These are Calla Lilies. They grow wild here. In the states...they are $8 a piece.
Well I haven't been blogging for quite a while for a couple reasons. One, I haven't really felt like it. Two, I am not really sure if anyone is reading this, so I haven't really felt like it.
But mostly because...from San Christobal I crossed the border into Quetzaltenango Guatemala (Everyone calls it Xela though. Pronounced Shayla.) Anyway, I started going to a language school in Xela called Celas Maya. I was studying Spanish 25 hours a week and living with a local family there. I liked the city and the school, but after studying 25 hours a week I was so tired by the end of it that I rarely wanted to go out and do things, or blog for that matter. However, I did do a few things while I was there, so here is what I did:
After being there for a few days I rented a bike over the weekend. I rode to the new LDS temple site in Xela and then the next day I went to ride to a town about 5-6 mile away but got lost so I ended up in a different town called Salcaja. Salcaja is home to the oldest church in Central America. Maybe in the America's period. It was built sometime around 1514 or something like that. If you consider Columbus getting here in 1492 then it gives you an idea of just how old it is. I am not sure. Anyway, I didn't know that when I rode my bike there, but the next day we visited the town, and the church, with my language school. I feel very special now for having seen the oldest church in Central America. It pretty much makes me really cool. ;) We also visited a guy that was weaving on a loom. This was fascinating to me to watch and I have included some pictures.
Another day I went with the school to a place called Fuentes Gorginas. It is some hot springs up in the mountains that is heated by the nearby volcano. This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been in my life. It was honestly amazing and the water felt great. Xela is cold and I just couldnt ever seem to get warm until I went to Fuentes. I would highly recommend people go there. There are little cabins with fire places next to the hot springs for about $15 US a night.
Under a bridge on the way to Fuentes Gorginas.I don't think I took any pictures at Fuentes.
The hot springs were next to the villages of Zunil and Almolonga. These two places grow 84% of the worlds vegetables. I know what you are thinking. Really? The answer is...No not really. I made that part up. But there were a lot of vegetables and what was interesting was that they will put a field just about anywhere they can. These are mountain villages on the sides of volcanoes pretty much. Some of these fields are on 45 degree slopes. It just amazes me.
This gives you somewhat of an idea what the fields are like.These were not even on that steep of hills compared to others.
Another thing I did with the school was go to Copavic. This is a glass blowing factory. Personally I could watch glass blowing all day long. I think it is one of the most fascinating things I have ever seen. I love it. For those who have never seen it, they do it up at Sundance behind the restaurants. Go check it out. It is cool to watch. Copavic makes 73.89% of the worlds hand blown glass. Again, this is not true. I am just trying to make the places I have been sound cooler.
I decided to move on from Xela and stay with a Guatemalan family I have known for 10 years. I went to Guatemala City one night, basically missed the bus back to Xela (4 hours away) and so I stayed with this family. They live about 1 hour from Guate City. They offered to let me come stay with them and so I decided to take them up on it. They have a few kids and it has been good for Spanish practice. I liked my family in Xela, but they didn't have internet and I was spending most of my nights at internet cafe's and so I never really got the chance to talk to them. This family has internet which has been nice.
One other cool thing that happened...I was in an earthquake. It seriously was one of the coolest feelings ever. It was a 6.1 and I was about 25 miles away from it. It didn't feel incredibly strong where I was at but it was still fun for me.
I went to Antigua today. I wanted to get some pictures but by the time I got there it was raining pretty good. The bus stopped right at the Artisans Market and I never made it past the market. I had a good time wandering around looking at stuff and haggling on price. I actually bought myself something for about the first time since I have been here. That is about all I have been up to so I will have to tell you more later.
Right now I am just sitting here sipping on my favorite drink, a Brazilian Lemonade. If you have been to Tucanos or Rodizios and had it there you will know what I am talking about. I decided to include the recipe for all 4 of you that actually read this blog. Here it is:
INGREDIENTS
* 2 limes
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
* 3 cups water
* ice
* Fruit of Choice if desired. I usually make mine with raspberries. (I am not sure how much to tell you to use. Just do it to taste)
DIRECTIONS
1. Wash limes thoroughly. Cut off the ends and slice into eight wedges. Place limes.
2. Blend the sugar, sweetened condensed milk, and water until dissolved.
3. Add lime wedges (and other fruit if desired) and pulse 5 times. It will get too tart and bitter if you do it much more than that.
4. Strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove rinds. Serve over ice.
This is seriously the best drink EVER. Keep in mind that the longer it sits, the more it starts to get bitter. So don't make it too long before hand.
