Saint James Day

July 25th is Saint James Day in Antigua, their Patron Saint, and it is quite a to-do. Just like a national holiday in the states, schools and many business' are closed for the day and the town has parades, foods and many festivities to celebrate.

afternoon at the fair

All the novelties of home...without the safety laws.

a wonderful pallet.

Aren't they just the luckiest? Inspiration everywhere.

sensory overload.

After arriving at Chichicastenango I had myself convinced there was no way I was finding my way back to the van and would be lost in this over stimulus open air market forever. I got over that, and found myself enjoying the tiny allies packed with people, vendors, chickens, and mud puddles. oh, and can we talk about how these women pull off all that colorful pattern?? Imean really, it's amazing. I will spend the rest of my life trying to recreate that and not look completely ridiculous.

hop in.

i first came across the orange VW van outside my house...then walked another block and there was the green. so great.

a good afternoon.

Spent the afternoon walking the streets with Brian.

Volcan Pacaya

this volcano was probably the hardest and longest hike/climb i've ever endured. after 2 days my legs are still sore. i was pleasantly surprised after all the vegetation we came to volcanic terrain with sulfur billowing and areas hot enough to roast the perfect marshmellow (which we did). the other two volcanoes in the shots are Agua and Fuego. needless to say, i did some goood sleeping that night.

mi casa es su casa.

I have arrived. For the next 7 weeks I will proudly be calling Antigua home. Though my bedroom looks like i'm a captured runaway, I shower holding a spray hose...which sprays cold water, I have to think before I speak for what seems like hours until I can get a sentence out, and don't know a soul. Pero, no tenga pena. Todo bien.

it's time.

Moving right along. Here I wait patiently on the Pullmantur Bus (a.k.a fancy Megabus) to take me to Antigua. eeeeeek!

invierno a la playa.

Winter here is the equivalent to fall in the U.S. and lots of it. None the less, an afternoon at the beach with an amazing seafood packed soup can help you forget about the rainy days. Oh, and there's some cattle just owning the road...typical.

second time's a charm.

Skies were finally clear so we took advantage and drove up the volcano again. It's a good thing we did, because by the time we had turned to head back the clouds had rolled in with fury and left no sight of the volcano. On the other hand, we were still able to see the gobs of chickens and a random turkey walking about at a restaurant.