_0587.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Houses at New Hope</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-47117387383532526052011-03-26T18:55:00.001-04:002011-03-27T10:39:45.506-04:00Sweet Dulce<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIH8Fv2YbXBbA1Hzf_BBsSjXR6dcj4A35OlVY2cKZmbjqdC40RPCl2LVMNd12HXsLZKDq-F6-qkbfDRw0HuIWhAQQJY9jC6vaS1mezCrCKobKUf_h8iTt0KubSptR_1jh3K1ISHyhq3xD/s1600/IMG_1328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIH8Fv2YbXBbA1Hzf_BBsSjXR6dcj4A35OlVY2cKZmbjqdC40RPCl2LVMNd12HXsLZKDq-F6-qkbfDRw0HuIWhAQQJY9jC6vaS1mezCrCKobKUf_h8iTt0KubSptR_1jh3K1ISHyhq3xD/s320/IMG_1328.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The road to Dulce's house</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVweJMro9exojGBEEVBUygYfWqU2_aB9dnU5yldu4rjXFll24RwMLae_3fkbpGDViOTY6krFOZqgyb58T3_2rKvAqGjZqzc7RroV9w9WQcKIimyNhME7g8COl_UuDhXD62YeZflUw9PvOu/s1600/IMG_1334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVweJMro9exojGBEEVBUygYfWqU2_aB9dnU5yldu4rjXFll24RwMLae_3fkbpGDViOTY6krFOZqgyb58T3_2rKvAqGjZqzc7RroV9w9WQcKIimyNhME7g8COl_UuDhXD62YeZflUw9PvOu/s320/IMG_1334.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The front gate.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Over a year ago, our church, First Parish in Brookline UUA, decided to sponsor a little girl through Common Hope. We chose an 8-year-old named Dulce. Last April, our church vision team was able to meet her. Our friends Anne and Jim, who are visiting us for a week, were on the vision team. Rather than just being tourists, Anne and Jim worked most of the week at Common Hope, using both their brains - working with staff - and their brawn - working on construction. One of the things we were able to do together was to visit Dulce and her family.<br />
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It was a short van ride to the drop-off point, and then a 20 minute walk up a steep path to their house. Jack and Jim alternated carrying the very heavy food bag that we were bringing them and that they so appreciated. We were amazed that Dulce and the family navigated this every day.<br />
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Our visit with Dulce was lovely. She is still the sweet, quiet yet poised little girl that we met last year, with big beautiful eyes and a shy smile. She is now almost 10, in 3rd grade and doing well. Her favorite subject is math and she still wants to be a doctor.<br />
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Looking a the tiny one-room house where five of them live, we saw the quilt on Dulce's bed that the people of our church had made for her, with "the shirts off our back." Her mother also brought out the doll that we had given her.<br />
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We read The Cat and the Hat with her and she reads well. Her older brother was also a sponsored Common Hope child and had just graduated from high school and is doing a computer course in college. What a success story for this family. What a huge difference Common Hope can make! And Dulce has a whole church rooting for her.</div> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Lzp2s701ZqVzxJXbF2pbIG71UeB6zGYxyJ1wenAziKsE91LzE5nCTuaVk53EvHEXCwl8TimNTU-hkozH0kl4BZguLgpUrGocRPJSV-ZXDket6QVIwdeOU8dcrtq3KBMH4zaIBLgLjahX/s1600/IMG_1335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Lzp2s701ZqVzxJXbF2pbIG71UeB6zGYxyJ1wenAziKsE91LzE5nCTuaVk53EvHEXCwl8TimNTU-hkozH0kl4BZguLgpUrGocRPJSV-ZXDket6QVIwdeOU8dcrtq3KBMH4zaIBLgLjahX/s320/IMG_1335.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dulce's house<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Dulce and dog Pepita -<br />
Jim is holding the card she made for us</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only one room - Dulce's bed in the corner - note the quilt</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDz0RauHOZWYfPjHTZeUaQLlJIR76skrdSB1Fuuo2Fcbl6VsQFHQb6XHF4esqQRIcDMjmvu47QfLEhcKcoxAK2lRfjcjEFDZR3pKD3K8C6sBhEeSONrnCd7Nk095TplpDge_iEiSp3zv0w/s1600/IMG_1342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDz0RauHOZWYfPjHTZeUaQLlJIR76skrdSB1Fuuo2Fcbl6VsQFHQb6XHF4esqQRIcDMjmvu47QfLEhcKcoxAK2lRfjcjEFDZR3pKD3K8C6sBhEeSONrnCd7Nk095TplpDge_iEiSp3zv0w/s320/IMG_1342.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Dulce and her mom, Rosa</td></tr>
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</div>Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-87065481368223879072011-03-24T00:13:00.000-04:002011-03-24T00:13:18.307-04:00Processions and CarpetsWe knew that the festivities of Semana Santa (Holy Week) were world-famous in Antigua and were sad that we would miss them. What we didn't know was that every Sunday in Lent there's something happening. Each Sunday, one village near Antigua has a procession that begins around 1pm and lasts until the wee hours. The procession is 40-60 men carrying a very large religious "float". They carry it, alternating carriers, from their village into and around Antigua and back to the village - for hours and hours. Many local villagers make flower carpets ("alfombras") along the streets that the procession comes down. They get up early in the morning and work until the procession. Then the procession WALKS over the carpets. How very Zen of them!<br />
Last Sunday we went to Santa Inez, the village of the week, in the morning and watched them making the alfombras. One group even let us help a bit! Then we watched as the procession left the church and trampled the alfombras. Later that evening, after our Boston friends Anne and Jim arrived, we all ran around Antigua finding and following the procession as it made its' way around town. It's even more impressive after dark, as the floats (called "andes") are all lit up.<br />
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Locals say that these Sundays are nothing compared to the BIG one on Good Friday and the festivities leading up to that. We'll have to come back some day for that.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGMCx-QF9_CpVq-GtnAMuIRXjoUB5tI8ltjtZRUMMV6wr9E0oxxRoi-E5xIgEO_Uqsab8GmGgla3FyLkJoNQlkhxBlH11qkO1g_sm7geEgUWcWwt70DwHie6gevA5LlsMlbzkuwobthYE/s1600/IMG_1241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGMCx-QF9_CpVq-GtnAMuIRXjoUB5tI8ltjtZRUMMV6wr9E0oxxRoi-E5xIgEO_Uqsab8GmGgla3FyLkJoNQlkhxBlH11qkO1g_sm7geEgUWcWwt70DwHie6gevA5LlsMlbzkuwobthYE/s320/IMG_1241.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working on a carpet</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
