30 Jan – 6 Feb 2017. From San Cristobal de Las Casas, Mexico to San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala. The first part is easy. We don’t even have to get up before eight, and have plenty of time for breakfast at Namadi, our favourite San Cris café. We take a taxi to the bus station and climb aboard an OCC bus headed for the border. It is a slow journey, taking four hours to cover just 180 km (110 mi) over a continually curving narrow mountainous road. It is a leisurely pace, and the journey goes by quickly enough.
The border with Guatemala is mayhem, with crowds of people milling about, and many stalls offering food and souvenirs. It’s raw and gritty as border towns tend to be, but in a dingy building directly across the road from where the bus pulls in we find what we’re looking for: Mexican Migracion. Even though we’ve been assured at the Migracion office in San Cris that we had indeed paid the exit tax when we bought our Aero Mexico ticket in Vancouver, we are still charged 500 pesos (CAN$37) each to leave the country – corruption in action.
Looking around for the next step we are promptly piled into a decrepit taxi smelling strongly of gasoline. The driver and three other people are also squished in and we travel for five minutes or so over a rough road through no-man’s-land to the Guatemalan border. Here in the rough and dusty border town of La Mesilla we check in with Migracion where it costs us only 50 pesos each to enter the country.
We find another taxi, which also smells of gasoline, to take us fifteen minutes or so down the road to a hotel in the village of La Democracia. It’s enough for one day, and this is the easy day.
I have a long-time friend who I’ll call T, who has lived for many years in San Pedro La Laguna. At about ten in the morning T and her Guatemalan ‘son’ Santiago arrive at the hotel, and after a coffee we pile into his new van and begin the long drive to San Pedro. The distance is not that far, about 240 km (150 mi), but a lot of it is through mountainous country over rough roads. We follow the Pan-American Highway, stopping for lunch at a favourite restaurant of T’s in Quetzaltenango. The original indigenous name for the city is Xelaju and locals refer to it simply as Xela (pronounced shay-la). The last thing we expect is to be eating excellent Indian food in the middle of Guatemala.
Continuing on we eventually come to the turn-off to San Pedro La Laguna. The road gets gradually steeper and more and more tortuous, twisting and turning around the mountainous terrain, and then the potholes come. The closer we get to San Pedro the worse the road gets. Santiago does his best to avoid them but sometimes it’s simply not possible. The scenery, however, is spectacular.
We arrive late afternoon and check into our guesthouse overlooking the lake.
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After unpacking and getting cleaned up we walk to T’s house five minutes away for a delicious home cooked dinner. After two long days we have finally arrived.
San Pedro La Laguna is one of several small towns and villages that ring Lake Atitlan. The lake fills the enormous caldera of an extinct volcano and is surrounded by three smaller volcanoes. Lake Atitlan has been described as “the most beautiful lake in the world”. It’s hard to disagree.
San Pedro La Laguna is described in Lonely Planet thus: Spreading onto a peninsula at the base of the volcano of the same name, San Pedro remains among the most visited of the lakeside villages – due as much to its reasonably priced accommodations and global social scene as to its spectacular setting. Travelers tend to dig in here for a spell, in pursuit of (in no particular order) drinking, fire-twirling, African drumming, Spanish classes, painting classes, volcano hiking, hot-tub soaking and hammock swinging. This is not the San Pedro we experience, though the hiking, hot-tubbing and hammocks all sound pretty good.
Lonely Planet goes on to mention the traditional life of the Pedranos that takes place around the market area further up the hill from the lake.
This gets a little closer to the San Pedro T shares with us. T has lived for many years full-time in San Pedro and has completely integrated into the Mayan culture. Her Spanish is fluent and she has even learned some Tz’utujil, the language of the indigenous people who have inhabited the area for centuries. She dresses in the traditional Guatemalan Mayan trajes and almost all her friends and ‘family’ are indigenous. She shops at the market like a native, she knows what all those strange things are that they sell, and it’s impossible to walk any street in town without her seeing, and stopping to chat with, someone she knows. We get an inside look into the real San Pedro.
