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[Weaving
Classes]
[ Up ] [ San Pedro la Laguna ] [ San Juan la Laguna ] [ Santiago Atitlán ] |
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In San Pedro la Laguna is
generally a quiet town. That makes it good for studying as there are not a
lot of distractions. Swimming constitutes the most wonderful pastime and
may Pedranos swim on a daily basis, either in the morning or after work
The lake is cool and refreshing, and swimming at six in the morning makes
the rest of the day a delight. |
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When the weather is
less than perfect, you are compensated with spectacular and
always-changing cloud formations
around the mountains. |
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 Near
the muelle [dock] for Santiago Atitlán. You can arrange to rent
horses. They however can take you only part way up the volcano. The ascent
up the volcano takes about four hours. It is good to be cautious as I have
heard rumors of people being robbed. Talk to Vicente or Samuel
before you go, perhaps go in a large group and don't take valuables. Start
very early in the cool of the day because in the heat of the afternoon you
could easily get seriously dehydrated. |
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  Growing
coffee provides spending money for the campesino families of San Pedro and
other towns aroung the lake. You will see coffee beans being processed and
drying all around the edges of town. The smell of the coffee berries is
distinctive, and if you are lucky to be there when the coffee plants are
in flower you will find the countryside filled with their perfume. |
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 The
people of San Pedro have worked hard to give their children a good
education. As a result there has been sufficient money to rebuilt older
houses. When the land the building is built on is divided among the
children, the old building comes down and several two or three story
concrete block buildings go up. It is less picturesque, but is more
comfortable, cleaner, and safer in earthquakes. There are still quite a
number of very old structures in San Pedro. This one is the only one I
know of which has one of the bird tiles on the peak of the roof. Someone
told me a story/myth to the eff ect
that some conquistadors had killed all the Mayan women in some town and
they had come back as birds. I probably don't have it right so don't quote
me, but there is some legend connected with these bird tiles. The window
at right has a double headed quetzal bird carved above it. |
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  Onions
and tomatoes require a lot of water and are grown on the low plots close
to the lake. You will see people cleaning and sorting onions near the dock
to Santiago. The plots are very beautiful and only a few minutes walk from
Casa Rosario. |
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 Each
Friday during lent there is a procession to all the stations of the cross
set up around town. If you are not fortunate enough to be there during
Semana Santa or for the Festival of San Pedro June 24th, don't worry.
There are lots of reasons for processions. |
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 Feliciano
Pop, a former mayor of San Pedro, has devoted his retirement to helping
those less fortunate than himself. He has opened a small museum filled
with stone carvings he has made. He has had an interesting and sometimes
difficult life, which he will be happy to tell you about if you visit him. |
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[Weaving
Classes]
[ San Pedro la Laguna ] [ San Juan la Laguna ] [ Santiago Atitlán ] |
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|
Near
the muelle [dock] for Santiago Atitlán. You can arrange to rent
horses. They however can take you only part way up the volcano. The ascent
up the volcano takes about four hours. It is good to be cautious as I have
heard rumors of people being robbed. Talk to Vicente or Samuel
before you go, perhaps go in a large group and don't take valuables. Start
very early in the cool of the day because in the heat of the afternoon you
could easily get seriously dehydrated.
Growing
coffee provides spending money for the campesino families of San Pedro and
other towns aroung the lake. You will see coffee beans being processed and
drying all around the edges of town. The smell of the coffee berries is
distinctive, and if you are lucky to be there when the coffee plants are
in flower you will find the countryside filled with their perfume.
The
people of San Pedro have worked hard to give their children a good
education. As a result there has been sufficient money to rebuilt older
houses. When the land the building is built on is divided among the
children, the old building comes down and several two or three story
concrete block buildings go up. It is less picturesque, but is more
comfortable, cleaner, and safer in earthquakes. There are still quite a
number of very old structures in San Pedro. This one is the only one I
know of which has one of the bird tiles on the peak of the roof. Someone
told me a story/myth to the eff
ect
that some conquistadors had killed all the Mayan women in some town and
they had come back as birds. I probably don't have it right so don't quote
me, but there is some legend connected with these bird tiles. The window
at right has a double headed quetzal bird carved above it.
Onions
and tomatoes require a lot of water and are grown on the low plots close
to the lake. You will see people cleaning and sorting onions near the dock
to Santiago. The plots are very beautiful and only a few minutes walk from
Casa Rosario.
Each
Friday during lent there is a procession to all the stations of the cross
set up around town. If you are not fortunate enough to be there during
Semana Santa or for the Festival of San Pedro June 24th, don't worry.
There are lots of reasons for processions. 
