Back with water and electricity...

...the things we take for granted are amazing.

After almost two weeks in the village, we are back in Xela. Yesterday was the Mayan day of rain and incredibly, after months of dryness, it did! A torrential downpour for a few hours last night and then this evening on the road. Up here in the mountains, the clouds are impressive. The odd thing is that in the villages, I could never tell what direction they were coming from since they didn't appear to be moving: quite strange for a weather geek from a flat city by a lake.

Even though I have been visiting the same area for a decade, we visited a new place I had not even heard of that was only a 20-min walk from where we stay. It's a sacred Mayan site that is currently in use...the location commands a 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains. There are some big stones in a slightly wooded area (the entire region is deforested). The layout is like the naves of a church and you can sit in the stones. There are beliefs about what the area was used for, but I don't think it matters. The energy there was so strong and sacred and supportive, that I felt as if I could just stay and be content. This is all the more surprising because of the terror of war that was a constant for 35 years in this region. Additionally, the Maya were not allowed to practice their religion openly until after the peace accords which were less than 20 years ago. Maybe the land is reclaiming the spirit for the people...

Daily rhythms in rural Guatemala

apologies in advance for keyboard where it's easier to write without capitals..

i've been coming here now to the AFOPADI projects for 10 years, the last 3 in my dual capacity with SSG and Earthways, and it's an amazing gift of perspective. it hardly takes long to be reminded of daily passages. the roosters crow, people stir, the water comes on for a few hours (the population has grown so much that the water runs out about 8 am), the sun becomes incredibly strong, the wind blows up, birds chirp, a loudspeaker announces the village gathering, the energy calms, the stars emerge and i am overwhelmed with our small place in this world.

Hola de Quetzaltenango

Hi from beautiful Quetzaltenango (known here in Guatemala as Xela). We are up at about 7000 feet and ringed by impressive volcanoes. Sleeping here is always a challenge in terms of the cold, so we are happy to leave soon for the village where AFOPADI is based in the mountain villages near Huehuetenango.
As always, the Guatemalans are so incredibly warm and fun and we instantly feel at home. This year I am traveling with another SSG board member who speaks Spanish and has traveled the world, so I look forward to seeing newly through her eyes.
Always changes here in this country, and not necessarily for the better. Since a year ago there are fancy new houses nearby and I leave it to your imagination to wonder how they are financed. Also, it is more dangerous and we heard about that for the first time from several employees in Antigua. Both robberies and murders. So, if visit this country I love, you must be streetwise. But we are in good hands and soon away from tourists, so there is less to rob.

(En route from Xela to the village west of Huehuetenango...)

Winter on Lake Michigan

Even though it is for the wrong reasons (likely effect of Arctic warming), I have appreciated having a real winter. Having the edge of the lake frozen feels right to me, like when I was a child.

Here's my selfie with Cottonwood (I think). The sounds of the branches swaying in summer another childhood memory. The sun emerged today after yesterday's 4-5" of snow and cast wonderful shadows. One missing shadow just beyond the frame is an Ash that came down last year. One good effect of the winter might be putting a dent in Emerald Ash Borer.

The birds have begun to sing again and soon the beach will host the sounds of joyful play in waves.

Catkins in the snow

So distracted at a client's yesterday that I did not notice the catkins on this Harry's Walking Stick until I downloaded images today.
Slightly different feel than previous post...

Trees in Bay Area

Here are a few images from my CA trip 2 weeks ago.

(It was 1 degree F in Evanston around 6 am today.)

 Berkeley, early blooming Magnolia (drought?)

 San Francisco, View from Legion of Honor

 Pt. Reyes, a bit of wetland helps

Berkeley, where else?

The Edible Schoolyard, Berkeley

Made it home to Evanston in between snowstorms & bitter cold. I confess that it was nice to be in the Bay area when it was warm & dry, though the reason (an intense drought) is not good for obvious reasons. The weird weather meant plants were off-schedule...will show that in another post. Meantime, I was thrilled to explore The Edible Schoolyard in Berkeley (Alice Waters, of Chez Panisse).

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