On our last night we eat out, Don and I and T, at a nice restaurant in the more touristy part of town. The meal is made all the more interesting because there is a power outage and we eat by candlelight. Apart from that T cooks us fabulous simple vegetarian fare every night: potato soup, quiche and salad, pizza. On pizza night friends join us: Lola and Agapito, and their daughters Melissa, and Heidi. We speak a little Spanish and T translates. It feels comfortable, like family. On another night Santiago and his wife Telma come to eat with us. More family. One night, of course knowing exactly who to go to, T orders the most delicious potato tamales for our dinner. We feel very well taken care of.
We go to the market, where T seems to know just about everyone. Ninety percent of the local population is indigenous Maya, and the market is like indigenous markets the world over except for the clothing that is unique to this part of the world. It’s noisy and smelly and crowded and full of life and strange things for sale, and beautiful friendly people.
Women in their beautiful traditional outfits dominate the scene. Only the old men now wear the traditional Mayan clothes. I’ve noticed this the world over: women continue to wear traditional clothing while men opt for regular western dress. T tells me that the men in Santiago Atitlan, another of the lakeshore villages, still wear traditional dress but we can’t get there because the lake winds are erratic making boat travel risky: it’s possible we wouldn’t be able to get back.
This man is surrounded by yucca fibre, the natural and customary forerunner to rope made from synthetic fibres. It is also used to make baskets, hats, mats, and containers. In ancient times it was used to make shoes and skirts as well.
T said that when she and her husband K first started living in San Pedro they would walk around town at a normal fast pace, flying past everyone, until she realized that that was not the way of the Mayan culture. They didn’t want to be the stuck-up foreigners who sailed past everyone. They slowed down and adopted the local ways: walk at a leisurely pace, take your time, and stop to chat with everyone you know. Be present; be open to the community around you. In this way the days slowly unfold. Because I can’t walk much we take tuk tuks most of the time and get to know Julio the tuk tuk driver. He is an artist who does exquisite paintings, and makes beautiful beaded and painted belts. And he is Rosa’s son.
We go to lunch at Rosa’s, down a narrow alleyway, one of several we explore. This time I must walk as T takes us on a mystery tour of the tiny back lanes of San Pedro.
There are so many Rosas she’s always known as Rosa Cruz, because Cruz is her last name. This is her kitchen,
and this is Rosa making tortillas for us on her tiled wood stove,
and this is lunch: green beans with a pumpkin seed dressing with the freshly made tortillas.
Don doesn’t take to it, but I love it. And I love Rosa’s big heart, and shy smile.
Outside in another area Manuela, Rosa’s daughter-in-law, is making tortillas to sell.
T says all their kitchens are the same: dark, smoky, disorganized, cluttered. Many who work at home don’t have adequate workspaces so things easily get messy. We don’t see any of the bedrooms though T says they’re generally neat and spare. It’s a whole different aesthetic than what we are used to. Their artistic sensibilities go into weaving and embroidery and painting, and their hearts go into family and community.
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This is the tranquil town square dominated, in true Spanish colonial style, by the cathedral.
Back in the early 1980’s Guatemala was ruled by Efrain Rios Montt, a genocidal dictator. In stunning contradiction he was also an Evangelical Christian preacher. As a result this religion is dominant in many towns and is the religion of almost half the population of San Pedro. About half the population is nominally Catholic though many of the Maya still practice Mayan spirituality and rituals. They believe the world is inhabited by both good and bad spirits that can affect many aspects of daily life.
One day we go to the market in Santa Clara, a village a short distance from San Pedro. Back we go over the twisty narrow potholed road up the hill out of San Pedro. Bump bump bump.
In Santa Clara T has people to meet, and some things she wants to buy, and I just want to see the market, and the people of the area gathering in their customary way to buy, to sell, to socialize. I am excited by the colours. Everywhere I look bright colours call out to me having me looking in all directions and trying to inhale the richness of it.
