Our adventure has taken us into the Central Highlands of Guatemala, and to the artisan to
wn of San Juan Comalapa. As we entered into the town we saw the expansive and famous mural. The quarter-mile painting tells the history of the Kechi-qel people from their part of the Mayan empire, the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, civil wars and dictators to their hopes for education, community development and self-empowerment. It is breathtaking to walk along. The mural lines the outer wall of the town's cemetery. From the outside, we can see the colorful tops of the graves lined with flowers and candles. We are eager to walk through th
e cemetery one day.
We came to Comalapa to volunteer with Long Way Home, a nonprofit organization that works with the surrounding communities on development projects such as reforestation, alternative building methods, water improvements and community parks. But most importantly, the website said they have an organic garden that needed work. We were also told they would welcome help on building a kitchen out of rammed earth bags, but the moment Matteo (Project Coordinator) heard Andy had done web design work, Andy has been working overtime redesigning Long Way Home's website. Check it out at: longwayhomeinc.org, it is a really amazing organization.
My assigned project has been to paint almost every day! I have painted fences a beautiful green
and painted signs for leading to the campo de futbol at Parque Chimiya, the protected community park, the organic garden, and the Casa de Voluntarios, our home. We have spent a lot of time together in the garden and have found so many pottery shards and obsidian flakes that we are fantasizing about conducting an archaeological report...
We have been here two weeks now, and we are sublimely happy. We believe in the organization and the people who work in it. We love Comalapala, the beautiful people and the incredible green hills of pine trees. Less than two hours west, are the ruins of Ixsmiche in Tecpan. We spent two days in the town and hours climbing up and down the ruins. We even happened upon an area that was stills used for Kechi-qel rituals and sacrifices today. As we walked up, the central pit was smoldering from a fire and there were freshly lit candles placed in
the towering altars. We looked quickly, and respectfully returned to the public site.
wn of San Juan Comalapa. As we entered into the town we saw the expansive and famous mural. The quarter-mile painting tells the history of the Kechi-qel people from their part of the Mayan empire, the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, civil wars and dictators to their hopes for education, community development and self-empowerment. It is breathtaking to walk along. The mural lines the outer wall of the town's cemetery. From the outside, we can see the colorful tops of the graves lined with flowers and candles. We are eager to walk through th
e cemetery one day.
We came to Comalapa to volunteer with Long Way Home, a nonprofit organization that works with the surrounding communities on development projects such as reforestation, alternative building methods, water improvements and community parks. But most importantly, the website said they have an organic garden that needed work. We were also told they would welcome help on building a kitchen out of rammed earth bags, but the moment Matteo (Project Coordinator) heard Andy had done web design work, Andy has been working overtime redesigning Long Way Home's website. Check it out at: longwayhomeinc.org, it is a really amazing organization.
My assigned project has been to paint almost every day! I have painted fences a beautiful green
and painted signs for leading to the campo de futbol at Parque Chimiya, the protected community park, the organic garden, and the Casa de Voluntarios, our home. We have spent a lot of time together in the garden and have found so many pottery shards and obsidian flakes that we are fantasizing about conducting an archaeological report...
We have been here two weeks now, and we are sublimely happy. We believe in the organization and the people who work in it. We love Comalapala, the beautiful people and the incredible green hills of pine trees. Less than two hours west, are the ruins of Ixsmiche in Tecpan. We spent two days in the town and hours climbing up and down the ruins. We even happened upon an area that was stills used for Kechi-qel rituals and sacrifices today. As we walked up, the central pit was smoldering from a fire and there were freshly lit candles placed in
the towering altars. We looked quickly, and respectfully returned to the public site.
We hope you
have a delicious Turkey Day! We will be spending that holiday on the beaches of Sipacate! Don´t worry, we will tell you all how incredible the waves are!Picture of two of my students at Casa Guatemala; Jennica and Karla! They loved the book Shelley! Thanks!
1 comment:
Happy Thanksgiving adventurers!
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