stenciling with wood chips</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finishing one up</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working on "our carpet"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The big carpet in front of the church</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaWuAJhL0RrVuHVaDFVazwmPPX3pxwmPMwmxUaz3Cqqt_wTUgImsSvAXxqRyG-dzXkwVfdhN5e5PD6yF1l_xWn1-emy7XELJgqu5aXla2RCOcf67IUh4uodMKJLgWm2rcFrvJBEi5Rviw/s1600/IMG_1275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaWuAJhL0RrVuHVaDFVazwmPPX3pxwmPMwmxUaz3Cqqt_wTUgImsSvAXxqRyG-dzXkwVfdhN5e5PD6yF1l_xWn1-emy7XELJgqu5aXla2RCOcf67IUh4uodMKJLgWm2rcFrvJBEi5Rviw/s320/IMG_1275.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Our" finished carpet</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoAmAbrMo1QdNI8CaCfLIiiW5cNi7kum_oTd0lCq4Zd57sQYVy80ttsfdtw1yDM6TfUgjhuw3AldzcCemNjX1OeFKHYzdUvxAQZZnjNgaFaLmLMCISIdclMqKextp2BGNtFxSiDDIZg3C/s1600/IMG_1281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoAmAbrMo1QdNI8CaCfLIiiW5cNi7kum_oTd0lCq4Zd57sQYVy80ttsfdtw1yDM6TfUgjhuw3AldzcCemNjX1OeFKHYzdUvxAQZZnjNgaFaLmLMCISIdclMqKextp2BGNtFxSiDDIZg3C/s320/IMG_1281.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The procession begins</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Lp_ukF4pkae_FXjlNKVE0z7JX4X0WchNnv-NnoQ_NKJPT1xj7rCQV7raj2GbgR0BhVvoW-bNGKdWEusTyIKBuf4w9HhTuQoaZHCsPs6A-j6IEMXK3uRB1UCclrFkOPcXKJkpjc6CdyXh/s1600/IMG_1301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Lp_ukF4pkae_FXjlNKVE0z7JX4X0WchNnv-NnoQ_NKJPT1xj7rCQV7raj2GbgR0BhVvoW-bNGKdWEusTyIKBuf4w9HhTuQoaZHCsPs6A-j6IEMXK3uRB1UCclrFkOPcXKJkpjc6CdyXh/s320/IMG_1301.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ande ("float") - impossible to get a feel for the size</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3PrI_KS6psWQprjp95METDK6_AJMQ9_wEh0Hbz-6a3Eyw9kXKqxlui6FaUBM1mvm20BOl_Lw3C4DuCnMeWAZPtptsWpH1Xv8kDa9opfl0Cn7VCtnJGRYIB41dMUJcULGozO-swIBBtt7/s1600/IMG_1302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3PrI_KS6psWQprjp95METDK6_AJMQ9_wEh0Hbz-6a3Eyw9kXKqxlui6FaUBM1mvm20BOl_Lw3C4DuCnMeWAZPtptsWpH1Xv8kDa9opfl0Cn7VCtnJGRYIB41dMUJcULGozO-swIBBtt7/s320/IMG_1302.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The carriers</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJehV0-hz8BURhi8QlIdEfZ6hswkr_fhjodTbta4l3mwELQpdULGpa5Y_w2h-aZerU55KbxLuklzWn-prKQuHAM7D3n3Bkli_C4eD9LOT1IyDBqYtgqhHeZauXq29tGzzxUBW7SKZ1OQ0/s1600/IMG_1297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJehV0-hz8BURhi8QlIdEfZ6hswkr_fhjodTbta4l3mwELQpdULGpa5Y_w2h-aZerU55KbxLuklzWn-prKQuHAM7D3n3Bkli_C4eD9LOT1IyDBqYtgqhHeZauXq29tGzzxUBW7SKZ1OQ0/s320/IMG_1297.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The procession heads out</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyQDoB48ARgoJgmlvtFyeS9uq4Dbk8V1iKZ2xSvbW5mv_Fr-CYio1_AJXU8YyWu_lVnWvbTUQkVucLYHZehn7zEPPIEBl8SVH4hnsaXgl3Y5AdSCbyOx0NpL76AzGBnIBsQmaL00j3rO5/s1600/IMG_1322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyQDoB48ARgoJgmlvtFyeS9uq4Dbk8V1iKZ2xSvbW5mv_Fr-CYio1_AJXU8YyWu_lVnWvbTUQkVucLYHZehn7zEPPIEBl8SVH4hnsaXgl3Y5AdSCbyOx0NpL76AzGBnIBsQmaL00j3rO5/s320/IMG_1322.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always interested in conductors</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-10257218656626077982011-03-17T23:03:00.000-04:002011-03-17T23:03:00.741-04:00Firecrackers, a rooster and church bells.Hola blogees,<br />
Sorry but this will be a posting with no pictures. As you read further, you will understand why. I'm describing events that we have never seen,and only heard. Boy have we heard them. Mostly we've heard them when we were sound asleep in the early morning hours, so getting up and taking a picture was far from our minds.Taking more violent action however has crossed my mind.<br />
<br />
Now ( finally you may say) to the sources of the noise.<br />
Church bells are probably the most understandable. In our first apartment we often heard bells very early in the morning as early as 5 am. The interesting thing is that, for the life of us, we couldn't locate a church nearby.<br />
In our current apartment we have a rooster that likes to crow especially at 4 am. He is not a singular "cock- a -doodle" kind of guy. He repeats the crows endlessly only to be stifled by closing the windows and an occcasional utilization of ear plugs.<br />
The most curious noise however was firecrackers. We had heard them at other times in Guatemala, but of course it makes more of impression when one hears them in the early morning hours. Finailly Linda's Spanish teacher told her that friends may give the loving gift of firecrackers to wake you on your birthday. Candles on a cake would seem to be a far better form of combustion.Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-48092026195139697612011-03-14T23:54:00.000-04:002011-03-14T23:54:07.063-04:00Using Your Head!One of our abiding memories of Guatemala will always be the way women carry everything - and I mean EVERYTHING - on their heads. It requires perfect posture, a lot of confidence and practice, practice, practice (although we've never witnessed a drop). Jack has gotten good at "stalking" these ladies from behind to take photos - and here are some of the best. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicV9-zJekou3Kl77siw5oDYwMQjw17tBZPnchTOUjcay0AfcFT0YfkyR8FuDH-otKxh706R4jiV93jpTWIzoPwk0JzdflqjgoQkT9fc02os4oF-KCYCfSs4a_RsGAPygId1VyTiUWUzv1x/s1600/IMG_1166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicV9-zJekou3Kl77siw5oDYwMQjw17tBZPnchTOUjcay0AfcFT0YfkyR8FuDH-otKxh706R4jiV93jpTWIzoPwk0JzdflqjgoQkT9fc02os4oF-KCYCfSs4a_RsGAPygId1VyTiUWUzv1x/s320/IMG_1166.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First prize - eggs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqnrUG2cHYBjaF8rsW-RPrlvrTRrbrdFoq0zBZI5nqoyojDG-vOMkvar77igDsoPnLl-6HnYP1iOn4rXyuf350eIGFOaz8S5If9sVINpxhxLqRA6EFzHPV9uHDJKztxcUPsJxT-O5qwVQ/s1600/IMG_0955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqnrUG2cHYBjaF8rsW-RPrlvrTRrbrdFoq0zBZI5nqoyojDG-vOMkvar77igDsoPnLl-6HnYP1iOn4rXyuf350eIGFOaz8S5If9sVINpxhxLqRA6EFzHPV9uHDJKztxcUPsJxT-O5qwVQ/s320/IMG_0955.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second prize - tomatoes</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Our first prize goes to the woman carrying probably eight dozen eggs. The photo shows here steadying it with one hand, but a minute earlier, she was hands-free. Second prize is to the woman with the basket of tomatoes. Honorable mention - not captured on film - is to the woman carrying a very large, unbalanced bundle of firewood!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A moment that I love is to see a woman - after alighting from the chicken bus - being helped by the bus driver, who carefully places the load on her head before she walks away.