Guatemala- Our Christmas Turkey

Free Range. We're having chicken this Pea-turkey is way too beautiful to eat.

Guatemala~ Feliz Navidad

Why hang stockings by the chimney with care when you can hang a candy filled Santa, Snoopy and Grandma from the rafters. One good smack to each guarantees a real Christmas sugar high that should last for weeks, or at least until New Years Eve.
       
We've been on the move back and forth between Honduras and Guatemala this Christmas season. Never knowing what to expect in any one town we just follow the sound of drums and see what we find. We were not sure what these giants were supposed to mean but we loved the marimba band in the truck following them.

Cute kids are even cuter in angelic costumes and even this infant in this living creche is part of the celebration.

 What we've found universal in Central America is the love of noise, loud noise. Fireworks and large speakers at maximum distortion rule the airwaves. It seems everyday is some saints patron day and an occasion for fireworks but during the holiday season all hell breaks loose because of course, Jesus ranks supreme with Santa as a close second. 

We are beginning to think that if it is this loud now for Christmas we might need to stock up for New Years Eve and join the parties in the streets. Sleep is not an option.

Feliz Navidad !

Honduras ~ It Is Official

We have aged up!  I don't mean that we've gotten older (although we have) but that our interests have changed.  No bungee jumping or zip lines for us, not when we can spend our days up close and personal with the birds and butterflies.  How often do you get a chance to be kissed by a butterfly?

Copan is home to the Macaw Mountain Bird Sanctuary where around 200 birds have found a new life after being recused from owners that either neglected or abused them or could no longer care for their bird.  Even though I prefer to see birds in the wild this place is the aviary equivalent of the 4Seasons.... and they seemed to love our company.

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We enjoyed watching the rescued birds at the Sanctuary and the wild Macaws at the Mayan ruins so much  that we hired the local bird expert Alex, to take us bird wathing in the mountains around Copan. Up and out at 5:00 AM we were on the trail  in time to hear and see the forest come alive. Amazing! I thought it would be easy to spot the large red Macaws in the wild but not so, they looked like all the other flowers on a trees until I looked closer. We saw flocks of bright green parrots that blended so well with the folarge that they were near impossible too see - until Alex pointed them out that is.  We had a great time and I think we'll be seeing a lot more birds as we travel through Central and South America.

Honduras ~ No Cowboy Catchers

Gracias Dios, we are not trying to catch a cowboy, we just don't have the right shoes! After only two months my shoes needed some modification (and I don't mean adding heels). Fortunately it's easy and cheap to get shoes fixed here because I plan to walk the treads off these shoes.

Honduras- High in Honduras!

How to catch a cowboy in Honduras?Just walk across the cobblestone street in a pair of these.

Honduras- There is an app for this!

We are here in Copan Honduras and are straddling two very different worlds, the iPhone world at my fingertips and the entire town outside that is humming with generators due a power outage. No power is expected until late evening, if that. To provide all our loving fans at home more up to the minute posts of our wanderings I have downloaded an app on my iPhone so we can post from our favorite toy.

Guatemala~ Maximon~ The Smoking Drinking God

Here's one God I wanted to find out more about, he loves to smoke cigars, drink whiskey and enjoys glitz and blazing offerings. In the highlands of Guatemala he is a favorite Mayan deity. He seems to be a deity morphed from Maya gods, catholic saints, and Spanish conquistadors; needless to say the catholic church is not too keen on his popularity.

Each village has their own effigy of Maximon which is hosted by a different Mayan family each year, either in their home or nearby church. Villagers seek out Maximon's help in times of need whether it be poor health, love lost or found, a better crop, or a nasty enemy that needs a hex. Different colored candles indicate the different needs, the black candles are for the hex's.

Enterprising vendors are always there to help facilitate all your offering needs. You can even buy a Maximon effigy for yourself but only one is the official Maximon in the village.

Outside the church offerings are assembled with candles, cigars, whiskey, coke, candy, and a generous sprinkling of sugar before being ignited. At that point the shaman and family pray, sing and dance around the offering. Once the ritual is completed the host shaman is paid for his efforts and the safe keeping of Maximon which of course includes the side benefits of drinking the whiskey and smoking the cigars.

Guatemala~Weekend in the Park

Since we have been serious ‘estudiantes’ our playtime has been limited to the weekends. Here in Antigua it is springtime in November and similar to June in the states there are lots of weddings, fiestas, and weekend markets.

The Parque Central is party central with lots of photo opportunities.

Our favorites: Architectural details, kids, colorful Mayan women, brides in ruins, Ronald McDonald, fun sculpture, confusing contemporary images of Jesus and of course we assumed it was his large foot with the nail in it. Now as we are approaching Christmas the decorations are starting to appear, don’t throw away that old tire just add some silver paint and an old wine bottle and hang it on the front door. Be the envy of all your neighbors.