Destination: Guatemala

Gallery: Week 4 in Xela

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 | By tom_moench | Photo Gallery

tikal y el mirador

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 | By pekollo | Views [665] | Comments [1]

so this is jumping ahead a little as im going to take you on a little journey to el mirador. the 6 day hike to the oldest and biggest mayan structures around. it was just a little bit fun. again im taking this straight from my journal so pretend like ... Read more >

Graduation with a New Twist

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 | By tom_moench | Views [497] | Comments [1]

At La Escuela Miguel Angel Asturias we usually have our graduation dinner on Thursday evenings. It usually a student potluck where each student prepares a dish for all the students and attending teachers. The dishes can run from Guatemaltecan favorites ... Read more >

San Andres & Volunteer Peten

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 | By muimui2009 | Views [1856] | Comments [2]

I’ve arrived in Flores, in the province of Peten on Monday night.  The flight was short and there were not many passengers on this twin propeller plane.  Luis who works for the program (Volunteer Peten) picked me up from the airport.  I was anxious during ... Read more >

Week 4: Fuentes Georginas

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 | By tom_moench | Views [440] | Video

Week 4: One of the advantages of being near volcanoes is hot springs. One afternoon after classes Derek, Laura, Jen & Kyle and I headed for the Fuentes Georginas spa. Let's say it was amazingly relaxing and the drive to and from it in a picop through ... Read more >

Gallery: T2C--Volcán Santa Maria Full Moon Hike

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 | By tom_moench | Photo Gallery

Gallery: Volunteering at San Andres, Peten

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 | By muimui2009 | Photo Gallery

Gallery: Week 3 in Xela

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 | By tom_moench | Photo Gallery

Gallery: Weekend trip to Tikal

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 | By muimui2009 | Photo Gallery

The Making of Alfombras

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 | By tom_moench | Views [1928] | Comments [1]

One of more interesting rituals is the making of alfombras (rugs) in the street of the square around Parque Central. These colorful "rugs" are made with layers of tinted sawdust. My understandings is that groups from various churches arrive ... Read more >

Shouldering the Burden

Thu, 9 Apr 2009 | By tom_moench | Views [471] | Comments [2] | Video

Semana Santa is the name of the week prior to what most of us know as Easter Sunday. It is the second biggest holiday of the year after ¡Feliz Navidad! It is marked by the sharing of bread of all kinds between neighbors and relatives so there is more ... Read more >

Santiaquito gives us a show

Thu, 9 Apr 2009 | By tom_moench | Views [352]

We had to wait an hour or so for Santiaquito to do her regular thing below us. With the sun up the wind and cold fog disappeared and waiting was a delight. See more in the Santa María photo gallery.

T2C--Full Moon Hike Up Volcán Santa Maria

Thu, 9 Apr 2009 | By tom_moench | Views [758]

This hike was both challenging and great. Our group set off around 1:00 am under a full moon mostly shrouded in clouds. We drove as close to the base of the volcán Santa Maria as we could get. The trailhead was probably around 2500 m (8200 feet). I ... Read more >

Salsa Xela Style

Tue, 7 Apr 2009 | By tom_moench | Views [909] | Comments [3] | Video

Our school had an afternoon activity planned for interested students -- a Salsa lesson. 6 of us decided to have some fun and joined one of our teachers (maesta Miriam)and walked across the street to the little dance studio. As I have discovered I am taller ... Read more >

Gallery: Estufas Part 2

Tue, 7 Apr 2009 | By muimui2009 | Photo Gallery