I heard I was

in town.

A day spent wandering around town finding new things partly due to the information found in the blog and articles of Our Man in Antigua (thanks for the information we have gleaned from your writings which precipitated a visit to Jose in his shop on 3rd Calle and apologies to the Other Michael we mistook you for a few nights ago at Ocelot).

Cruise passengers in town today which is nice because the folks in the park are preoccupied with new blood and leave us even more alone. Played cards with the shoe shine guys and then wandered north of La Merced to our old stomping grounds (back when Santa Lucia Tres was our home away from home - we have stayed at one of the other Santa Lucia's and it didn't compare to Tres. So, if you need a hotel in Antigua on the North end of town we have been satisfied over the years) and ended up at the Sunshine Grill early enough that we missed Chef Edgar's son's end of the season baseball pizza party.

A stop at Ocelot where we learned that it is difficult to play Uno by candlelight. And then back home. Here is what Agua looked like today.

And something to think about. Thinking is good.

Cent

The second group of New Recruits left and are now ensconsed safely in their abode feverishly planning their next assault. After bidding them adieu, we set about adjusting to not having anyone to boss around and ventured out through town. A beautiful sunset made Agua glow and a there was a cooking show filming in the middle of the street just north of the Arch. Thankfully we forgot to bring our camera so you don't have to scroll through mediocre photos of that. Instead, here are some mediocre photos from around the town.

 And, to the amazement of some members of the expedition, the Most Junior Member requested a hair cut - and actually received three hair cuts as said Member insisted each attempt was not short enough. Finally Most Senior Member stepped in and halted the proceedings and this is a view of the results:

Maximon

The Latest Recruits spent their last full day in Guatemala and the time was spent running around making last minute purchases. Take a look at the photographic work of Jon Kaplan to see incredible images like this one:

His gallery is on the street with the Arch and is located at the entrance to Nim Pot - your one stop shop for textiles and crafts from all over Guatemala. At the back of Nim Pot, there is a cat that Junior Member adores and visits regularly and the cat guards a small altar to Maximon who is a folk saint that is worshiped in some towns in Guatemala (but I am sure you know that because you read the Wiki entry on him we just linked to). This is a display to give you an idea of what you would see at Santiago Atitlan or Zunil where a life size Maximon sits in a house smoking cigarettes and drinking Aguardiente.

Met the South Africans on the roof of Sky Cafe to watch the sun set and Newest Recruits were able to see Fuego smoke a bit. Getting chillier when the sun goes down.

Come Monday

It will be all right. Because the 12th of December is the Dia de la Virgen de Guadelupe and there is a big celebration in front of La Merced. Parents bring their children to be blessed and there are miniature scenes set up in front of the church where the children pose on stuffed horses in front of paintings of the virgin. The boys have mustaches and beards drawn on and the girls have miniature baskets tied to their heads so they look like little adults. The virgin is then taken out of the church and paraded through town.

And these have been going off pretty consistently the whole time we have been here which can be a tad disturbing when they go off in another part of town in the middle of the day and you aren't prepared for them.