Clark-Peterek Belize

Earthquake Update

Last night a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck at 2:24 a.m. off the coast of Honduras sending shock waves throughout Central America.  We awoke to the house violently shaking. Not knowing what was happening we vacated the premises.  There was minimal damage to homes in Punta Gorda, while several coastal communities to the north received significant damage.  We were pretty shaken up, having experienced our first earthquake.  We are safe, and Peace Corps is taking every precaution to ensure our health and safety.  For the most part things have returned to normal here in PG.  Thank you for your prayers and concerns. 

You can read more about the earthquake here.  

Parque Nacional Tikal

Over the Easter Break we headed to Guatemala for a few days to check out Tikal, one of the Major sites of the Maya Civilization.

 The magnificent ruins of Tikal are set within the Parque Nacional Tikal, a protected nature reserve, located just west of the Belize/Guatemala Border in the Peten.

Tikal was occupied during the Preclassic and Classic periods, from 300 BC-900 AD.   It was rediscovered in late 1800’s.  The archaeological research and restoration of Tikal began in the 1950’s, and in 1979 Tikal National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

We stayed at La Casa De Don David, a quaint little hotel in the village of El Remate.  El Remate is famous for its woodcarvings and is set along the eastern shore of the Lago Peten Itza.  El Remate is about 30 km south of Tikal and was a great base. 

We arrived in El Remate on Thursday evening, and spent the night exploring the village and enjoying the sunset.  The next morning we woke up bright and early ready for a day at Tikal.  According to past visitors and guidebooks transportation to Tikal is affordable and readily available, with taxis, buses, and collectivos running on a regular basis.   After about an hour, we finally were able to get a private collectivo headed north.  We later found out that Good Friday is a national holiday in Guatemala and no taxis, buses, or collectivos are required to run.  

We arrived at the park mid morning eager to begin exploring.  Over 1,000 structures are scattered over 500 square kilometers, with many of the still hidden beneath mounds of earth.  Several temples tower above the jungle’s canopy rising more than 60 meters.  The site is truly amazing.  We had a great day exploring through the jungle and climbing up the Maya temples. 

We returned to El Remate and once again enjoyed a beautiful sunset over the lake.  The next day we headed back to Belize to meet my parents at the airport.  Though our trip was short, we had a great time, and we are so glad that we visited Tikal. 

Antigua, Guatemala

After some time in San Salvador, it was time to begin the journey back to Belize.  After a day of   touring the capital city, we boarded the King Quality bus bound for Guatemala City early the next morning.  The ride across the country was quite pleasant.  The seats reclined and had foot rests.  We were even served a meal and refreshments.  We crossed the border into Guatemala with no problems a few hours after leaving San Salvador.  After a five hour trip, we arrived at the bus station in Guatemala City. 

 

We have been to Guatemala City before, and we feel pretty comfortable in and around the city.  We took a taxi to different bus station, and we boarded a bus headed for Antigua.  After a trip through the streets of Guatemala City picking up passengers also bound for Antigua, we were off to last stop in our trip around Central America.

We visited Antigua last March during Semana Santa, and we highly recommend that you visit this beautiful colonial city!  The capital of the Department of Sacatepequez, in the highlands, Antigua has a population around 35,000 .  Founded in 1543, La Antigua, which  means “Old Guatemala,” and was the third capital city of the country.  After several earthquakes, the capital city was relocated to its present day location, Guatemala City.

The weather in Antigua was beautiful, and we spent our time touring the city, relaxing in the park, browsing shops, taking pictures in the market, and enjoying some delicious food.  We said goodbye to this great city and continued our trip back to Belize.  We had a wonderful time on our return trip to Antigua, and we look forward to future visits. 

We took a shuttle back to Guatemala City and loaded the Litegua bus to Puerto Barrios.  Once in Puerto Barrios, we stopped by Immigration and loaded a boat headed across the Gulf of Honduras back to Punta Gorda.

After 5 border crossings, 9 buses, 5 taxis, 3 collectivos, and 2 boat rides later,we are home.  Now it is back to work.  We have lots of exciting things happening with our projects, we look forward sharing them with you. 

Our trip around Central America was so much fun, and we truly enjoyed ourselves.  Thanks so much to Ginnie and Anthony and Bryan for the great travel trips and info! 

Happy New Year!

