David and Elyse Guatemala 2022: 08/02/22

Hay Una Fiesta!

After another prolonged delay in posting, we have A LOT to present. We have many pictures to share that attempt to capture the fascinating culture, people, geography, nature, and just simple photos of us for our parents to see!

For this post - Sunday and Monday of last week (July 24 & 25) marked not just Elyse's birthday, but the conclusion of the two week city-wide celebration of Las Fiestas Reales de Santiago.

For Elyse's birthday celebration Sunday, after a brunch buffet at one of the fancier spots in Antiqua, we played tourists, walking around the city taking pictures of pretty things and ending at Parque Central, where we people watched for a few hours until it was time for la Quema de Toritos - the burning of the bulls! No, not real bulls. Simply a few brave souls running around carrying on their backs metal contraptions that shoot off fireworks as people scream and run away. You have to see it to believe it. A short video is posted below.

Monday was a full-fledged city holiday, with a parade that moved along at a snail's pace celebrating the city's colonial history and the city's patron saint, Santiago. An evening concert featured many popular Guatemalan bands going late into the night. We retired before the youngin' did and managed to capture a couple more photos of Volcan Fuego erupting in the night sky.

Enjoy the photos!

Sunday, July 24

Catedral San José in Parque Central (Birds of Paradise behind Elyse!)

Beautiful entrance to Hotel Camino Real, with fountains on left and Volcan Agua in the background

A chicken bus! (Actually una camioneta, which is a retired school bus from the US decorated up and used for bus transportation around the country.)

A hummingbird feeding on our Jade Vine.

Marimba band performing

PEOPLE WATCHING

A street vendor working her fabric making craft

The public fountain in Parque Central up close!

Character balloons within transparent balloon with lights is a big thing

Selling coffee out of his backback!

WATCH OUT FOR EL TORITO!

A video of the madness! (If it doesn't work, we'll try to fix the posting later.)

Monday, July 25 - PARADE!

Protesters complaining that the mayor shut down a municipal butchery without any concern for the workers, held up the parade. Democracy is somewhat alive still in Guatemala!

It's not a Central American patron saint holiday with Jesus! Young people carried a float of Jesus around Parque Central (very slowly, with lots of incense)