Guatemala - 2009

One of the more photographed sights of Guatemala City.

Volcán Agua, as viewed from the slopes of Volcán Pacaya.

Church interior, Guatemala City.

Goats in Central Park, Guatemala City. This was not the only flock of goats we saw being herded around. They sell fresh goat milk, by the cup! And talk about fresh. We didn't try any, but they squeeze it straight from the goat!

A fun way to come down a gravelly stretch of Volcán Pacaya – Just go for it!

Volcán Agua makes a picturesque backdrop to our first glimpse of an active lava flow. The lava is flowing down the slopes of Volcán Pacaya.

I made some toasted ham and cheese sandwiches using the heat from the flowing lava.

Touching a stick to the lava, it bursts instantly to flame.

Two women in traditional dress walk down the streets of Antigua.

Some of the arches in the ruins of the Catedral de Santiago, Antigua.

A different angle on the arches in the ruins of the Catedral de Santiago, Antigua.

One of the many church, monastery, and convent facades in the streets of Antigua.

A wonderful streetscape from Antigua, with Volcán Agua looking down at it.

A "market" on the streets, in front of one of Antigua's many picturesque ruins.

Volcán Tolimán, almost totally obscuring Volcán Atitlán. The only reason you can tell there are two volcanoes is because of the wisps of cloud floating in between. Lago de Atitlán provides the blue between us and them.

Women in traditional costume in the marketplace in Sololá, close to Lago de Atitlán, Guatemala.

A beautiful outfit worn with pride and dignity. Sololá market, Guatemala.

The indigenous outfits are not at all based on concepts of choosing patterns which match, at least not in the Western sense. Certain patterns and designs are frequently used in trousers, while different ones are used in shirts, or wraps, or skirts. The textiles used are usually colourful, and particularly in women's shirts, often intricately hand embroidered. Although it looks a little haphazard, particularly on the men, it is rarely dishevelled or messy. Locals can tell what village a person comes from by the what they are wearing and the way it is worn or tied. This was taken on market day, when people from many villages descend on Sololá, and the differences and similarities could be spotted in the throngs.