Digital Friends

While I do not possess a digital camera, I have made friends with a steady travel partner who does.

In solely photo form, check out some recent destinations..
-a festival in a local pueblito (small village). Each village celebrates a different saint, and the saint day for the city is listed on a calendar. I visited a pueblo nearby named Cantel.
-Last weekend, my ultimate weekend.. my last weekend in Guatemala, I made a small pueblo tour in the north where native indiginous culture is stronger than in the city.
1. First we stopped in San Francisco. This city boasts one of the most authentic markets, we arrived just as it was closing to see some of the veggies, clothes, cloth, and animals offered for sale. Next we continued on, reaching the bus station by hopping on ride on the back of a pickup truck of a local old man. Kindest man. By bus we reached Huehuetenango and the next day Mayan ruins in Zacual.

2. Second we traveled an hour and a half up a paved road and an hour and a half down an unpaved road to reach Todos Santos, famous for the authentic clothing everyone wears. In particular we saw a political rally featuring the man running for President in the party currently in office. We also sauna-ed in a Mayan sauna, powered by a fire in a small clay hut. Finally we ate beans, eggs, fried chicken and rice + sweet bread (not so sweet), for every meal. Not a pueblo know for it's restaurants. But it does boast it's name in stones on the nearby mountain, much like the large Hollywood word in Cali.

3. The third night was my last in the mountains of Guatemala and perhaps the most fascinating. We asked the bus driver to drop us at the home of Telma and Luis, no kidding, and the bus driver did. This couple sells arts in the school and hosted us at their home for the night in Momostenango. They are artisians, making rugs, blankets, purses, scarves, many things, out of sheep's wool yard died with natural berries, bark, rocks and insects. The home had a pit toilet with the door being a political ad for the presidential candidate I saw in Todos Santos the day before. I am supportive. The family cooks over the fire for every meal, making tortillas fresh every day from corn. Outstanding experience.

4. I am now in Chicago.. a little under the weather from the weekend but back and excited to see you again!

Will post more about the past two weeks soon, b/c they were amazing.