6.1

Morning

We leave the home-base at 9:30 this morning, and all pile into our big, purple bus. A hefty breakfast of pancakes and yogurt gives us plenty of energy. There is a group of high school-ers from Colorado who is also volunteering with our group, along with chaperones Sharon and Carolina, and they are staying for two weeks. They play music and sing in the back while we ride. Looking out the window, we get a view of more of Guatemala City, with little shacks carved into the sides of the mountains, practically stacked on top of each other. Clotheslines run from roof to roof and people sit outside in the cool mountain air. The bus grinds its protest to the steep roads and people swerve dangerously (and quickly) around the curves. We arrive in no time, stopping in Parque Central for ATM's & a bathroom break before continuing on. The first thing you need to learn in Spanish before coming to Antigua is “No, gracias.” Men, women and children swarm us as soon as we step off the bus, trying to sell us flutes, drums, bracelets, and more. It costs three Queztals to use the restroom, and we are handed toilet paper after we pay. (I think this system would really boost America's economy).

The Stairs

After hopping back in the van, we head up to a higher point of one of the mountains or hills. There is a set of very steep, very shallow steps winding all the way up. It's about a 15 minute climb and is NO JOKE in this altitude! I was huffing and puffing. There's my 1000 steps for the day! However, there is a cart selling cold, bottled water at the top, and an AMAZING view of one of the four volcanoes that ring the city, with an incredible look at Antigua from above. We stop to take pictures of Volcan Agua (there is also a Volcan Fuego, but it is hidden by the clouds) and rest before trekking back down. There's a band playing marching music that gets louder the closer we get, which makes the descent a little more dramatic.

San Pedro Las Huertas & Jade Factory

Our next stop is in the village of San Pedro Las Huertas, just outside of Antigua. There is a beautiful church, Iglesia de San Pedro, and we duck inside to observe a few minutes of mass. There are glass cases with detailed mannequins depicting Mary, a few saints, and some of the stations of the cross. The church is large, but quaint, and very beautiful. There are women washing clothes in a large fountain across from the church, which is custom to do here on Sundays. We walk down one of the narrow streets to a discreet door marked only by a 10.

We're let in, after a knock, and we are welcomed to the King Brothers Jades Jade Factory. Jade is mined from the mountainside and brought here to be cut, shaped, and polished into the beautiful pieces Guatemala is known for.  

Mayan Green Jade in center

Lavender Jade

Artist creating mask 

 

Completed mask

After a brief presentation about the stone and how it is mined, the guide wets the rocks to show some of their true color. There are 23 different shades of Jade Green found in the mountains here, and 50 different colors total. The two that are only found in Guatemala are pictured above: Mayan Green Jade and Lavender Jade. The Lavender Jade is very special, because it boasts five different colors in one rock, which is very rare. It is also sometimes called Rainbow Jade. The stones take a very long time to go from rock to jewelry, and it takes 8 to 10 sandpaper washes before they keep their polished look.

Mercado

After our wallets are all a little lighter, we leave the Jade Factory and head back to Antigua for lunch. We eat at an American restaurant since there are so many of us today (18!). We are seated outside, under a covering, and there is a brief thunderstorm while we dine. After it dries, we spend about an hour in the Mercado de Artesanias. This place is BEAUTIFUL. I have never seen so many bright colors in my life. Everything is hand woven or hand carved, and I spend all the money I have in my wallet (luckily, it wasn't very much).  

Although I've taken four semesters of Spanish and had plenty of practice outside of school, I still surprise myself with how much I understand and am able to speak. In America, I'm able to listen and understand with ease, but stumble over my words in response. Here, I am already feeling more confident and speaking more. I even speak Spanish with the vendors who understand English. This brings me great happiness, as today is only my second day in this culture and already I am improving. Everything here is so cheap that I forget to barter. I'll remember next time we go to a market.

We meet back at the bus and it's a quiet, exhausted ride home. We get home, change, eat a delicious, simple dinner, and relax. I spend some time talking to Ann and Hallie about Tikal, and we book a one-day tour, online, for next Sunday. Tomorrow morning begins our volunteer placements, and then afterward a tour of Guatemala City.