Yoga in Guatemala – 90 minutes of stretching, meditating motion

I don’t usually wake up early but with all the walking and the hard bed, I’ve not been sleeping very well.  So this morning Bruce insisted I go to the yoga class hoping it would help him get some sleep.  I wasn’t sure what to expect and didn’t know if the class was going to be in English or Spanish.  It turned out the instructor was from New Zealand and has been living in Antigua for 12 years.  It was a great 90 minute class with a lot of stretching, holding, breathing and meditating.  Just what I needed.  I always love the last 5 to 10 minutes of meditation.  The instructor handed out herbal scented eye pillows to block out any light.  Now that’s what I call relaxation.  The yoga room is lovely and quiet with scented herbs lining the flower boxes outside the room.

After yoga, I went back to the apartment for breakfast and a shower.  Low and behold I caught this picture of Fuego with the smoke above the volcano- -almost as though it had blown a smoke ring.  I guess I will get used to this but I am finding it very fascinating.

We met some new friends, Patty and Chris, at Guate Java for coffee and then they took us to a few shops to meet some of the local shop owners.  One shop is a Fair Trade Store.  I bought this lovely bag and purse for $36 and it is made by hand and proceeds go back to the people.

Afterwards we went back to Patty and Chris’s apartment to see where they are staying.    They are closer in to town and are next to Santa Teresa, another ruin.

Bruce and I spent some time sitting in Central Park people watching.  It’s the hub of activity in Antigua and when Lent begins there will be many parades throughout the streets.  In the park, the people sell their items.  I would like to get to know someone so I could buy specifically from them, especially if they have young children to feed.

The little girl was carrying mangoes, pineapple, and papaya on her head in that big basket.  She could not have been more than 10 years old.  The fruit sells for 5 quetzals which is about 75 cents.

As we passed San Jose El Viejo, another wedding was taking place.  Today I was there to catch the bride and wedding party before they entered the church.

For dinner we ate at a local Guatemalan restaurant, Cafe Ana.  I had chicken and rice and Bruce had fajitas.  It was a nice little restaurant.

 

Its been another fabulous day in Guatemala.