The Chickenbus Diaries – Manik7.com
Just Another Central America Travel Blog
Guatemala
Antigua
My home away from home.
Semana Santa – Antigua – 2010
Semana Santa, or “Holy Week”, dates back to the 16th century, and is by far the most colorful and fascinating time in Antigua Guatemala. Tens of thousands of visitors come from all over the world to watch the processions and other religious festivities.
The centerpiece of each procession is a large wooden float depicting a religious scene. The floats, which are carried through the streets of Antigua for up to eight hours, are lavishly decorated and weigh several thousand pounds.
Residents along the route of the processions create elaborate alfombras (carpets) of pine needles, flowers and colored sawdust in the street for the processions to walk over.
Semana Santa – Antigua – 2009
Semana Santa (Holy Week) – Antigua, Guatemala. I must have walked 20 miles over the course of the week. The rugs (alfombras) are absolutely magnificent. People begin work on them at 4:00 morning, or earlier. The amount of effort that goes into the procession is unbelievable, and the entire week was breathtaking.
Semuc Champey
Happy New Year! I celebrated with a 5 mile hike from Lanquin, to see the marvelous waterfalls and pools of Semuc Champey
Lago Atitlan
Panajachel
San Antonio
San Pedro
I first visited San Pedro in 2001, and what a change! In just a few short years, this small pueblo has exploded with dirty hippies, tourists, hotels, restaurants, and entertainment.
San Marcos
San Juan
Finca Filadelfia – Coffee Plantation
Finca Filadelfia grows some of the worlds best coffee, and is located just outside of Antigua Guatemala. I went there on Sunday, and had a beer. I also had some of the best food I’ve had since being in Guatemala, including Pepian; a Guatemalan soup with either beef or chicken. I had both.
Rio Dulce
Day of the Dead