As we dive deeper and deeper into the market I’m simply following T who is on a mission to find a particular food or spice. I’m surrounded by a kind of electric energy as people take care of errands and visit with each other. Few purchases are a simple transaction. There is always visiting involved. Then when all the purchases are made families go to the shaded town square to wait for other friends and family members to meet them there.
On the way home from Santa Clara, in a small village,
we stop at the home of one of T’s friends. The friend is making exquisite beaded flowers, petal by petal, to decorate blouses. Who cares about the clutter in your house when you can spend your time creating this kind of beauty?
One more shot of the lake:
This post is dedicated to T’s husband, and my friend, K. When I first moved to Canada from Australia 33 years ago K was one of the first to befriend me, and he remained a good friend throughout the years. Don and I had been talking about visiting T and K in San Pedro for years but for various reasons it never happened. Finally we made it, just six weeks after K passed away. As I stood at his grave marker and shouted to the heavens Wherever you are K I hope you’re having a great time and enjoying yourself I immediately heard in my mind, clear as a bell, Hasta la vista Ali. It was a sweet farewell.
And this post is also dedicated to T who was such a wonderful, kind, generous, and loving host. I’m glad we finally made it T! Thank you for everything.
*Thanks to Don’s suggestion and Rumi’s poem for the title of this post
Next post: Antigua, Guatemala. Or all about nesting.
All words and images by Alison Louise Armstrong unless otherwise noted
© Alison Louise Armstrong and Adventures in Wonderland – a pilgrimage of the heart, 2010-2017.
It’s a beautiful post! I love all the photos!
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Thank you so much Jen. It’s such a beautiful place.
Alison
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beautiful pics!
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Thanks so much Pat.
Alison
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Hey cool photos. I’m just wondering how much of it is postproduction and how much is the camera shot? the landscapes are cool and look more ‘from the camera’ and the village scenes look pretty saturated.
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Thanks Sean. I do post production on all photos – mainly just tweaking in Lightroom. I think one or two of the landscapes are a bit over saturated. As for the market scenes – well I just like bright colours. A lot! Some are a little over saturated, but most are pretty accurate. Guatemalans love bright colours too 🙂
Alison
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I love Guatemala…the people, the food, the markets, the cpubtryside. Your stunning photos made me nostalgic. The pat pat of blue tortillas being made is a sound that will remain with me always.
I love the little toddlers outfit, ( gorgeous work ), the pics of the elderly men in traditional clothing and the green walls with the red fruit outside. The photo of the kitchen in disarray is terrific too. Clearly out of chaos one can make tasty dishes!
How great to have good friends to enrich a visit!!
Peta
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Thanks so much Peta. We also loved Guate. I just adored seeing the children in trajes – so beautiful. And the old men – they were hard to catch but I wanted to be able to show the traditional outfits for the men. I couldn’t believe the inside of the houses – the chaos! I couldn’t live with it being a bit of a neat freak, but they don’t seem to mind it at all. The green walls and the tomatoes was a lucky shot – couldn’t resist the simplicity and the colour combination.
Alison
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One of the coolest places on the planet Guatemala
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Yes, isn’t it? A really rich society in so many ways.
Alison
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Oh the colours! You are lucky to have friends to treat you so well and to give you a look from the inside out. Wonderful.
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Thanks Tracey. Yes, we are very lucky to have friends there. We had a much different experience than we would have had on our own.
Alison
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Alison How lovely to be an insider in your stay, Are the coloured baskets carried by women in the 8th and 9th photo are they made of yucca fibre?
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It was such a unique experience having a friend there – a real blessing. The baskets could be yucca, but honestly they look like plastic to me. Also T corrected me in an email – she said the fibre in my photo is actually maguey fiber which is a relative of aloe.
Alison
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Thanks Alison. Yes they look like plastic to me too ( could be from China! ) but i was thinking wow if they are not, I’m amazed by the maguey. Louise
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So much colour and natural beauty! And a lovely dedication to your friend, Ali xx
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Thanks Annie. The colours get me every time – I’m like a kid in a candy store! I do wish we’d gone before K passed, but I guess it just wasn’t meant to be 😦
Alison
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Totally understand that wish, but maybe you were meant to be there for T afterwards xx
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Your pictures are so alive, it was like a virtual tour, like one is there……wonderful.