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Y8aoApbrip8rribR27L5qTAjJjQlct8zIkBHcItsDAicYH65MMlPvtfJs1-07jUZBW83qRVC7T2QVahtsjxMahyphenhyphen06DRhvNks3VOMWpem6geQfBZSipx7LUkYk-ZORbogm8LzEWMcoeS5/s1600/IMG_1194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Y8aoApbrip8rribR27L5qTAjJjQlct8zIkBHcItsDAicYH65MMlPvtfJs1-07jUZBW83qRVC7T2QVahtsjxMahyphenhyphen06DRhvNks3VOMWpem6geQfBZSipx7LUkYk-ZORbogm8LzEWMcoeS5/s320/IMG_1194.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prize for the widest load</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmg6YjaTGppMeLySXjo9vKP3Qmyvx4xMaPzW5yaEyqddsZRaHgMXGPUBkpSbRw0Y4Z9d2q7HIfvbmAZrxpKCPCkDhqqAw2B0Ys7aRL0yMMjEL2nUv4V947WklH5M6dEuodlyK_spXEQN3E/s1600/IMG_0576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmg6YjaTGppMeLySXjo9vKP3Qmyvx4xMaPzW5yaEyqddsZRaHgMXGPUBkpSbRw0Y4Z9d2q7HIfvbmAZrxpKCPCkDhqqAw2B0Ys7aRL0yMMjEL2nUv4V947WklH5M6dEuodlyK_spXEQN3E/s320/IMG_0576.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boxes of stuff</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNrb8WguMHEw7fS0swWbQNZIUcp4efQrghLhe9Ny9R43oBuJgiv7Yp6tEPRF828UMVNntClwv1OyzFApYitOPoCnsLZ7U3oz1DNdurYJZq6lA9lC3GgJuxl-DrbV_c9DC3CPENJfNS3er/s1600/IMG_1135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNrb8WguMHEw7fS0swWbQNZIUcp4efQrghLhe9Ny9R43oBuJgiv7Yp6tEPRF828UMVNntClwv1OyzFApYitOPoCnsLZ7U3oz1DNdurYJZq6lA9lC3GgJuxl-DrbV_c9DC3CPENJfNS3er/s320/IMG_1135.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8_c0m2jCuyGJvfIo71EsZaUrfIPl-zE3a_sld_wOsjRewMa74DfqzXhlHm-_nPftA6cYh8F46gPZOiH9zTghN7At-9gerZDABVN5W316iihMY3JuhloAGEtZS77pAoJQ9gQnwMuooVpi/s1600/IMG_1157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8_c0m2jCuyGJvfIo71EsZaUrfIPl-zE3a_sld_wOsjRewMa74DfqzXhlHm-_nPftA6cYh8F46gPZOiH9zTghN7At-9gerZDABVN5W316iihMY3JuhloAGEtZS77pAoJQ9gQnwMuooVpi/s320/IMG_1157.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvvmM-IGDux1HM-XaEwtXKQPnwlhh8TRZjemRXAZOC10YdzZ3PlrFxvMDKoV0ssIOtbo985h5mIGDjFX39lPIK9Tt0MXn56b6hWbpe_UV8o9-58GBJ8t0wTbNYMFSvU2vrDqs3VEK2yNv/s1600/IMG_1176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvvmM-IGDux1HM-XaEwtXKQPnwlhh8TRZjemRXAZOC10YdzZ3PlrFxvMDKoV0ssIOtbo985h5mIGDjFX39lPIK9Tt0MXn56b6hWbpe_UV8o9-58GBJ8t0wTbNYMFSvU2vrDqs3VEK2yNv/s320/IMG_1176.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stopping to chat at the pool hall</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-87743882924849394942011-03-08T21:13:00.000-05:002011-03-08T21:13:38.282-05:00Chichicastenango <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJPAIe_px45VVrPQGSuwgiqsPVZdK_NDSfhYvYosMSPw1T-dF6LfkSvJFCG-qRoC9s5K_QBW2Aty3X0ZVg95fuwq11lp80WygGrcvrCQtloe64ZcDlOeoZmSMN4J3PQPaVfOWDnTC6xl_/s1600/IMG_1094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJPAIe_px45VVrPQGSuwgiqsPVZdK_NDSfhYvYosMSPw1T-dF6LfkSvJFCG-qRoC9s5K_QBW2Aty3X0ZVg95fuwq11lp80WygGrcvrCQtloe64ZcDlOeoZmSMN4J3PQPaVfOWDnTC6xl_/s320/IMG_1094.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A busy market</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">On Sunday we took a bus over the river and through the woods to Chichicastenango - called "Chichi" for short. In Guatemala, the "-tenango" means "the place of" and is added to the end of many town names. In this case, the Chichicas means "nettles" - thus "the place of the nettles."</div><br />
Chichi has the reputation for having the biggest market - in Guatemala, Central America or the world, depending on who you listen to. It certainly is big. There are a lot of tourists and touristy things at the market - but also a lot of locals and locally things. We especially liked wandering into the chicken/duck/turkey market (live, of course). And the dried corn market. And the chalk market - sold by the pound and used to pulverize the corn.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3k4YSezx-hG8kQiU4CtvNoINqGbnaohUF69_bkKUFkncfH_A0DergcO1ZtJj_013Qb5HVOvjQ-Yt81zZVEOqub_GfBmWixR1b3AT6L3RAS-G0jScrvHYfHgzNICMQ9wQJXSE5GkHFuvxh/s1600/IMG_1095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3k4YSezx-hG8kQiU4CtvNoINqGbnaohUF69_bkKUFkncfH_A0DergcO1ZtJj_013Qb5HVOvjQ-Yt81zZVEOqub_GfBmWixR1b3AT6L3RAS-G0jScrvHYfHgzNICMQ9wQJXSE5GkHFuvxh/s320/IMG_1095.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowers for sale for Mayan rituals</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77orUOIDwMlrPXCSFP50xYEZyr4ewEr50rxyVTyV1EGvgkXs34KNvXAASWhw6u8XRF03Y_7yxcfSxI9RTU6O0sbFFoZ30m0Viv8kH_AwqfL0UttYZPOrbHbE1MHuTji7tyfLp5IpPNLDh/s1600/IMG_1096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77orUOIDwMlrPXCSFP50xYEZyr4ewEr50rxyVTyV1EGvgkXs34KNvXAASWhw6u8XRF03Y_7yxcfSxI9RTU6O0sbFFoZ30m0Viv8kH_AwqfL0UttYZPOrbHbE1MHuTji7tyfLp5IpPNLDh/s320/IMG_1096.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional Guatemalan dress</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The other interesting thing about Chichi is the harmonious mix between the ancient Mayan religion and the Catholicism brought by the Spaniards. It's in an indigenous area where the Mayan influence and religion is strong. The local Catholic hierarchy was able to accommodate them. On Sunday morning we could see Mayan priests performing their rituals outside the church after Mass. They even built raised areas inside the church where the faithful can burn candles and incense for the Mayan gods. And the incense is thick. Unfortunately, we were uanble to get any pictures, but our memories are vivid. Very refreshing to see two religions co-existing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHw0zl9oasDRV_YPPWeaXpUXvT-VuzAfw0TlzCmmuc1Ala1hmg5beY_eoovqjVSD87Z0BdUCTyzq6yA4sDTij-6njN5_l7cqdXrmIKqYCIPqV0QbINic2jKU-0gcZs7Nz5yWJ9NO8k_h61/s1600/IMG_1102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHw0zl9oasDRV_YPPWeaXpUXvT-VuzAfw0TlzCmmuc1Ala1hmg5beY_eoovqjVSD87Z0BdUCTyzq6yA4sDTij-6njN5_l7cqdXrmIKqYCIPqV0QbINic2jKU-0gcZs7Nz5yWJ9NO8k_h61/s320/IMG_1102.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the steps of the Cathedral</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL89_4syMYW-Wqnl9s1-NUSL8X2BSThrjfmQ9iwTmA4WSd6wv7Ty1TFgyDmg8fpNjBehX1iX2eRrFnsoY2SiX3U1dFACFSY7D2OUXIvwhlOjrTY9BvLMvvxJDFiTzrQ-Ytvi4Y21yAu8i0/s1600/IMG_1103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL89_4syMYW-Wqnl9s1-NUSL8X2BSThrjfmQ9iwTmA4WSd6wv7Ty1TFgyDmg8fpNjBehX1iX2eRrFnsoY2SiX3U1dFACFSY7D2OUXIvwhlOjrTY9BvLMvvxJDFiTzrQ-Ytvi4Y21yAu8i0/s320/IMG_1103.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selling chalk</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZJPHUqKr-_oSz7qUFV_vxqR8n7_oriorYGG6cxUukAv6UjP9psrLo4miF8pyoZMwJvk5dpunyRcXodGnQnRvg-Tb3B4iYusUsmF3QvglXe6td9iD5O59d2zskOIcdzNnVazvX6yH5I80/s1600/IMG_1123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZJPHUqKr-_oSz7qUFV_vxqR8n7_oriorYGG6cxUukAv6UjP9psrLo4miF8pyoZMwJvk5dpunyRcXodGnQnRvg-Tb3B4iYusUsmF3QvglXe6td9iD5O59d2zskOIcdzNnVazvX6yH5I80/s320/IMG_1123.JPG" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dried corn market</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdWVvB5Dh0c8sGfW1Qyi1uNt-5A2aQt8Emg01-mgsyNZ2_SRWz7SNQMcvFO6qBaMtHRp-lVEeX2Ft8FeJurQaBjJjDkWwSEhKhXaSqtU-ITvCaSY13BrDDE1pXCiBwwQPaIz3dXwClP73/s1600/IMG_1117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdWVvB5Dh0c8sGfW1Qyi1uNt-5A2aQt8Emg01-mgsyNZ2_SRWz7SNQMcvFO6qBaMtHRp-lVEeX2Ft8FeJurQaBjJjDkWwSEhKhXaSqtU-ITvCaSY13BrDDE1pXCiBwwQPaIz3dXwClP73/s320/IMG_1117.