Day 3: A Day of Culture in Ancient Antigua

Today we rose to the chirping of strange birds and the steady, lazy rumble of Saturday traffic.  The storms from last night left everything humid and wet, but the crispy temperature made me think of a weekend morning during an Ohio fall.  

After a quick breakfast of eggs and tortillas, the group piled into the van and our trusty driver, Mauricio, turned us south towards Antigua.  I am always excited for this day; Antigua is a UNESCO Heritage Site and one of the oldest symbols of western civilization in the western hemisphere.  We are able to learn about the archaeological history of the Mayans and engage some of the charming Guatemalan culture that makes this country so lovely to visit. 

Our first stop was a city park high on a cliff overlooking the city.  It provides a generous view of the city’s three looming volcanoes and the colonial style buildings populating the city grid below.  The students wandered through the park and took pictures of the landscape while Andres, our indomitable guide, peppered them with facts about the city’s history, culture, and secrets (Andres is a native of Antigua, so he knows all about the juicy details).

After the park, the group meandered down the mountain and stepped into the Jade Maya museum and factory.  We were greeted by our guide’s father who gave us a thorough, informational talk about Mayan history and the significance of jade in Guatemalan culture.  Admiring copies of jade statues from famous archaeological sites in Guatemala, Mexico, and Belize, we toured the museum and heard stories of Mayan mythology, and we learned about various aspects of their culture.  The end of our romp through Mayan culture delivered us to the impressive Maya Jade factory’s store, a building bursting with exotic jewelry, carved statuary, and delicious Guatemalan coffee.  The students (and adults!) carefully picked out gifts and souvenirs for a few minutes before departing.  Before enjoying a traditional lunch at a local Antiguan restaurant, we visited a chocolate factory (more gifts, although several didn’t make it too far down the block…) and exchanged our money at the bank. 

The Antiguan experience continued with a very unique opportunity for the students: a chance to barter with the local vendors in the sprawling city marketplace.  Resting beneath the shadow of one of the volcanoes, the marketplace was a bustling bazaar of tourists, hawkers, vendors, and our excited SJJ Titans.  The guys traveled from vendor to vendor, picking out souvenirs, jerseys, bags, blankets, and machetes while practicing their negotiation skills.  Some were far more willing to engage in the bartering process than others, but I’m pretty sure we can expect some very savvy and ruthless businessmen in the future from this group of guys.   By the end of the experience, the students were carrying several bags each, most of which were filled with gifts for family and friends at home.  Even Mr. Cabrera, Mrs. Cabrera, and I joined in the fun. 

Our jaunt ended with a relaxing trip to the largest coffee plantation in Antigua.  We sipped some coffee on the veranda of a restaurant and watched the sun makes its lazy course towards the western sky above the volcanoes.  It was a very pleasant end to a surprisingly tiring day. 

We returned to the retreat house and enjoyed Pepian, a traditional Guatemalan meal, cooked up by our very talented chefs.  Although we were weary from our day of travel, we couldn’t resist a few very competitive games of Mafia before heading to bed. 

Although the day was a wonderful cultural experience for all the guys, our minds are already wandering towards the beginning of the week when we can begin our service work.  With fingers crossed, I can report that no one has yet fallen even remotely ill, and we are all in very high spirits.

 

We miss all of you at home, and we hope it isn’t too hot in Toledo (it is in the high 60s here!).  Please keep us in your prayers.  Hasta luego!

Written by Mr. Dane