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Thank you so much Shalini! That’s a wonderful compliment.
Alison
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So awesome!!! Thanks so much for taking me with you to this wonderful and inspiring places. 🙂
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Thanks so much Carsten. And you’re welcome! It’s such an amazing place, and we were lucky to be able to see it from the inside out.
Alison
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Breathtaking vistas, and all of life in this post, Alison. So heartfelt, your travels.
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Thank you so much Tish. I must say it felt like a bit of a pilgrimage for me to finally see T and K’s life there in Guate. I wish we’d gotten there sooner 😦 but will not waste energy on regret. It’s a wonderful town with lovely people.
Alison
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I am left with shivers Alison as you tell of standing tat the grave site of K. I have no doubt your visit with T was a boost of love and healing. Your street photos are works of art and as I have said likely more than once, National Geographic worthy. What a delight to explore with you.
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Thanks so much Sue. I must admit I do enjoy street photography. I like to catch humanness in action 🙂
It was both a surprise and a wonder at K’s grave. Him speaking to me was so very clear. And so lovely. It also reminded me that I haven’t lost my psychic powers even if they’re mostly dormant these days. I do so hope we gave T a bit of a boost for the few day we were there.
Alison
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Marvellous post, gorgeous photos, such a lovely, heartfelt tribute to good friends! You are an inspiration ❤️
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Thank you so much for your kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. It was a wonderful time for us.
Alison
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Great post. What kind of camera did you use in the markets? I want to bring a DSLR on an upcoming trip but worry about whipping it out in low income areas.
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Thank you so much. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I use a Panasonic FZ1000. It’s not a full DSLR, but it is certainly as big as one. I’ve never had any kind of problem with using a big camera but . . . . I keep a very close hold of it, I don’t dress fancy or wear any jewellery, and my daypack is usually strapped on over top of the camera bag strap. I see loads of people with full size cameras. I don’t think it’s a problem as long as you keep your wits about you. And as long as you respect the locals. I have a zoom lens – I don’t stick my camera in their faces unless we’ve connected a bit first and I’ve asked permission.
Alison
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Simply beautiful.
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Thanks so much Felicity. I just love all the colours!
Alison
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Ah, the beautiful Lake Atitlan! I’ve not been there in quite some time, and I’m glad to see that you had a lovely experience there. T was surely happy to show you the area that accepted her as one of their own, and spending quiet time with respect to K was important for closure…
As always, your photos are full of life and of color; the image of the lady’s hair standing on end is especially nice! Is the water in the lake still ‘higher’ than it once was – possibly still rising?
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Thanks so much Lisa. I think I’d been teasing the lady whose hair is standing on end with the camera. They’re such sweet people. The water in the lake is quite high. there are the remains of partly submerged houses along the shore in some places. People built too close to the water and then the lake rose. I don’t know if it’s still rising or not.
It was lovely to see T, and sad to miss K, but there was definitely some closure by going there.
Alison
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I remember reading something – maybe a New York Times article about the rising water levels… I had been searching for info about the Santiago landslide that buried a section of the village…. that happened a few weeks after I’d been there; strange, actually, because the minute I set foot in Santiago, I got really bad vibes which stayed with me until we left a few hours later.
I now pay close attention to vibes like that!
Your posts are always filled with color and with unique stories. You two are amazing, and it’s a joy to read your posts…
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Thanks Lisa. Interesting what you say about Santiago – I’m assuming you mean Santiago Atitlan? You were probably picking up on the tragedy to come. I wanted to get there to see the men in traditional dress, but it just didn’t happen. I also pay close attention to those kind of vibes.
Alison
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Si; Santiago/atitlan, not far from San Pablo… I’ve never had such strong premonitions, just unable at the time to pinpoint ‘why..’ only that it wasn’t safe… I thought maybe a thief was nearby…
It’s sad when the traditional dress is tainted by influences of the outside world… sometimes those influences help a new style to evolve, like the Kuna Indians’ mola textiles….
