Monday, June 4
Exciting day. Went to one of the schools in Antigua and got to see what they are like. The school was a kindergarten through sixth grade school. I watched with my teacher as the students all did various performances in the courtyard. Awesome. Went to the gigantic market where I purchased a new pair of shorts for about two bucks. Again, awesome. Went to a nice place for a little drink at the end of the day before dinner called Jardin Bavaria. Nice.
Tuesday, June 5
Nothing terribly exciting. Spent the afternoon in the La Merced house with couple friends there. Coffee, and great cheesecake that proves to me that people take good care of their priests here! Celebration at the home during the night, a departure celebration for a woman who has been living here. Chicken on the grill....delicious! My host dad taught me how to grill here with the absence of liter fluid. Takes a while to get the thing lit and ready to go, but then it's going. Great night.
Wednesday, June 6
Went to Cerro de la Cruz, a great spot here. My second time up. This time went with the host family and the students who just moved into the house next door but eat every meal here. They say Cerro de la Cruz is dangerous but I have had no problems either time, but not something one should do alone. It's an awesome view of the city and mountains and volcanoes. In the night we had a party at the Spanish school that I attend. Spying my lessons from last night, I prepared the fire for the grilling. Party went long but it was a lot of fun.
Thursday, June 7
Perhaps the first "ordinary" day here. No parties, no birthdays, no big dinners, and really not much after class.
Friday, June 8
Another rather ordinary day, except that I had a nice dinner at a fantastic restaurant called Save Rico. Kind of a farewell dinner with the seminarian at La Merced I have become good friends with. He's leaving for two weeks in Canada, where he is going to learn some French and visit with some folk there.
Saturday, June 9
Left very early to climb Volcan de Agua, I think the tallest volcano here. Not a great idea. We started with five seminarians and one priest...after an hour we were down to three. It is not an easy thing to climb. We had an armed guide, but a robbery occurred involving three bandits and us after two hours, leaving us without the possessions we began with. I would advise not to climb this beast for this reason! Things could have been far worse, so we are thankful. Had a low-key evening.
Sunday, June 10
Went to Jacotenango, a little town outside Antigua that I have heard it actually part of Antigua. Had Mass at 800. A Corpus Christi procession followed, though we all left for a baptism party. The daughter of one of our teachers had been baptized before the 800 Mass (the plan was for it to be done afterwards, but the procession changed that plan). Spent the entire day, until the early evening, at the festivities. Many, many family and friends were there and it was simply a great time of celebration. That is the way to celebrate a baptism. As we were there, the Corpus Christi procession came by a few times. It must have lasted about three hours. Good day.
