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 by VinTolucciLeave a Comment Directions: Most people book a flight to Flores and stay at one of the local hotels.
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Pacaya
For an active-volcano experience taka a tour to the Pacaya (2.552m)
Take sensible precautions; wear adequate footwear (volcano rock can be very rough on shoes) warm clothing (it can be very cold up there) and in the rainy season, some sort of rain gear.
Carry a flashlight (torch) in case the weather changes; it can get as dark as night when it rains on the mountain and don't neglect food and water.
It's safest to go with a reputable agency (there are plenty in Antiqua); they will drive you at the end of a dirty road, from where it's about a two hours walk to the summit, where the vieuws are spectacular.
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 Yaxchitlan by atufftLeave a Comment Address: YaxchitlanDirections: On the river that borders Mexicon and Guatemala, between Pelenque and Flores.
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Iglesia y convento de nuestra seņora La Merced
La merced's construction began in 1548. The most recent of its several bouts of rebuilding has taken place since the 1976 eartquake.
Lily motifs (traditionally a symbol of power for Mayan lord's) appear on the church's entrance, suggesting the influence of indigenous labores used to construct La Merced.
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 by worldtraveler55
This church on the east side of the plaza dates from about 1540 and is often the scene of rituals that are only slightly Catholic and more distinctly Mayan.
Inside, the floor of the church may be spread with pine boughs and dotted with offerings of maize kernels, flowers, botles of liquor wrapped in corn husks, and candles.
Many local families can trace their lineage back centuries, some even to the ancient kings of the K'iche.
The candles and offerings on the floor are in remembrance of those ancestors, many of whom are buried beneath the church floor .
Photography is not permitted in this church
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Lago de Atitlan
Surrounded by vulcanoes, steep hilsides and villages, with traditional Mayan culture, the Lago de Atitlan - 8km across from north to south, 18km from east to west, and averaging aroun 300m deep - is one of the world's most beautiful and fascinating bodies of water..
Many travelers have fallen in love withit and made their homes here.
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Pargue Central
The standard colonial urban-planning scheme required every town in the New World to have a large plaza for military exercices and ceremonies.
On the north side of the plaza was usually the palacio de gobierno (colonial gouvernement headquaters).
On another side, preferably the east, would be a church (or cathedral) .
On the other sides of the square there could be additional civic buildings or the imposing mansions of wealthy citizens.
On the north side of the Parque Central is the imposing Palacio Nacional de la Cultura, built as a presidential palace between 1936 and 1943. Architecturally the palace is one of the country's most interresting conctructions, a melange of multiple earlier styles from Spanish Renaissance to Neoclassical. Today, most government offices have been removed from here and it's open as a museum and for ceremonial events.
The Catedral Metropolitana was constructed between 1782 and 1815. (the towers where finished in 1867) it has survived earthquake and fire well, though the quake of 1917 did substantial damage and the one of 1976 did even more.
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Chichicastenango
On thursday and sunday here takes place one of Guatemala's largest indigenous market.
The villagers spread out there vegetables, fruits. chunks of chalk (ground to a powder, mixed with water and used to softendried maze), balls of wax, handmade harnesses and other merchandise and wait for customers.
Tourist-orientated handcraft stalls selling masks, textiles, potery and so on also occupy the plaza and the streets around.
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Maximon
The spanish called him San Simon,the ladinas named him Maximon and the Maya Know him as Rilaj Maam. By any name he is a deity revered throughout the Guatemalin highlands.
Assumed to be a combination of Mayan Gods, Pedro de Alvarado (the Spanish conquuistador of Guatamala) and the biblical Judas, SAn Simonis an affigy to witch Guatemalans of every stripe go to make offerings and ask for blessings
The effigy is usualy housedby a member of a confrada (Mayan Catholic Brotherhood), moving from one place to another, from year to year.
In Santiago Antillan , Maximon is a wooden figure draped in coulorful silkscarves and smoking a fat sigar
Fruits and gaudy, flashing electric lights decorate his chamber; effigies of Jesus Christ and Christian saints lie or stand either side of Maximon and his guardians.
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Antigua
Antiqua was founded on march 10,1543, as the spanish colonial capital of Guatemala. During the 17th and 18th centuries, little expense was spared on the city's magnificent architecture.
At its peak Antiqua had no fewer than 38 churches, including a cathedral.
The great earthquake of 1773 destroyed the city and the capital was transferred to Guatemala City.
After the earthquake, Antiqua was evacuated and plundered for building materials but never completely emptied of people, and began to grow again around 1830.
Renovation of battered old buildings helped maintain the city's colonial character and in 1979 Unesco designated it a World Heritage Site..
Today you still can see the remains of the damadged buildings, in front of witch Mayan woman selling woven textiles.
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