I suppose I might feel strange if I wore clothes that were quite different from the masses.. it’s the color that draws us in, and of course the character in their faces and in their posture…. it takes a strong person to stick to unique customs, to tolerate people taking photos, etc…
even with my own experience of being tall and having ‘jewel eyes’ I sometimes receive stares and every so often open-mouth gawking’ .. i have learned to receive their curiosity with grace, smile at them and allow them to ‘look’ without feeling guilty. they give the same looks, however, when i wear their inexpensive clothes.. i sometimes paint the white ‘tennis shoes,’ and they look at me.. look at the shoes, look back at me really fast as if to confirm… then back at the shoes.. and then back at me… and i smile.. and assure them with unspoken words that i think their poor-man’s shoes are great!
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How wonderful to have the opportunity to experience a more intimate side of San Pedro La Laguna and the little villages around Lago Atitlan. While we saw only the tourist side of the little villages during the boat tours we took in the area, it was not hard to appreciate the sense of community among the people there and the contrast of the vivid colors created by skilled weavers, potters and painters. Your photos vibrate with those colors and create the feeling of stepping back in time. I was especially taken with the photo of the little girl (with her very young mother) in her traditional Mayan clothing and the striped ball cap. Lovely!
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Thanks so much Anita. I did try to capture some of the feel of the place and people, as well as the simple endless array of gorgeous colours. I too love that little girl in the traditional clothing. I was delighted to see one so young dressed in the traditional way. Sweet. It was a real pleasure visiting T and seeing San Pedro a little bit inside out.
Alison
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So glad you got to do this visit while your friend was still with us. What wonderful memories to cherish. AS always I love how you captured the colours and vibes of this place.
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Thanks Darlene. With all the colours it really was a photographer’s dream. Always there was something to catch my eye. And yes, so lovely to visit T and spend a little time with her, even if we missed K. Lots of sweet memories from this visit.
Alison
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Free-flowing and beautiful throughout. So nice to hear of reunion with friends and to discover new cultures (to me) through your vision. You have a great eye for unearthing the joy that is all around us… I love that what is most human rings true in every location you explore.
Peace
Michael
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Thanks Michael. I think I’m only interested in the joy that is all around, and so I seek it out, and create it where I can, even if it is only to raise a smile. It’s so much more enjoyable (literally) that the alternative 🙂
And you are right it is there in every location, and easy to see if you’re looking for it.
Alison
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This is beautiful–the photography, the writing, and the whole feel of it. It just pours out. Wonderful, wonderful.
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Thank you so much Bridget. It was a wonderful time so it was easy to recapture it. I was captivated by the people and their way of life, their love of colour, and their beautiful clothing.
Alison
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First of all, I’m sorry for the loss. I’m sure up there K was happy to see you two being taken care of T really well. Speaking of her, isn’t having a local friend (or someone who has been living in that place for years) the best thing? We get to know more local people, sample more local cuisines, and understand the local culture better. By the way, the road to San Pedro La Laguna does look incredibly scenic!
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Thanks Bama. I was sad to have missed seeing K in his life in Guatemala, but I guess it just wasn’t meant to be. And it was lovely to spend some time with T. You are so right – there’s nothing quite like having someone local to show you around a place. We’ll knock on your door when we get to Indonesia! 🙂
Alison
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beautiful slowing down
to be nourished by the native people’s,
their place, their food and colorful gifts 🙂
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Yes, beautiful slowing down and immersing for a few days – getting a better glimpse than we would have had without our friend.
Beautiful colourful caring people.
Alison
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Love the contrast in your photographs.Very nice post!
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Thank you very much Syam. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Alison
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Nice blog. What a window onto a unique culture. I particularly like the photos, which are so interesting and so good. I wish you well on all your journeys.
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Thanks so much Beverley. It was such a heart-warming and interesting time for us to be able to see the culture from the inside a little thanks to our friend. Thanks for your kind wishes.