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anyone want a basket of turkeys?</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewG2d2WYLzzlP8LG7mqfG3Va9jkFSAf7sQub7Wfb8SzgWVHfK68uIdrG39Raxztinw7quDAb04k_XbYP6muHh6W-hsmxDFcU7L-CmepkEd3BwCmixfnUmCtgMqr6VtleVWdRHwI7UDXiE/s1600/IMG_1111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewG2d2WYLzzlP8LG7mqfG3Va9jkFSAf7sQub7Wfb8SzgWVHfK68uIdrG39Raxztinw7quDAb04k_XbYP6muHh6W-hsmxDFcU7L-CmepkEd3BwCmixfnUmCtgMqr6VtleVWdRHwI7UDXiE/s320/IMG_1111.JPG" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A woman selling chickens - what a wonderful face.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-25782540279305939292011-03-06T21:41:00.001-05:002011-03-06T22:32:09.446-05:00Jennedy<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYsVBX27M_KkhkPI6Q4PfhDG_7yyZ-9BpG5cz8kp0BmF6Ba-S32E11O8R0QLURY4qlfIl6FuXjl1TLCpPbJU3IoaEiz0Xre7r49Db1_e_Z6XPfPeMcDCNsSV4FhiQH5_Mwdsn68epCG6n/s1600/IMG_1065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYsVBX27M_KkhkPI6Q4PfhDG_7yyZ-9BpG5cz8kp0BmF6Ba-S32E11O8R0QLURY4qlfIl6FuXjl1TLCpPbJU3IoaEiz0Xre7r49Db1_e_Z6XPfPeMcDCNsSV4FhiQH5_Mwdsn68epCG6n/s320/IMG_1065.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennedy Jazmin Coj de Lopez</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Three years ago, during our first Vision Team trip to Common Hope, we decided to sponsor a little girl. At that time she was four years old and still in pre-school. Our hopes for her were and are for her to complete her education. Last April, leading our second Vision Team here, we met her and her family for the first time. They are a family of six: mother, father, three girls and a boy. They live on less than $300 a month, with a two room block house, shared latrines, five chickens and a bicycle. They have two beds - not sure of the sleeping arrangements. Their luxury is running water close by, purchased from a neighbor. <br />
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Last week, we visited her again. At seven now, she is in first grade and doing well. Her favorite subject is mathematics. She was very shy and quiet when we tried to talk with her. Then we brought out our present - "Huevos Verdes y Jamon" - Green Eggs and Ham in Spanish. We read it to her and she and the others present - mother, sister, social worker - laughed at the right places, which was comforting. It was suprisingly difficult to read something in a foreign language when you didn't understand exactly what you were reading! It opened her up, though and she became more talkative. <br />
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It was as hard to leave as it had been a year earlier. Our hopes and dreams for her are that she will grow up an educated woman who can think for herself as far as vocation and family size - and bring herself and her family out of the cycle of poverty.<br />
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Hasta la vista, Jennedy!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWuTrDHuirQkJkuQYbSgZnB3Co5heYR6xKe9NNW9zfG7nvf9KLZP6S9N6gscc05e-s_syU0yHwYQR9fZyNxBA0eQjjp8liAt0noXzaKGEIVjvf7QoYdAlzc0g_Mh9oyC8z2FElY1UBLXYn/s1600/IMG_0573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWuTrDHuirQkJkuQYbSgZnB3Co5heYR6xKe9NNW9zfG7nvf9KLZP6S9N6gscc05e-s_syU0yHwYQR9fZyNxBA0eQjjp8liAt0noXzaKGEIVjvf7QoYdAlzc0g_Mh9oyC8z2FElY1UBLXYn/s320/IMG_0573.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drawing with Jack</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6a5-b-YU2HmshlOqR25h8PiCQOX2p0FtDTIJgXNDNVT4o7y0BsXLn1OoNCVe2gz6aMF6lGlH7kwWul1WnH-TwED74FR4pdseFXlZ575eRj-KbHzq4-gGBg0R5uk8H6176ukcU86DRUQ4/s1600/IMG_0572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6a5-b-YU2HmshlOqR25h8PiCQOX2p0FtDTIJgXNDNVT4o7y0BsXLn1OoNCVe2gz6aMF6lGlH7kwWul1WnH-TwED74FR4pdseFXlZ575eRj-KbHzq4-gGBg0R5uk8H6176ukcU86DRUQ4/s320/IMG_0572.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Eggs and Ham with Linda</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdNsQH9r5D95tHCJIO6s7Meh_4hbeKv2Rjzg_0wXFxxLLyP-TAaUK_IunqYhDYC5vDlm0-J5t9LiRjHcajLkAl04NzXa6neZlUSjXJWpuysmltEzi0E8e-GTV0_PqWzU8_QS5OMzAD9M5/s1600/IMG_1064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdNsQH9r5D95tHCJIO6s7Meh_4hbeKv2Rjzg_0wXFxxLLyP-TAaUK_IunqYhDYC5vDlm0-J5t9LiRjHcajLkAl04NzXa6neZlUSjXJWpuysmltEzi0E8e-GTV0_PqWzU8_QS5OMzAD9M5/s320/IMG_1064.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-24940712767477618712011-03-04T22:35:00.000-05:002011-03-04T22:35:44.354-05:00Chicken bus to the ballet.....and green bellies... <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFjOmBKQn0rtoieJ9WNaND3H7GkDa1eXyVWj62N8_TYRdaPNS-fcHmfu1QalNfDC2dfjEFfTAxc6CM-f_C__A2M7KpB9Qf3ykxuGNQ18NrL283ggDkagdAP7cMUrd_jsQKs0V6jz7uBia/s1600/IMG_1030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFjOmBKQn0rtoieJ9WNaND3H7GkDa1eXyVWj62N8_TYRdaPNS-fcHmfu1QalNfDC2dfjEFfTAxc6CM-f_C__A2M7KpB9Qf3ykxuGNQ18NrL283ggDkagdAP7cMUrd_jsQKs0V6jz7uBia/s320/IMG_1030.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where is everyone?</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This "semana pasado" being my birthday week, I found a great present to ask for. Ballet Hispanico - out of NYC - was performing in Antigua! Jack is not a ballet fan, but agreed to take me for my birthday present. And yes, we took a chicken bus to the venue! It was at a beautiful old hermitage - Ermitage de la Santa Cruz - just outside of town, set against the mountain and in crumbling ruins. "Tiempo Chapin" - Guatemalan time - was out in force. The ballet was to start at 6:00. At 5:50 there was NO ONE there but us. At 6:30, the ballet started! It was a wonderful performance and a beautiful evening and setting. Even Jack liked it!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Then, Thursday night, we went out to dinner for my birthday at Panza Verde - literally "green bellies." This is what other Guatemalans call Antiguans because they eat so many avocados. It was a really nice meal - the first fancy restaurant we've been to here - and after dinner, the entertainment was Senor Ignacio, whose father was original members of the Buena Vista Social Club - and he began playing with them at the age of six. Cuban jazz at it's best.<br />
