More while in Antigua
We have also visited a coffee plantation, a macadamia nut farm, and a museum of local musical instruments. The guide from the museum demonstrated instruments dating back to 900AD and followed the evolution of percussion and wind instruments up to the arrival of the Spanish who introduced stringed instruments. She explained the purpose of each instruments as related to local celebrations both religious and secular. She showed us the early examples of the marimba which had gourds for the sound chambers. Then in the evening the group attended a special dinner and music/performance demonstration where many of these instruments were played.
Later on, the group attended a performance of Guatemalan dances and music at a dinner theater.
On Nov. 1, All Saint's Day, there is a special event that takes place in only two villages in Guatemala, one located not far from Antigua. So, the group was able to take advantage of this annual event and traveled to a village where huge kites are flown from their cemetery. This brings hoards of people!
And of course there are vendors along the way. Below you see black tortillas which are made for this special occasion.
And this vendor is selling corn on the cob with special condiments. First it is covered in mayonnaise, then sprinkled with cheese, and finished off with red pepper sauce. It's called "crazy corn."
This is one of the large kites.
These kites are launched from the top of a large mausoleum.
Usually they end up airborne, but sometimes they come crashing down on top of spectators.
Even larger kits, 50 feet across are constructed and raised with a great deal of team effort to be displayed along the wall of the cemetery. They are supported by 50 foot high poles.
The kites are made of paper and paint. The decorative areas are made with bits of colored tissue paper.
In the evening we visited another cemetery where friends and families were visiting the resting places of the departed. The tombs were decorated with lots of real and artificial flowers.
Just outside of the cemetery was a fiesta/carnival. There many food stalls as well as childrens' rides, games of chance, and music.
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