Alison
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Beautiful! In all respects!
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Thanks Amanda.
Alison xo
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Well, dang – in the opening paragraphs I thought we were going to see some good drinking and fire-twirling from you two! But seriously … what a deep and lovely experience you had in this little town. The natural scenery is beautiful and, as always, your marketplace shots put us readers right there in the action. The kitchens remind me of those we visited in rural Peru; being a freak for cleanliness and order myself, I always shivered at the thought of cooking in places like these. Obviously, it’s no limitation for them, though, and I’ve had some pretty yummy food from such humble places!
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Chuckle. Us drinking and fire-twirling! Sure – bring it on! It was a lovely experience – a beautiful setting and some lovely connections. Like you I’m a neat freak and horrified by those kitchens – I want to tear everything out, and scrub it all, and build shelves and put everything back in neat order. Then I could cook there. But then as you say – some pretty yummy food comes from those kitchens. Thanks re the photos – you know how I love to capture the life at local markets.
Alison
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The lake has a spectacular setting, Alison. I could just sit and gaze. 🙂 You have such a wonderfully warm way with people and it shines out in your photographs. I can’t imagine living like this, but then, I’ve never needed to.
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Thanks so much Jo. I do love the scenery, and being in nature, but in the end it’s the people that really connect you with a place. Even after all these years I’m still a bit shy photographing people, but it forces me to connect with them which is nothing but a good thing. I also can’t imagine living like that, but it’s their normal, and apparently the young people are becoming interested in home decor – choosing tiles and the like.
Alison
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Love each photo. So vivid and so alive
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Thank you so much Evelina. It’s such a wonderful colourful place.
Alison
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What a neat experience, Alison. You and Don always get into the local culture, but T obviously took you to another level. Sorry about K. Always a reminder to not ‘put off until tomorrow.’ Life’s short. Glad K responded. The stop and talk routine is an experience often reported by Peace Corps Volunteers. When you truly get into a traditional community, it takes forever to get across town. –Curt
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Thanks Curt. Yes K was definitely a reminder to not put things off! His response was a pure delightful surprise. And visiting with T and having her introduce us to the town and the people was such an enriching experience. I’m so glad we finally get there even if it was too late to see K in his Guatemalan life.
Alison
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nice article
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Thank you so much. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Alison
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I love Guatemala…the people, the food, the markets, the cpubtryside. Your stunning photos made me nostalgic. The pat pat of blue tortillas being made is a sound that will remain with me always.Thanks for this little tour.
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Thank you so much. I’m glad you enjoyed it. It was a very rich time for us – such a beautiful culture.
Alison
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Oh Alison, this is such a lovely reminder of our time at Lake Atitlan about 12 years ago. We stayed in Santiago Atitlan and I have vivid memories of that traditional village. Your photos are once again outstanding. I’m sorry you made it too late to see K, but it sure sounded like an amazing experience to spend time with T and see this fascinating place.
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Thanks so much Caroline. I so wanted to get to Santiago Atitlan, and in the end it would have been okay, but there was likely to be strong winds, and T said the road back is quite dangerous, so I could have been stuck there. I was sad to miss K, but what a wonderful time we had. I’m so glad we went.
Alison
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Wow
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Thank you. It’s definitely a ‘wow’ kind of place.
Alison
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really indeed a picturesque view, the lake and the rich culture of the people ❤
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I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s a beautiful place, and as you say, a very rich culture.
Alison
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Echoing al the comments above Alison. This is such a beautiful read and what a perfect title. You are fortunate you got to experience the place like a local thanks to T. Pity you missed catching up with your friend, but you did feel that connection at his grave. Your photos are marvellous, especially those of the lake and of the local people.
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Thank you so much Madhu. It was really special for us to be able to visit T and to experience a bit of her life there, and the local culture. I know we got a much deeper experience than we would have on our own. It was so interesting to see their homes, and to have meals and conversations with them.
