This is another gate in our community.  It is a vacant lot waiting to be bought.  We think they have sprayed  the "grass"  till someone builds and moves in.  Dramatic differences in gates!!!

This is Antigua.  You can see the cobblestones real well.  There is always  men on the street  fixing them.   The light is the cement they use to put them back in.   BUT  I am holding his  "hammer"
that he pounds them in with.   It is a small tree trunk  he has made into a pounding hammer.  Ithink he thought I was goofy for wanting a picture but...  See  the gorgeous door behind me.  No idea what is behind it, but in expensive part of town, so probably a gorgeous home.

This is in our community too.  It is our favourite wall.  The long lines are slightly orange.
Notice all the colours of different flowers on top of this gate!!

This is the Jacuranda tree in Central Park.  Usually it is full of Mayan women peddlarly their wares.
little boys  wanting to polish your shoes "mister"....Taken from our bank corner.

This little boy  was dancing on the corner in his little  leather jacket  and toque.  and it was at least 75 out.
\Mums  keep all their kids and babies  wrapped up. Babies are in slings on their backs,  then 1 or two
fleece blankets over them!!

First Post from Guatemala

Ian and our Guide  at one of the ruins.

Our dining room  where I am studying my spanish.   Buffet in back with my plates and land ladies.
It is so fun to have a dining room table to eat on.  We have had several guests for dinner

Outside our yard.  this is our 10' wall and the bougenvilla on top  loosing its blossoms.

Such colour all around!  This is around the corner from our casa  and a favourite door of mine.
It is not a car door  which is unusal   most have the man door  in corporated into the car door.

Can you guess what this is.   It is a new fruit to us.   They chew right on the orange part.

But look close.   the top  is ................. the cashew!!  Imagine  one cashew on each fruit.  that is why they are so expensive eh??


Sorry  this next picture  is a little park in the town of Antigua.

This shows another gate in our neighbourhood   We are out biking

Okay   this goes with one up above with  the park   It is where the Mayan women come to do their washing.   So infront of me  is the central pool of water  they scoop water into the tub where my arms are and scrub.   It is a chore, but  they do it all together   about 20 tubs here.  up street from where we
live is one with about 40 tubs, all around in a big square.   Their clothing is all embroidered  tops and skits  so heavy.   Then they have piles  they have to get back to their homes to hang out and dry.
You will see many mums with babies on their backs while they wash. or siblings playing around and oldest child  maybe 7or 8  would have the baby on his or her back!!  I don't think many go to school

This is our guide again.  Doing the tour of Antigua.  This is the working church ruins on the main square.

   Part of the church survived the earthquake  but they leave the ruins where they fell and build,

around them.
Okay  this is Ian   we walked up to the Cross on the Hill Park.  It looks down on Antigua.
just a short walk   around the way  are a few  cement "couches" to rest if you need to.  That is the
Water Volcano covered in a cloud.  It is dormant   but Fuego  is to the right and it on Saturday had
a huge cloud of smoke coming out of it!!

Jacuranda Tree in Central park   it is this colour. and the blossoms drop and you are walking on this purple carpet.