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A birthday to remember!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhRuXrUVBGBrLlZk9oYc6_vW9dtXIQfBwpHOiOtVcCLaZhQTWabgrYFFY_jhceHGw6HV1cxvVtY2aLZB7ZrMPhnz_GkAXXUt71FBty17xn07zyFFMUji6uhe9u2AOZe97iWp8DxdkA6ca/s1600/IMG_1017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhRuXrUVBGBrLlZk9oYc6_vW9dtXIQfBwpHOiOtVcCLaZhQTWabgrYFFY_jhceHGw6HV1cxvVtY2aLZB7ZrMPhnz_GkAXXUt71FBty17xn07zyFFMUji6uhe9u2AOZe97iWp8DxdkA6ca/s320/IMG_1017.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken bus to the ballet</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eWwlgGaZ5Huko53pqR62gBcgB51sgWJG1-bQz8Q1oJUIOGOw9hnp7s26Y89cj-D8lmiCZ9xxeUXENzIv1xD1fDu0XKO5QaHYexOTQ7kNSVHCa8sSi9kJ_dXVdDgdoYOJMEdWW0QHwsT_/s1600/IMG_1033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eWwlgGaZ5Huko53pqR62gBcgB51sgWJG1-bQz8Q1oJUIOGOw9hnp7s26Y89cj-D8lmiCZ9xxeUXENzIv1xD1fDu0XKO5QaHYexOTQ7kNSVHCa8sSi9kJ_dXVdDgdoYOJMEdWW0QHwsT_/s320/IMG_1033.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5ZfRLRsb8xk9eOximf6p3DFdMzPgmF5vWB9JvVqp7UZvpbW0ZQOU2151AR55jN8HSpdkkNc8iZsn73tfHzh8SngCgkgbbkBPHpCoyJfCsPEqPVBjFJFARpFOh9yVDEDQElQ7UoY6lR-e/s1600/IMG_1038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5ZfRLRsb8xk9eOximf6p3DFdMzPgmF5vWB9JvVqp7UZvpbW0ZQOU2151AR55jN8HSpdkkNc8iZsn73tfHzh8SngCgkgbbkBPHpCoyJfCsPEqPVBjFJFARpFOh9yVDEDQElQ7UoY6lR-e/s320/IMG_1038.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Latin dance number</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MRr730uaUBw2VSnFZuYPAldDaNlYHdW7Ta8dFXJy36OGDj8Ac-dpnC-ayHWftbVVmokQ1QQATnu7_t6hXlX8SWDj7cW3Ax_4kPvu1CcQDyA4JpxKconfH_7tsKGS4vz8LbO8VxI7Rm5s/s1600/IMG_1024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MRr730uaUBw2VSnFZuYPAldDaNlYHdW7Ta8dFXJy36OGDj8Ac-dpnC-ayHWftbVVmokQ1QQATnu7_t6hXlX8SWDj7cW3Ax_4kPvu1CcQDyA4JpxKconfH_7tsKGS4vz8LbO8VxI7Rm5s/s320/IMG_1024.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ermitage de la Santa Cruz</td></tr>
</tbody></table><img height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHCP4OWAd1jqjP9KOSi4tGtzW5hazOSf6eC8vZ0PZ-8LWXhsqKdEqV4_niB-S2176bO7laDSC992h3opF_31A9WmutkZFksjkSLrSFmt1VY8LCOE1wbg29D8x9tftue8TmqMyDZsUIlt1/s320/IMG_1079.JPG" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 408px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 192px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmzHe_55meOjabKQqbumz9vdo_jzvuOT30BACfI5QORGMyzF0QxsmkUvULaj196MQ7fmp6-WdPffTXRvDtiYDu8C8Ua9C3GRYXRktGRqLx9FPb3mdcgjwvnEYAKwhbDcX25jjWMa-b2g1/s1600/IMG_1076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmzHe_55meOjabKQqbumz9vdo_jzvuOT30BACfI5QORGMyzF0QxsmkUvULaj196MQ7fmp6-WdPffTXRvDtiYDu8C8Ua9C3GRYXRktGRqLx9FPb3mdcgjwvnEYAKwhbDcX25jjWMa-b2g1/s320/IMG_1076.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner at Panza Verde</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHCP4OWAd1jqjP9KOSi4tGtzW5hazOSf6eC8vZ0PZ-8LWXhsqKdEqV4_niB-S2176bO7laDSC992h3opF_31A9WmutkZFksjkSLrSFmt1VY8LCOE1wbg29D8x9tftue8TmqMyDZsUIlt1/s1600/IMG_1079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHCP4OWAd1jqjP9KOSi4tGtzW5hazOSf6eC8vZ0PZ-8LWXhsqKdEqV4_niB-S2176bO7laDSC992h3opF_31A9WmutkZFksjkSLrSFmt1VY8LCOE1wbg29D8x9tftue8TmqMyDZsUIlt1/s320/IMG_1079.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Senor Ignacio in action</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_eRCqUXtWnOHHpqiqjxOUnhIz861YsOZLkvrXlymiUfvcxMYOaWU3QLxSC9Xe7fo2HROoHRYChLUmhlOFcTNzvZXMfUy-pkzzKpXHtMxYRtJKBoNgaul3JvldohRM5IpJ5j6gE5ESWx4/s1600/IMG_1083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_eRCqUXtWnOHHpqiqjxOUnhIz861YsOZLkvrXlymiUfvcxMYOaWU3QLxSC9Xe7fo2HROoHRYChLUmhlOFcTNzvZXMfUy-pkzzKpXHtMxYRtJKBoNgaul3JvldohRM5IpJ5j6gE5ESWx4/s320/IMG_1083.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Autographs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGDsbeEplushu4taythSZBpzm_4aosoqYQqsNuT5DtB3Bd5PEn95KAT9gSPSZsnCEmssu2t-obSalOubkkH2vW-R9GwUr7Y1UDfIWYK3OWtFQFV7ADMGq9SF-gPn4W8KpqqrxL241aItK/s1600/IMG_1026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGDsbeEplushu4taythSZBpzm_4aosoqYQqsNuT5DtB3Bd5PEn95KAT9gSPSZsnCEmssu2t-obSalOubkkH2vW-R9GwUr7Y1UDfIWYK3OWtFQFV7ADMGq9SF-gPn4W8KpqqrxL241aItK/s320/IMG_1026.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good to have an armed guard at the ballet!<br />
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</tbody></table>Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-33570566740472136232011-02-26T22:16:00.000-05:002011-02-26T22:16:41.032-05:00What we are doing at Common Hope <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EWX12iRErSfYXiWUmk6YrKBLNwmo-bx2Br7svSqbA7HSZdfcMtidQ5gYr2EjrgYiujqe_l-XTUjNPdF_R1bl84UzGn12ghllEdgh2eb3T1G6LHs7Mu2BmsnBgLwV1Cqv5YshjFLUAKqj/s1600/IMG_0870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EWX12iRErSfYXiWUmk6YrKBLNwmo-bx2Br7svSqbA7HSZdfcMtidQ5gYr2EjrgYiujqe_l-XTUjNPdF_R1bl84UzGn12ghllEdgh2eb3T1G6LHs7Mu2BmsnBgLwV1Cqv5YshjFLUAKqj/s320/IMG_0870.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Our "office"</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnDjGQBcr-d71l53WXso7oGZnu5Fw9IxFwVOu1pgEvUWTaHM8fvvLOKvpjpKkwxfVkkqeymceTroeqzcki9tML4TeX2YNAuXdt2MOxdbkZmclgxZv5s656hgbBoefjhsiBUJEfp6aABbz/s1600/IMG_0976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnDjGQBcr-d71l53WXso7oGZnu5Fw9IxFwVOu1pgEvUWTaHM8fvvLOKvpjpKkwxfVkkqeymceTroeqzcki9tML4TeX2YNAuXdt2MOxdbkZmclgxZv5s656hgbBoefjhsiBUJEfp6aABbz/s200/IMG_0976.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Break-out sessions</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Every Monday morning from 8:30 to 10:00, we conduct a workshop for 20 Guatemalan leaders of Common Hope. This Monday will be the 4th session and four more to go. The course we've designed with the HR director and Country Manager consists of two weeks of topics dealing with managing yourself, three weeks of leading others and developing teamwork, and two weeks of leading and being a member of teams. Our friend Anne will be visiting us next month and will be leading a session on the cultural implications of working with Americans. So we've even designed a guest lecture!</div>Then our other major component is a one on one realtionship with eight leaders. Linda mentors five and Jack three. We meet with our mentees three times a week on a wide range of topics. We discuss the topic from the last class, perhaps help with their homework, talk about the relevance to their work, and help them with their English. In teaching English, we are learning about our native language and often struggling for rules. ( Do you know the difference between counting and non-counting nouns?) We are finding it very rewarding and love the enthusiasm and openess of our Guatemalan partners.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcuXtYYyQ5P3NRaD7-ptl2IL6aGLWlQynsmandW3Ht9PfOHI_l6h9yVwTeFHQrd4MXekhnnOxr-xg4qoJmeoMSkVm1YRFQBzZEE2ijwjvaOgTuiwSZOWdZWviHsIZ-AEapfAFho9jvHJD/s1600/IMG_0977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcuXtYYyQ5P3NRaD7-ptl2IL6aGLWlQynsmandW3Ht9PfOHI_l6h9yVwTeFHQrd4MXekhnnOxr-xg4qoJmeoMSkVm1YRFQBzZEE2ijwjvaOgTuiwSZOWdZWviHsIZ-AEapfAFho9jvHJD/s320/IMG_0977.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack in action</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4aSo1YKNtd_gfD4rocHjtfdnHKTRwFyr18Q7qZnurRhhSQIs1fa3LBIWXAmx1eW22LOSXs3xAEUKllvSWUiGoT9UK51urNrhyphenhyphen_4wjx_N7MQli2kL_svv5f7E1ZZ4fy-77iwuT_BvU-MU/s320/IMG_0972.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="239" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Turning on the projector</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbH4HF0bmt-R5gfBEm8avQV-TdwDHCkclJzj-bcSAmMB7zh9HADb9PC22rUZlS8U2Wd_3CLVKYAUJSYyhlJEW4bc0ECjcKv-P52y7ZfQwCPtSuE8FBSk1LqjMmCY0cpgEfiiRvua5_3VDB/s1600/IMG_0974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbH4HF0bmt-R5gfBEm8avQV-TdwDHCkclJzj-bcSAmMB7zh9HADb9PC22rUZlS8U2Wd_3CLVKYAUJSYyhlJEW4bc0ECjcKv-P52y7ZfQwCPtSuE8FBSk1LqjMmCY0cpgEfiiRvua5_3VDB/s200/IMG_0974.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preparing the agenda</td></tr>
