I love Santiago

Ah, I am thoroughly enjoying Santiago! Jeff already gave you a preview of the beautiful pueblo by the lake that we recently relocated to after 3 weeks in Xela. Santiago is incredibly charming everywhere you look. The little town of 40,000 people sits right under San Pedro Volcano and has mucho lake front property. The dormant volcano is now a lush, majestic mountain guarding the town and Lake Atítlan. I love going to our rooftop to admire the awesome view that feels an arm lengnth away.

Santiago is the least touristy of the towns along Lago Atítlan because it sits a little removed, in a finger of the mostly round lake. The town's main economies are agriculture and art. It's avacado season so the main market is constantly bustling with venders and buyers and people loading cases of avacado into big trucks. Coffee plants are everywhere, in front yards and shading major streets; warming Jeff's heart daily. There are also many talented painters and wood sculptors here. Their work fills the tourist streets of nearby towns. In Santiago, their gallories display more unique, personal projects. I am very excited to buy some paintings to bring back to the U.S., just waiting to befriend the artist that people at Hospitalito rave about.

Walking to Hospitalito in the morning is definitely my favorite part of each day. During the rainy season, mornings are almost always sunny and cool. The sky is deceivingly cloudless and the perfect shade of pale blue. San Pedro greet us as we leave the house. Then we walk through town, along the lake, and towards another valcano, San Lucas. The sparkling lake contrasting with the rich green mountains even inspires in me an urge to paint.

San Lucas greeting us right before work

We also see these pups every day on our walk to work


I also love that in the mornings, streets of Santiago are filled with children walking to school at the same time and looking absolutely adorable. Even girls as young as 3 or 4 wear the traditional dresses and thick shiny braids. 40% of the Guatemalan population are under the age of 18. In Santiago, small children are every where! I didn't truly appreciate the traditional dress of Guatemala until I came to this pueblo. Maybe because tradition is better preserved here, and maybe because the artistic locals raise the bar for asthetics, women and men here are much better dressed than in Xela and Guatemala City. At first glance, the mix of colors seem random and overwhelming. But upon closer look, the beautiful embroidaries of birds and flowers are fascinating. Even the men here are proud of the extensive embroidaries on their pants.

snuck a photo in while walking behind them

we hike lots of hills every day, bueno ejercicio. Yeah tuk tuks!!!

Other side of the pueblo from our rooftop