Utatlan

I'm still in Quetzaltenango but will be leaving this coming Wednesday. If you're thinking I've been here for a while, you would be correct. 

I started off here with Anna, then once she left, enrolled myself in some Spanish classes with a homestay. I was with the Lopez family, who were very friendly but it just wasn't a right fit - so ended up moving out after a fortnight into a long stay hostel with Garin, Ted, Rick, Trev, Arron and Christina (other Spanish school students.) 

There are plenty of spanish schools to pick in Xela, and I chose Utalan because it's got some good prices, reviews and a range of activities. It's a social school but I have learnt a lot in the last month or so - I'm able to read/write most and it's just actually trying to practice speech.

                                                       Cemetery in Xela

We went to the Cemetery, different to most cemeteries back home, they are built above ground and very multicoloured. Large angels are found throughout with missing hands and heads. During the large gang wars, they were stolen and sold. 

The Bake shop is owned by the Mennonites (Christian group based around church communities of anti baptist deminations ~Wikipedia.) Think Amish, but different. They're only open Tuesdays and Fridays from 9am - 3pm and have a wide range of products from coconut oil, granola, bread, cheese & milks from goats and cows and a large selection of amazing cookies, cakes and sweet breads. 

In the town of San Andrés Xecul, 30-40 minutes out of Xela, via chicken bus is the famous yellow church. Decorated with multicoloured Mayan and Catholic symbolic details, it's the brightest church in all of Central America. It even has a smaller sister church, only a 10 minute walk away. 

While in San Andrés Xecul we went into someone's tienda (corner shop) where in the back you're able to pay Q5 to see San Simon, or Saint Maximon where the local Guatemalans give offerings of booze, smokes and money to this womanizing, drinking and smoking saint. 

Spent a weekend in Montericco which is a costal town full of little wooden stalls selling various souvenirs, fresh ceviche (a South American dish of marinated raw fish) and fresh coconuts. We stayed in a hotel with two to a room, included breakfast and large pool- which worked out because it was nearly impossible to actually swim in the beach as the waves would just throw you down. 

Montericco also has a 20km long nature reserve known as Biotopo Monterrico-Hawaii. So at 5am four out of our school group groggily got up and spend a few hours on a paddle boat along the mangroves. According to lonely planet, this nature reserve is made of 25 lagoons all connected through the mangroves.

Easter or known here as Semana Santa, was insanely busy. With processions happening morning to night with people carrying these giant floats, and parading with large banners, candles and incense. 

Spent the Friday with the school making burritos and mojitos.

Long post, but that's the monthly update! Leaving Wednesday for Cobán,  and Semuc Champey. 

xxx SJ