Month: April 2015

Mercado en Antigua

Pictures do not completely capture the excitement and color of market day. A thousand words are inadequate. I needed much more than five senses to take in all of the sights, scents, and sounds of the Market.  

One of the first images was of fresh vegetables and fruits of every hue. 

  The grains, dried peppers, and spices put on their own colorful show as if in competition with the veggies. I’m not sure there was a clear cut winner.

  

 

Try this technique next time you go shopping.

   

 

I loved the pottery angels and the shiny buckets. See, I notice some things that aren’t edible.

   

My favorite photo of the day. I asked permission to take this woman’s picture, and when she said yes, I told her in Spanish that I thought she was beautiful. She covered her mouth with her hand and smiled like a teenaged girl.

 

Just a woman and her rooster.

We didn’t even make it to the textiles area. Hopefully we can stop by on Sunday for more of this wonderland.

Peace, People!

Courtyard

Why don’t all homes have small courtyards–

private outdoor/indoor spaces to enjoy the insistent (and sometimes raucous) noises of the waking-up world?

 

  

El Portal

El Portal has become our meeting and waiting place. Here one can have cafe y cerveza and watch the pageantry on el Parque Central. 

   

  

Brother Kelly is a little tense as his eldest daughter’s nuptials near….

 

La Catedral.

   

     

Songbird

Sleeping with wide open windows

In La Antigua de Guatemala

Night murmurs offer lullabies.

Alarm clocks are unnecessary.

Songbirds, first one, then a

Chorus begin telling the

Stories of their lives.

The shrill one is my avian

Doppelgänger, repeating

Her story ad nauseum.

Occasionally, though, she

Touches my heart, punctuating

Her song with, “please see me?”

  

Embarrassing Travel Moments

I have had mixed results speaking Spanish on my trip to Antigua, Guatemala.

Last night at dinner I was trying to tell the waiter we needed more time with our menus. I patted our table and said, “Por favor, leave them right here.” His puzzled look was my first indication of how lame that sounded. The laughter from my group was the second. He did leave the menus, though–he was probably afraid to be too near this crazy gringa.

Just a few minutes ago a few of us returned to our accommodations and after calling Studly to beg for money I retreated to my room for a nap.

It didn’t take me long to peel out of my sweaty clothes to bask au naturale on my bed. I’d just closed my eyes when I realized the gardener was standing just outside the very open window. I’m pretty sure my “oops!” translated into Spanish flawlessly.

Fountain of Youth

Twice have I drunk from

The fountain of youth’s waters.

How long must one wait?

 

Crow’s feet still add depth

To the corners of my eyes,

Fine lines mark my mouth.

 

Fountain of youth, oh

Where is thy miracle cure?

On sabbatical?

A Real Prince of a Guy

When I was a little girl

Many years ago

I dreamed of finding

A handsome prince 

And making him my beau.

But I grew into a plain lass

Tall with gangly limbs

And no prince deigned to

Take my hand and

Realize my whims.

So I nurtured imagination

Focused on my brain

Some considered 

Me odd as I grew,

Ever against the grain.

Then Studly came

Into my life and 

Took on the role of prince

And even through our

Ups and downs

I’ve been so happy since. 

 

I’m already missing my Studly who’s holding Doright Manor together in my absence.

Air Travel Haiku 

I. All my bags are packed

My boarding passes printed 

I’ll soon fly away.

  

II. Exhilaration 

Of flights taking off never

Becomes a routine.

 Edit

  III. Rule one of travel

Never underestimate 

Leg room’s importance.  

Peace, people!

Calculating

I began adding

Numbers.

Seven hundred

Forty-nine plus

Sixty seven.

Eight sixteen said

Studly.

He’s always been 

Good with

Numbers.