Mom and dad Dumler were here for Semana Santa! We had a great week exploring Guatemala and experienced the unique and festive ways the catholics celebrate Holy Week! (more on that in the next entry) Here we are in the ruins of Saint Francis in Antigua. The church is still a vibrant community of worship. We joined them for mass on Easter Sunday- el dia de la resurreccion.
We made it through the week paying the gringo tax of course, but with no major problems which was a relief. We had heard that crime is especially high in Antigua this time of year... and my mom had a close but extremely lucky call! We made it back to the house one night to discover a huge knife cut in her purse... but all the contents still inside! 
We made our contribution to the Guatemalan economy this week! I am glad to be able to purchase wedding decorations and gifts here rather than in the U.S. (and these women were pleased as well).... but my poor parents had to help me get it all back to the States. :) 
We did sit and relax... for a minute. Here they are enjoying a lazy afternoon at Casa Del Mundo.
We walked and walked the blocks of alfambras (the colorful carpets of sawdust or other materials that line the streets where the processions will walk) It's an amazing art! Hours upon hours are spent planning, preparing, and making the alfambras... and then the processors walk over them throughout the 12 hour processions that last all night on Good Friday. There is a much greater emphasis here on the passion of Christ than the resurrection. They play dismal and somber music throughout the town as they work on these bright and beautiful carpets- seemingly paradoxical.
Adventures in Transportation:
They were troopers! They bravely hopped on the Guatemalan city buses to get home their first day in Guatemala (something many Guatemalans won't do!), and willingly crammed into the back of a "Tuk-tuk" with me to navigate the cobblestone streets of Antigua at night. 
We rode the public "lanches" around Lake Atitlan to get to and from Casa Del Mundo and Santiago where we spent Good Friday.
How could I forget about the Monkeys! These monkeys in a natural preserve were showing off and loving the attention. Spider monkeys can use their tale as an extra appendage as this one is doing- playfully swinging upside-down.
2 comments:
Your hair is so long and your skin is so brown! You look beautiful! The pics of you and your fam are lovely. How cool that you bought wedding decor in Guatemala. It will be nice to see them in pics. Your parents are so great-- I am glad they got to join you. When do you head back to the States my dear?! Love and miss you. Your blog is beautiful. After I post this I plan to go back and read more carefully-- Love to you, Carmen
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