When I first arrived in San PedroI I was greeted by Flor, the mother of the house. Everyone else was out for the rest of the day. She said her husband Onon, son Salou and godfather Estuardo were working on the mountain slopes cultivating corn, and the other women of the house, her mother and two daughters,were out back weaving on backstrap looms. The home was very small with no windows and one door, made of adobe bricks and a thatched roof with a hardpacked dirt floor. I looked around and saw no electrical lines or any signs of plumbing. There were chickens and turkeys running across the yard and pigs in a pen to the right of the small home. She led me in with her bright smile and I ate my
Worth the early morning, San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala
first meal with the women of the house. We ate tortillas with cooked beans and squash, a meal I was to soon be very accostomed to for my stay. After meeting the entire family and talking for hours we all went to sleep on mats on the floor.
The next day the family was very excited to show me around their village. I found out about a tour of the San Pedro Volcano that I definately had to go on. I treated the
Lago de Atitlan (Guate), San Pedro, Lago de Atitlan, Guatemala
women of the family, knowing that they've probabley never done any of the touristy stuff, and we rode on horseback halfway up the mountain, and climbed the rest. We were accompanied by a tourguide because Flor told me there is a danger of being robbed by banditos while hiking. We didn't come across any but the women said they always had
Flor and Anibal
to be careful while traveling, and they always traveled in groups.
On my last morning there I woke up earlier than the rest of the family (which was pretty darn early) and sat outside and watched the sunrise with a cup of Guatemalan coffee in my hands and a woven blanket across my lap. I have never been more at peace in my life. Once I had gathered all my things, Flor gave me a blouse with beautiful colors, the colors of the village. If only life were always so simple and peaceful. The family I stayed with had very little but they were the most happy and content family I have ever met. I will never forget my experience, and all the amazing people I was fortunate enough to encounter.
When I first arrived in San PedroI I was greeted by Flor, the mother of the house. Everyone else was out for the rest of the day. She said her husband Onon, son Salou and godfather Estuardo were working on the mountain slopes cultivating corn, and the other women of the house, her mother and two daughters,were out back weaving on backstrap looms. The home was very small with no windows and one door, made of adobe bricks and a thatched roof with a hardpacked dirt floor. I looked around and saw no electrical lines or any signs of plumbing. There were chickens and turkeys running across the yard and pigs in a pen to the right of the small home. She led me in with her bright smile and I ate my
The next day the family was very excited to show me around their village. I found out about a tour of the San Pedro Volcano that I definately had to go on. I treated the
On my last morning there I woke up earlier than the rest of the family (which was pretty darn early) and sat outside and watched the sunrise with a cup of Guatemalan coffee in my hands and a woven blanket across my lap. I have never been more at peace in my life. Once I had gathered all my things, Flor gave me a blouse with beautiful colors, the colors of the village. If only life were always so simple and peaceful. The family I stayed with had very little but they were the most happy and content family I have ever met. I will never forget my experience, and all the amazing people I was fortunate enough to encounter.
Paul, Benjamin D. Life In A Guatemalan Indian Village. Arte Maya. 17 May 2009 <http://www.artemaya.com/artist_life_bp.html>.