I switched hotels and moved to a place closer to the main plaza where the action is. I’ll find out tonight if that was a good idea. It’s two bucks cheaper, so that’s a plus.
I arrived to find the streets blocked off and full of people decorating the pavement with “alfombras”, carpets of colored saw dust. Each of the streets was being worked by different organizations, such as neighborhood associations and churches. They later got destroyed as they were trampled as part of today’s Good Friday observance.
But that was in the evening. The afternoon event was a crucifixion reenactment preceded by processions and before culminating with the crosses raised in the plaza. I followed one procession for a bit in the morning, watching as they slowly marched through the city center and stopping for prayers at selected “stations”.
Later the Romans drove Jesus to the plaza where he was to be executed. While I was watching I overheard some other spectators speaking and one asked the other if they were Catholic. I didn’t catch the answer, but the fact it was a question is interesting. I’ve noticed mostly evangelical style churches on my ride in, very few of the large central churches that are in virtually every Mexican town. Catholicism is not the default here.
People seem friendly but reserved. When riding past people I often get stares but if I say good morning or afternoon I always get smiles and greetings in return. In addition to stares I’ve had a lot of people yell out “Hi!” in English and several wave me down, eager to talk. Invariably they learned English during a working stint in the US.
Another thing I’ve noticed is that I’m usually the tallest person, by several inches.
There’s a “grittiness” here that I didn’t notice in Mexico. Mexico felt to me to be prosperous and modern (no go zone’s notwithstanding) while Guatemala does not. I don’t recall noticing this when I was last here in the 1970’s, but suspect it’s I who has changed and it’s always been like this.
I’m going to stay another day. My hotel is comfortable and inexpensive and I need to work on my mental game. I remain unenthusiastic about the road ahead and have to fix that before I’ll be able to ride it. Meanwhile I’m enjoying doing nothing Also, if I leave on Easter Sunday traffic should be light.
On the side of a school I passed in search of a different hotel
This is a communal laundry, with women washing clothes by hand. I walked past and thought “Shucks, another cool thing I can’t photograph because it would be rude”. But I changed my mind, went back and explained to the ladies that I’d never seen anything like this before and could I please have a picture for my memories
I don’t know if this is fresh or salt water fish. I feel inland, but really this country is so small that either coast is nearby. I probably won’t eat any fish anyway, not a big fan
At this stop they offered prayers to exploited workers and parables to bring them comfort and the strength to persevere and thus perpetrating their condition
They later passed by my hotel, bringing Jesus to his fate. The guards took their roles seriously, it looked like an uncomfortable experience for the condemned but the crowds enjoyed it
I knew from my earlier explorations that there was a row of food vendors at the end of the next street in the path of the procession. I wisely went over before it arrived to avoid the crush that followed once it past
Rich FrasierAmazing pictures and journaling. Thanks for documenting something I would never see for myself. It was fascinating. Reply to this comment 1 month ago