After a few days at home in Punta Gorda, we packed our bags again and headed south.  We boarded Requena´s Charter across the Gulf of Honduras to Puerto Barrios, Guatemala.  From Puerto Barrios we headed towards Honduras on the Litegua Bus.  After a bus stop, a border crossing, and a few taxis later, we finally arrived in Copan Ruinas, Honduras.  

Copan Ruinas is located in western Honduras near the Guatemala Border.  Copan Ruinas is a beautiful little town with cobblestone streets and very backpacker friendly.  We stayed at the Iguana Azul, a very affordable and clean hostel with hot water.  The staff was friendly and happy to help.  We celebrated the New Year on the streets of Copan Ruinas with the crowds, popping fireworks, singing, and cheering.  Residents of Copan Ruinas love fireworks and New Years was like no other.  The celebrating went on through the night and into the morning.  

On New Year's Day we hiked to the Copan Ruinas Archaeological Park, about 1 km outside of the town.  The weather was beautiful and the walk alongside the road was very pleasant.  Declared a heritage humanity site by UNESCOin 1980, Copan has been referred to as one of the most artistically advanced and elaborate of all of the ancient Maya Cities.  We spent the day touring the site and museum.  The main plaza was quite remarkable and the many carved stelae and altars were impressive. The Hieroglyphic Stairway was amazing, displaying original ancient carvings.   The Museum houses original sculptures and carvings and was definitely one of the highlights of the day.  We had a great time exploring the Ruins. 

We spent the rest of the day walking around Copan Ruinas, enjoying the wonderful weather and good food.  Copan Ruinas was a great way to begin our trip through Central America.  We are now hanging out in the artist community, La Palma, in Northern El Salvador.

Back in Punta Gorda

Sawdust between the cobblestones is all that is left of the magnificent carpets, and the floats have been put away until next year.  After a long bus ride through Guatemala and a very bumpy and wet boat ride across the Gulf of Honduras, we arrived back in Punta Gorda on Monday evening.

Antigua truly is a beautiful and unique place.  We saw some amazing things and had a great time with my parents.  We are so glad that we were able to share such a wonderful experience with them.

Easter Sunday Procession

Easter Sunday was a beautiful day.  The sun was shining bright and the crowds were full of joy as we came upon the final procession of Semana Santa.  Music was playing loudly, and people were singing and dancing. The Easter Day Procession from Hospital San Pedro Church is one of the only processions in which carriers do not have to pay a fee to participate, and men and women walk together.  It was a upbeat end to a solemn week of holy remembrance.

La Merced Procession

Thousands flock to Antigua for the La Merced Procession on Good Friday, the largest and most solemn of the Lent and Holy Week processions.  All night residents, families, and friends prepare magnificent carpets throughout the procession route.  Early on Friday morning, we walked the carpets along the route, and later watched the procession. 

 

   

San Cristobal el Bajo

On Maundy Thursday, we also saw the procession with the sculptures of Jesus Nazareno del la Humildad, Virgen de Doldores, and the saints  from the church in San Cristobal el Bajo.

San Francisco Church & Procession

Iglesia de San Francisco is one of the many churches in Antigua.  The church was badly damaged and left in ruins after the earthquakes of 1773.  Reconstruction of the church was completed in 1970.  Today San Francisco Church houses the tomb of Santo Hermano Pedro de san Jose de Betancurt, a monk who founded a hospital for the poor, and Guatemala’s most venerated local Christian, who was made a saint by Pope John Paul II in 2002.

We visited San Francisco Church, the Museo del Hermano Pedro located inside the grounds, and the ruins of the adjoining monastery.  We witnessed the velacion, or holy vigil, and the making of a beautiful carpet the next day in preparation for the procession on Maundy Thursday.  The Christ figure, Jesus Nazareno del Perdon, was sculptured in 1630 and is carried on the shoulders of 60 cucuruchos, and 40 women carry the Virgen de Dolores figure.

 

Chichicastenango

Early Wednesday morning we took a shuttle to the town of Chichicastenango, about 2½ hours northwest of Antigua.  Known as Chichi, it is home to the largest indigenous market in Guatemala.  Villagers from the surrounding area come to Chichi to sell their wares and gather supplies. 

The market is usually held on Thursdays and Sundays, but due to Holy Week, it was held on Wednesday.  The change in days had no effect on the market.  It was incredible.  Vendors in stalls and along the sidewalk stretched for blocks, and they were all ready to make a deal.  The crowd was alive and the streets were packed.