March 1st to sunday the 14th

On monday, I worked on the electrical setup for the chicken house with Julien. Im glad I got to have a bit of experience in that field. Knowing how to set up wires for lights and such could be useful later on. Richard, a professional water seeker, showed the workers how he does it. The day went by pretty quickly and was a good one.
Tuesday, I had to stay home to work on the accounting. Have to finish the month in the books!
Wednesday, we kept working on the electricity.
Thursday, we had a used clothing sales. The Padre came by with Carlos as well.
And Friday, it was back to electricity.
On Saterday, the others went to Livingston, and the rest of us went to a river near by (an hour of walking to get there!) I didnt swim but it was a nice place and I had fun exploring around. We then did the groceries at Rio Dulce and went to eat at the Tortugal, a restaurant only accessible by boat. Their boat picked us up at the dock and 5 minutes later we were there. The food was also very good.
Sunday, we had pizza for lunch, which is always pretty good and then headed down to Quirigua. Since I had already seen that site, even though is was very nice and interesting, I stayed in the car and read. I also went down to the banana plantations and walked around a bit in the endless rows of banana trees. We had diner at the backpackers.
On Monday the 8th, it was Pierre and Julien's turns to go down to Belize and get their passports stamped. At the farm, I helped out witht he cement for the waterdraining sidewalk around the chicken house. Veto let me try flattening the cement, which was cool, but very hard to get perfectly. He said I was doing good but I'm pretty sure he went over what I did once I was gone!
I then headed off to watch the digging of a well.
The next day, I decided to finally film the trip from the house to the farm. Something I wanted to do for a while, thinking it would be cool to make a video using that footage. Suprisingly my camera batteries lasted the whole 20 minutes of filming... but they died shortly after. At the farm, we worked yet again on the electricity and at night Richard showed me how to find water, using sticks or a pendulum. It was all very interesting but I have my doubts...
Wednesday, we finished the electricity set up for the chicken house. We were very proud of our work indeed. After lunch, I helped Juan pick up branches in the forest in back of the house there. He tells me about all his numerous plans for the farm. Open a nature parc with animals and plants and fruits, have a farming school, have tourists stay there, making a movie about the farm, etc. He also tells me about glowing trees and fireballs at night. Again, his stories are very interesting but...
On Thursday, we left to go to Guate, missed the bus so Pierre brought us to Rio Dulce where the bus was still there. I read the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman in the bus. I had already read that book but found it fun to read and with goods ideas. Back at the capital city, there were a bunch of new people. I quickly hid myself the finish my book. After that, I met Alex-Ann, a very nice 14 year old girl with whom I spent a bit of time afterwards. I then played cards with a few kids that were there and started reading Fatal Voyage by Kathy Reichs. Then, I went to bed.
Friday, after breakfast, we left for Atitlan. We stopped at Solola and at a nice viewing spot to look at the lake. I found that it was very similar to the Lemen Lake in Switzerland. It is a big lake surrounded by volcanoes and typical guatemalean villages. We then arrived at Panajachel, at the hotel Paraidiso, which was pretty nice. After lunch we went to see the next village around the lake. A church there was playing a tape very loud so that the whole village could hear it. After a bit of religious talking they but some very nice classical music on which I found gave the village a pleasant background noise. After walking a bit around, I decided to climb the hill to get to a small church far up in the village. I spoke to a family on the way and then to some villagers who were planting some onions on the way back. Then it was back to the bus and we went back to Panajachel. I walked around in that city a bit and we then went to eat out. In the evening, I walked some with Alex-Ann on the shores of the lake. We found a place that seemed fun with live music but didnt go in. We then went back to sleep where Alex-Ann tried very hard to stop me from doing, herself not being able to fall alseep.
On Saterday, we went to eat breakfast and, seeing a man and his goat on the street, we bought a cup of fresh... or warm goat milk. The taste was not that bad but the aftertaste wasnt so great... We then headed off to take a boat to the other side of the lake, Santiago. As soon as we step off hte boat, a guide seems to want to bring us to see Maximon, a religious personification. Josée, Lucille, Jean-Yves and I decide to go along with him. After a truck ride along with locals, we arrive at a near municipality called Chicacao and go see this Maximon in his house. It was quite fun even if a bit of a tourist trap. However, it was the real thing and lots of people come down there to speak with Maximon and offer him pieces of cloth, alcohol, cigarettes and money. After that, we visited the catholic church in town and the market. Back to Panajachel, we took a tuktuk, small car like motorcycle that serves as a taxi around town. This was pretty entertaining even if we did go along the same roads a few times. Alex and I then went walking a bit around town and to the beach. We crossed a river and found a huge gathering of people which seemed to be a big scout gathering. Yes, there seems to be scouts even here in Guatemala. We walked a bit further and on the way woke up a dog or something who suddenly got very angry with us and bit me... I think it was the first time I was bitten by a dog. It didnt hurt that much but I have to admit I was a bit more cautious afterwards when walking passed dogs, as there are many dogs in the streets here. Anyways, we decided to head back, taking a route leading to the suspended bridge. After having waited a bit at the hotel, a small group of us went to a restaurant near the water front. It was alright but the only employee there was clearly not expecting such a big group. After dinner, Alex and I then went to sit and talk on a dock. We went to bed at 10h30 and got up the next day at 5h15. Maybe I should have been more responsable and saved Alex from being very very tired on Sunday, but then again, we all make our own choices dont we.
On sunday the 14th of march, we went down to Chichicastenango. Had breakfast at a very nice and probably expensive hotel and then we were all free to walk around the big and crowded city market. There were endless streets and alleys fill with kiosks and stores and the streets soon got so crowded that you could barely turn around on yourself. I visited a big church where they celebrate half catholic-half mayan ceremonies. I then walked around with Lucille, in search of adventures. We decide to go looking for the live chicken and turkey market but while on this quest, we see a few people carying incense and playing some instruments all walking in a line going up a little hill and into a what seems to be residencial area. We decided to follow them, after having asked permission of course. We walked up a little path zigzaging through randomly placed and piled up houses all the way to a specific house, where a religious ceremony was being held. They then invited us inside so we went in with them. Inside were a few religious artifacts and lots of incense smoke as well as benches where they sat around. They offered us some of their drink, which I think was a diluted version of a guatemalan licor. This was some experience! The religious idol was a little statue of a man on a horse. I learnt afterwards that he was the man who brought firecrackers to Guatemala, something everyone here likes to set off all the time. Unfortunately I have forgotten his name. After thanking the people there, we headed off and found the cemetary, which we visited of course. And we then found the chicken market. Back at the town center where the church was, processions were starting, we tried to follow them but there was too many people to move around much. I also had cinder fall on my head which burnt some of my hair and a hole in my t-shirt. After all these adventures, and great insights into the local culture, we went to eat pizza and then it was back to the bus. They were playing some swing and rock music at a supermarket near the parking spot and this created a big party among our group which started dancing around. This made for some entertainment, especialy for the locals watching us! On the way back to Guate, we stopped at an other of our projects called Hogar Shalom, an only-guys orphanage and school. They also gave us a marimba concert which was cool. We then headed off back home. It was a very fun weekend.