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4aSo1YKNtd_gfD4rocHjtfdnHKTRwFyr18Q7qZnurRhhSQIs1fa3LBIWXAmx1eW22LOSXs3xAEUKllvSWUiGoT9UK51urNrhyphenhyphen_4wjx_N7MQli2kL_svv5f7E1ZZ4fy-77iwuT_BvU-MU/s1600/IMG_0972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-4757206063733801212011-02-26T11:09:00.000-05:002011-02-26T11:09:15.188-05:00Why we're here....<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Q-HtdpwnYNbqRh9coBQxyi6QazM3cFjpxuD4j7BqBMc1GMFzkyy6kyUuvudVWMLUy80LeIZwHywE_5_ZWQJIJVCefvBbvdR1MLCrx_TPr0gcesrbnOOqYt5_RN9P7LpylyGpgrHJKsZd/s1600/IMG_0903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTqqdY30Uk2Owggk3YtTVWydYzP_grE6OkzhJqDO3gTuKgHXzeg1yxasplwZrYYGFOYIDYOx9tFMTxj09dFoc0yyjfKJBdxtPEJGEoYjHOhhEXiCL90szcS9Gw7HJ-ko5V726KMeIQUO9/s1600/IMG_0887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTqqdY30Uk2Owggk3YtTVWydYzP_grE6OkzhJqDO3gTuKgHXzeg1yxasplwZrYYGFOYIDYOx9tFMTxj09dFoc0yyjfKJBdxtPEJGEoYjHOhhEXiCL90szcS9Gw7HJ-ko5V726KMeIQUO9/s320/IMG_0887.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Front Gate</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
Time to talk about Common Hope, the organization that we are working with and that impresses us so much. Everyone in Antigua knows "el proyecto" (the project), as Common Hope is known to the locals. And everyone knows, and is thankful for, the good that it does. Children who are sponsored by Common Hope (through sponsorships by donors) are provided with everything that they can't afford to get an education - school supplies, shoes, uniforms, as well as after-school enrichment programs, a library and counseling. In addition, when a child is sponsored, his/her whole family is "affiliated" - meaning that they benefit from the resources of Common Hope. This can include medical care, social work visits, legal help, vocational training, the opportunity to work sweat equity towards a solid home with a cement floor, or a stove that's vented to the outside. If the parents pull the child from school, the deal is off - hopefully instilling the value of education into the whole family. Common Hope is coming up on 10,000 sponsored children who have graduated from high school - a phenominal achievement in a country where a sixth grade education is not an assumption. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmc5JQyWe327wnLSPitKS2_gUFntVLsf0h2f-I1PtRgWkMvVu3lChcJR7qkkAk1qhLiYJ0kRwHYOy6MabX19xVWvHnj2AGWqPE6GEoh9lmCOoIi_-BwqAXh35NgoPdh8ppC_Dd8VBWPdnt/s1600/IMG_0885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmc5JQyWe327wnLSPitKS2_gUFntVLsf0h2f-I1PtRgWkMvVu3lChcJR7qkkAk1qhLiYJ0kRwHYOy6MabX19xVWvHnj2AGWqPE6GEoh9lmCOoIi_-BwqAXh35NgoPdh8ppC_Dd8VBWPdnt/s320/IMG_0885.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Familias de Experanza" - Common Hope in Spanish</td></tr>
</tbody></table> These photos are of the "proyecto" - the safe and secure place where sponsored children can come to study and to learn; and where affiliated families come for their needs. What is missing is the power and energy that flows through these walls and out into a community of people who need help. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xUZRr_B_nvdovDGyaunuibi2ULDMwodlZrlx_5qg_yhY4LwFpdaFmG5YuNkR6GYnh04ZbsSLO-9rS9mvyr2UZ4b1ILtrjnWdbuecAnMf3p8oMBGp-z8K9B6AUIqbQZijmg32NMYT150F/s1600/IMG_0894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xUZRr_B_nvdovDGyaunuibi2ULDMwodlZrlx_5qg_yhY4LwFpdaFmG5YuNkR6GYnh04ZbsSLO-9rS9mvyr2UZ4b1ILtrjnWdbuecAnMf3p8oMBGp-z8K9B6AUIqbQZijmg32NMYT150F/s320/IMG_0894.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful waiting area for the clinic</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwy35CSytbPFi2nwtpf8Cunb9ZT3iUrT1vNqBOgFfHgKoapCiavmkEqvrEYoTMLqMXhKHd55IJtBxrI6KCL-ugS815y-ktFZaPIE1p_vUbvYq6UG3hic_hTyer_DkS2zib5YnpBmI85Sr/s320/IMG_0892.JPG" width="239" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre-school kids</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RZ89WjAs5pyiVdN1qsqY6Vx6IQwqfwbi7LEIUhSVxr6GEzW7O0s0fa7FYsr-PV6gAJF_SaXWUC7cKITdDbvy0n_SF_yfq3eVOvul4nSE8hUaFNrwVJBsQANOjNrilGFcsoJ9WjQIgO61/s1600/IMG_0878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RZ89WjAs5pyiVdN1qsqY6Vx6IQwqfwbi7LEIUhSVxr6GEzW7O0s0fa7FYsr-PV6gAJF_SaXWUC7cKITdDbvy0n_SF_yfq3eVOvul4nSE8hUaFNrwVJBsQANOjNrilGFcsoJ9WjQIgO61/s320/IMG_0878.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clinic and some education rooms</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volcan Fuego smoking a bit</td></tr>
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</div>Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-13680454100702381172011-02-20T21:11:00.000-05:002011-02-20T21:11:13.251-05:00The Most Beautiful Lake in the WorldOr at least that's what Aldous Huxley said after he visited Lake Atitlan. To quote: <u>"</u><i><span class="goog_qs-tidbit goog_qs-tidbit-0 goog_qs-tidbit-hilite"><span style="color: black;">Lake Como</span></span><span class="goog_qs-tidbit goog_qs-tidbit-0 goog_qs-tidbit-hilite">,</span> it seems to me, touches on the limit of permissibly picturesque, but Atitlán is Como with additional embellishments of several immense volcanoes. It really is too much of a good thing.</i>" Well, it really is that beautiful. We spent the weekend in La Casa del Mundo, a lovely hotel perched on the side of the lake. The lake is surrounded by three volcanos - in fact, it's believed to be the caldera of a volcano that erupted a long, long time ago. We walked along the cliff to the next village (most transportation from village to village is by water taxi), talked to villagers setting up for a fiesta, met a lovely friend-of-friends who now lives there (and met, through her, some of the expat community), kayaked in the early morning - but mostly just sat and looked at the lake. Here are some photos which definitely don't do it justice.