Alison
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Excellent…
…I already have the feeling you bring Latin America closer to me with your pictures.
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Thanks so much rabirius. Latin America is a very fascinating place. I’m glad you get a feeling for it from my photos. It’s such a rich culture.
Alison
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Yes. I can imagine – and when I have more time for longer trips I’d really like to go there.
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all the smiles you must share Alison and I love the cowboy hats…a story all to themselves 🤓 and you know I’m fond of blue and warmth…another beautiful post! Big smiles back! 😀
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Thanks Hedy. Oh yes, I share many smiles. I love to make people smile when I don’t have their language to communicate. I too love the cowboy hats. They’re also worn throughout Mexico. Standard dress for the guys is shirt, jeans, and cowboy hat. And you can never go wrong with blue and warmth!
Smiles right back to you!
Alison
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Excellent post, Alison. Your storytelling and images are a delight. The market shots and portraits are captivating with the vivid colors, details and moods. Love!
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Thanks so much Jane. I had such a lovely time there with my friend, and with so much to capture with the camera. The rich colours, and the people, always draw me in.
Alison
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Wonderful photos and writing! I learned a lot, too. Thank you for sharing!
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Thank you so much Erin. My pleasure! It was a very special visit for me, and so wonderful to be able to connect with the local people.
Alison
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What a captivating post!!! I love the way of the people you describe, moving at a slow pace, being present in the moment and community. That’s something I’m trying to work on myself. And your photos, as always, are exquisite: so lively, so colorful!
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Thanks so much Mo. It was so wonderful for us to be able to get to know the local community through T. We learned far more about these lovely people than we would have on our own. This being present thing sure takes some practice, but the world seems to open up in a different, and brighter, way when I manage it.
Alison
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I always love your photos of people and culture so much! You have inspired to me to shake off my fear of photographing people. My husband says I need to get more aggressive, and that is everything that I am not. Did you hesitate to take photos of people early on? I have had so many lost opportunities with people and I think I will regret that one day. I just feel so intrusive, especially when I can’t say much in their language.
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Thanks so much Stephanie. I suppose I’m a little “aggressive” from time to time, though I do try not to be. I certainly hesitated more initially than I do now, but I have two sisters who have been professional photographers and were both doing street photography so guess I saw their work and just took it as a natural thing to do. Two things that help me are a camera with a built in long lens – so often people don’t even know I’m taking the photograph (which is what I hope for as I want candid shots), and engaging with people even if I don’t speak the language – children and babies are always very good for this – admiring/playing with children and babies is pretty much a universal language. If I’ve engaged with the people I always ask permission – and sometimes get the shot, sometimes not. The other thing I do is hide behind Don and line up the shot in the LED screen rather than the viewfinder – that way usually people don’t even know I’m taking the shot. Hope this helps. Go for it!
Alison
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Thank you, Alison! All wonderful tips and thoughts to carry with me. The candid shot is definitely what appeals to me, and you pull it off so well!
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Interesting place to visit and your photos are awesome too
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Thanks so much Yimm. Guatemala is definitely an interesting place to visit.
Alison
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I’ll go there for sure 🙂
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WOW! Now on my bucket list 🙂
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Thanks Lexi. San Pedro La Laguna, and Guatemala in general, is definitely worth visiting. I hope you get there one day!
Alison
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I love love love what you did with the photos, Alison. Love the one of the man with yucca fibers. not too many people do that in the States anymore. Thank you for this journey!
Kristina
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Thanks so much Kristina. It was such a rich culture to photograph. Those yucca fibres are actually maguey fibres which is a plant related to aloe. I should correct it, but still it’s much the same thing.
Alison
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This post was so full of life and color. Guatemala is very high on our list and you seem to have captured the culture beautifully through your amazing prose and lovely photos. I love the beaded flowers sewn onto the blouses. Such a rich culture!
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Thanks so much LuAnn. Guatemala is wonderful. It can be dangerous, but if you follow normal precautions it’s fine. The people are so beautiful, and I love their traditional clothes. Yes, a very rich culture.
Alison
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