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out with the expats</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7z_i7PHF1s8ICpl379EhnxBmNIoueU0gZeOZfX_qZrMhkPykwk2B7jD0FxF_CBO5zRKnPCHj7iSYKv3Q_OKZMksCdQY4h_d4wFTCgiooribxIQLd0Z4VGv-O7L6A2Rw1TaT_0ny9JXLmt/s1600/IMG_0967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7z_i7PHF1s8ICpl379EhnxBmNIoueU0gZeOZfX_qZrMhkPykwk2B7jD0FxF_CBO5zRKnPCHj7iSYKv3Q_OKZMksCdQY4h_d4wFTCgiooribxIQLd0Z4VGv-O7L6A2Rw1TaT_0ny9JXLmt/s320/IMG_0967.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wood-fired hot tub!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxcf5wp2q96bWIfzFvqqA8Wh4TuBOlKomqrxftYvp69slZCkPEoeUQftYRtib3hjeLhguoePEs-SQIRBHEcQcfcCTSnxDWzXxYW7_1iHqTQeOr8eZWma5BYbOlmdD8CnuKe1NA4PnIL3E/s1600/IMG_0955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxcf5wp2q96bWIfzFvqqA8Wh4TuBOlKomqrxftYvp69slZCkPEoeUQftYRtib3hjeLhguoePEs-SQIRBHEcQcfcCTSnxDWzXxYW7_1iHqTQeOr8eZWma5BYbOlmdD8CnuKe1NA4PnIL3E/s320/IMG_0955.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrying a basket of tomatoes - good posture required.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpl2J6-5v6rkccyafOZsxx0epo2-2dgZ-Qn87PHJVKBFnsdExC5uuM00bU2x-iLKnXkj8nX4y3UkHj1N06r-2uba_RumIJa_w9IPEe72RBEb23eYCrm7h5bf_iYGkerV6NGht8bUMge9ga/s1600/IMG_0931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpl2J6-5v6rkccyafOZsxx0epo2-2dgZ-Qn87PHJVKBFnsdExC5uuM00bU2x-iLKnXkj8nX4y3UkHj1N06r-2uba_RumIJa_w9IPEe72RBEb23eYCrm7h5bf_iYGkerV6NGht8bUMge9ga/s320/IMG_0931.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise on the lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-86859733956404941632011-02-13T11:09:00.000-05:002011-02-13T11:09:42.130-05:00Hermano Pedro's Tree<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8J1Wuy1TGPQpC1YrWyRr3_S10-mvTbryVAPHuIESbj8h5A6eDUdY6l_N_vzcJI-UqRlH3xQgJ8xAfHwyrKPwiVS4daoE4RYdf0OYh6QzkQHnL_kG_jhwZyJVo0DJ9ieKC6dJfsXGdfrbH/s1600/IMG_0827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8J1Wuy1TGPQpC1YrWyRr3_S10-mvTbryVAPHuIESbj8h5A6eDUdY6l_N_vzcJI-UqRlH3xQgJ8xAfHwyrKPwiVS4daoE4RYdf0OYh6QzkQHnL_kG_jhwZyJVo0DJ9ieKC6dJfsXGdfrbH/s320/IMG_0827.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Hanging out at a little park next to El Calvario church, we noticed people walking around this tree, picking up dried blossoms that had fallen from it. Turns out, it's Hermano Pedro's (Brother Peter's) tree. Hermano Pedro is the Main Man around Antigua - Guatemala's first saint, canonized in 2002. Seems like he was a very good person, working, in the 1500's, with the homeless, founding the first hospital and doing a lot of good work.<br />
Well, purportedly he planted this tree around 1570. It has white flowers year round and if you gather those that fall from the tree and brew a tea from it, it will cure headaches and many other things. As the English-translated sign says, "the active ingredient is faith." <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZxMPs4sZGW2EM5mZDd1_e8uZVNNSslEADYGD1uochfDIZHb3HoIXVEhjO5g8iMfh-uO4I4RkvSSiTDh_rdTLA3NWHrTyyjaKudPgyHRw7VxaH1ZdW_urUz5svsidKqGY-k7TyZ4L2Iyc/s1600/IMG_0830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZxMPs4sZGW2EM5mZDd1_e8uZVNNSslEADYGD1uochfDIZHb3HoIXVEhjO5g8iMfh-uO4I4RkvSSiTDh_rdTLA3NWHrTyyjaKudPgyHRw7VxaH1ZdW_urUz5svsidKqGY-k7TyZ4L2Iyc/s320/IMG_0830.JPG" width="239" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXXYYLtY6GqHe_OasZY-UTW0P-zBychD5rNFSz5tr9yWhdCy4v14OBSlgtmcfu3uajTClrEf9msglmUMTmUGncoboynaHfEMa6pluerHgwK-6tsdSHOpA45hSJpmRutWDkwItEdcl3dtC/s1600/IMG_0831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXXYYLtY6GqHe_OasZY-UTW0P-zBychD5rNFSz5tr9yWhdCy4v14OBSlgtmcfu3uajTClrEf9msglmUMTmUGncoboynaHfEMa6pluerHgwK-6tsdSHOpA45hSJpmRutWDkwItEdcl3dtC/s320/IMG_0831.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
As we watched people gathering flowers, this little boy started gathering and giving us what he got. Guess he figured we needed a little help getting started. Soon he and Jack were gathering together. So now we have a handful of dried flowers to brew into a tea that cures what ails 'ya. Thanks, Hermano Pedro.Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-68048791841541629012011-02-11T16:13:00.001-05:002011-02-11T16:13:57.435-05:00Roaming..... <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIoYwqGGVjHdS0_1pbltd9TeanThqwPYAuE6P6GSkbstLOfUvMI_ZbVtEArNN7BoWg4ABWTViUsUiWkFCIWZzwerwz6sEGDCj0BdBRNSNCqNskvxxGuNsWlMdbBvd5UIP4l5hINdRIR72/s1600/IMG_0822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIoYwqGGVjHdS0_1pbltd9TeanThqwPYAuE6P6GSkbstLOfUvMI_ZbVtEArNN7BoWg4ABWTViUsUiWkFCIWZzwerwz6sEGDCj0BdBRNSNCqNskvxxGuNsWlMdbBvd5UIP4l5hINdRIR72/s320/IMG_0822.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Calvaria<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUqQo0vl8p1Pj7jrImYqHYsJKWn8TKt2bo8kDCnB-BxcD6mapwS9G7WPzeNt2doSghNIVSKLkSJzCbS8yZCHwWPchBARhyphenhyphen54NQKpllc17cE-ZQtggVmLj_8wbQKc8Ta9FPYY2KBwcZdz3/s1600/IMG_0810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUqQo0vl8p1Pj7jrImYqHYsJKWn8TKt2bo8kDCnB-BxcD6mapwS9G7WPzeNt2doSghNIVSKLkSJzCbS8yZCHwWPchBARhyphenhyphen54NQKpllc17cE-ZQtggVmLj_8wbQKc8Ta9FPYY2KBwcZdz3/s320/IMG_0810.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palace of the Captains General</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">El Arco (Arch) de Santa Catalina<br />
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</tbody></table>So far in Guatemala we've been doing a variety of things: teaching and coaching at Common Hope, enjoying the people who work there, studying Spanish (4 horas), eating out a lot (alone and with new friends), figuring out food shopping, etc. Another thing we've done a lot is ROAM. Antigua is a great roaming city. It's small and manageable, the streets have a Manhattan-esque numbering system of streets (calles) and avenues (avenidas) so it's difficult to get lost, and there are tons of out of the way things to discover. Mainly there are churches. In the 16th through 18th centuries, Antigua was the Spanish capitol of Central America, and the Spanish built lots of big stone buildings, especially churches. After an unfortunate earthquake in the 1770's, the capitol was moved to Guatemala City and Antigua became a smaller, sleepier town with lovely ruins. The buildings that have been restored are usually painted yellow and white. The non-restored are just gray. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ICudFIHVY3-Zi8pJeSK5RFMaDf71BZPXgP6QMqYQBdOXDVARM9nPC-x7BS09MxOF43FvKGpBCy9L72VvX7Qla_rrOl80XCEGTn5Emtt_hg2SGJvQMpO4VIBJcVHtOGjZLcNP-Icyvowu/s1600/IMG_0803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ICudFIHVY3-Zi8pJeSK5RFMaDf71BZPXgP6QMqYQBdOXDVARM9nPC-x7BS09MxOF43FvKGpBCy9L72VvX7Qla_rrOl80XCEGTn5Emtt_hg2SGJvQMpO4VIBJcVHtOGjZLcNP-Icyvowu/s320/IMG_0803.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Merced<br />
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</div>Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-47735413949735801762011-02-11T15:30:00.000-05:002011-02-11T15:30:34.666-05:00Our Digs <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNjxrSqkWbNufHfymu1JUyMUZRf12TpKA7BJnK6zn_OdGP-ZUmAgShS7LhKLmx0X1eb1mGQn0PEIqd17ee2-u6uodk-gasoNWWRQJS06CAyskcnH1ZHQzZk63U3I6QMALgA50WVIJUM4n/s1600/IMG_0846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNjxrSqkWbNufHfymu1JUyMUZRf12TpKA7BJnK6zn_OdGP-ZUmAgShS7LhKLmx0X1eb1mGQn0PEIqd17ee2-u6uodk-gasoNWWRQJS06CAyskcnH1ZHQzZk63U3I6QMALgA50WVIJUM4n/s200/IMG_0846.JPG" width="200" /></a> </><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0M6HuzGNgQ7J5IHffcW84Tj30davJj58UUne_kFINcpbnbIqJdhgBrFmoy43QU1BTw2yK5HglXKfe-vl6e5bCjeK07RcO-gTT4HsikmzH6S_brhTqKQY_Kr86FlZwpyqLKi4RAXYpWHuY/s1600/IMG_0842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0M6HuzGNgQ7J5IHffcW84Tj30davJj58UUne_kFINcpbnbIqJdhgBrFmoy43QU1BTw2yK5HglXKfe-vl6e5bCjeK07RcO-gTT4HsikmzH6S_brhTqKQY_Kr86FlZwpyqLKi4RAXYpWHuY/s320/IMG_0842.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></div></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I want this bedspread!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Here are some photos of our cute little <em>condominio. </em>It's small but cozily fine for the two of us. The internet connection (including wireless) is very good, which allows us to do a lot of our prep work at home. There's only a small volcano view, to Jack's chagrin. Right on the bus route and 10 minutes to Common Hope, 10-15 minute walk to city center. We only rented this for February as we thought we could look for another place when we got here for March. We're zeroing in on a very nice find - REAL volcano view, not so good internet connections, two minutes from the market - so we'll see.<br />
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlN4YP-mBdQCZEh1t89ZytxRwWvzy0bskYGtc24vz5VEfK_ehIj9skP2dsaqS7ogzejZdzFxrB2M6EEkxB7Jqzwq0XoFytw4OTaOAIaT8gtPQxPNnqY4bp-C-Xa1oBiEK49ozJgy7XV_Z/s320/IMG_0845.JPG" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQH9DeI3va49zoeO-lkralvbkV8eJj1cRi1OuPvDNN7kgXMK_954cUnmD6xrGi1NpyPodsi8dImve_04UXkger37yosHhwzmTrTp1r9F3RJDuFRJBHnv5-gwv9YI5GYvqnyg9DZugUtgY/s1600/IMG_0844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQH9DeI3va49zoeO-lkralvbkV8eJj1cRi1OuPvDNN7kgXMK_954cUnmD6xrGi1NpyPodsi8dImve_04UXkger37yosHhwzmTrTp1r9F3RJDuFRJBHnv5-gwv9YI5GYvqnyg9DZugUtgY/s200/IMG_0844.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Officita</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQl8LnFtXD6lR0cAI1k8RTjWvuiQ0sK-TgGnSuYUWQ8y4DiFcOLzxaNDhZMC1K5A7AzG4EqUw1qDZAIl33pV3cLAXFk0ah8Lm-w9U3UrfxjrPm6DbE_fTJ-SD_sR9mX1j0rt4Hcai1hNY/s1600/IMG_0849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQl8LnFtXD6lR0cAI1k8RTjWvuiQ0sK-TgGnSuYUWQ8y4DiFcOLzxaNDhZMC1K5A7AzG4EqUw1qDZAIl33pV3cLAXFk0ah8Lm-w9U3UrfxjrPm6DbE_fTJ-SD_sR9mX1j0rt4Hcai1hNY/s320/IMG_0849.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Within the gated community</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNjxrSqkWbNufHfymu1JUyMUZRf12TpKA7BJnK6zn_OdGP-ZUmAgShS7LhKLmx0X1eb1mGQn0PEIqd17ee2-u6uodk-gasoNWWRQJS06CAyskcnH1ZHQzZk63U3I6QMALgA50WVIJUM4n/s1600/IMG_0846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNjxrSqkWbNufHfymu1JUyMUZRf12TpKA7BJnK6zn_OdGP-ZUmAgShS7LhKLmx0X1eb1mGQn0PEIqd17ee2-u6uodk-gasoNWWRQJS06CAyskcnH1ZHQzZk63U3I6QMALgA50WVIJUM4n/s320/IMG_0846.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImsA41UkC2QdDkXaLerGy8_OJv7pGDNZ0emMWw6zoOkyT-okSflD3-v53XeZorYbLbC_poahBc1axdAIeL17iLDQEJoCVzW5Ds8-ZN7T-bG9qFahvlcWOv-54nFrJkcgu-df-WJKKetTC/s1600/IMG_0850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImsA41UkC2QdDkXaLerGy8_OJv7pGDNZ0emMWw6zoOkyT-okSflD3-v53XeZorYbLbC_poahBc1axdAIeL17iLDQEJoCVzW5Ds8-ZN7T-bG9qFahvlcWOv-54nFrJkcgu-df-WJKKetTC/s200/IMG_0850.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Walking through our condo grounds, I came upon calla lillies, just growing! I'd never seen them in a garden - always thought they grew in the arms of a Hispanic woman at a market! Very exciting,<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUpYghu3y45FiIHtJl_cXav1nPSZl1Sh2OPh2yDzWFjbj6TAjL0DCPObdQoeFLzLVkgfule-FVjFQLWdK1lv_-qOw6nMPOCEOdeap_JzivNCdmOgV3tX0QtYPMms2lAAEWj8_TfPDpCxe/s1600/IMG_0855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUpYghu3y45FiIHtJl_cXav1nPSZl1Sh2OPh2yDzWFjbj6TAjL0DCPObdQoeFLzLVkgfule-FVjFQLWdK1lv_-qOw6nMPOCEOdeap_JzivNCdmOgV3tX0QtYPMms2lAAEWj8_TfPDpCxe/s320/IMG_0855.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967348866957605787.post-13126302034100823462011-02-05T15:50:00.000-05:002011-02-05T15:50:40.835-05:00To Market, To Market.... <div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFaGIVpe0UPt252HF0016xrCte6hWpY7gZCsixlyFGmxg5VlJVqOiJI68qD25rjBtMSAF67ghjy5Ze1KM6BtGYcEJd4NsiqXzVCtxzPtLAmf9WCwulioDNkZaf_vM0a7e3qPgvFi93Cd7p/s1600/IMG_0816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFaGIVpe0UPt252HF0016xrCte6hWpY7gZCsixlyFGmxg5VlJVqOiJI68qD25rjBtMSAF67ghjy5Ze1KM6BtGYcEJd4NsiqXzVCtxzPtLAmf9WCwulioDNkZaf_vM0a7e3qPgvFi93Cd7p/s320/IMG_0816.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKWFwzMWHY2Cjbf8zAj_uJQ_0awapUzFCis2a99qI08QDqFShmI3BeQYI99ZNwbIVEOdPRvawBY2HqnpvkcsIrhwMSUkt7NO17w9OM6Ox07CW4mz3KPikpgfs3k0oWydZF_xbuVt1MpXI/s1600/IMG_0812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKWFwzMWHY2Cjbf8zAj_uJQ_0awapUzFCis2a99qI08QDqFShmI3BeQYI99ZNwbIVEOdPRvawBY2HqnpvkcsIrhwMSUkt7NO17w9OM6Ox07CW4mz3KPikpgfs3k0oWydZF_xbuVt1MpXI/s320/IMG_0812.JPG" width="239" /></a></div> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div> Remember the photo of the huge supermarket in Guatemala City? Today we (and the rest of Antigua) went to try out the local Saturday market. Being cognizant of buying only what you can peel (by the time we get home, we'll kill for a lettuce salad), we roamed the market, got lost a few times and bought food for dinner tonight - as well as a beautiful bunch of status at the flower section for 1Q (8Q = $1). The entire shopping bag full cost $4 US. And it was FUN!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJn7933fSSTLTMj0MU3JKI_c4-WPZqpKbDYA2YqP2YSYwUj_FIXJ8bFW_AH5bzebCHitMEPFsGjWESQH29xxe5v4D1qvbuV-y287wwojv1Cq-xesSNlWNF55lpJkTI0YdhNATn1ooohDXC/s1600/IMG_0817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJn7933fSSTLTMj0MU3JKI_c4-WPZqpKbDYA2YqP2YSYwUj_FIXJ8bFW_AH5bzebCHitMEPFsGjWESQH29xxe5v4D1qvbuV-y287wwojv1Cq-xesSNlWNF55lpJkTI0YdhNATn1ooohDXC/s320/IMG_0817.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our purchases</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Linda and Jack Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141223883119501363noreply@blogger.com4