SEMANA SANTA EN GUATEMALA

LAS RUINAS DE SAN GERONIMO- ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA

Located in the central highlands of Guatemala and situated near two dormant volcanoes and one active one, Antigua is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  The city is known for its Spanish Baroque-influenced architecture, most of which are the grand ruins of colonial churches, monasteries and convents damaged or destroyed by decades of severe earthquakes.

For Semana Santa, beginning on Palm Sunday and ending on Easter Sunday, Antigua was cloaked in purple,  a color used for death and mourning.  Purple bunting was draped over doorways of churches, homes, hotels and shops, and thousands of purple-robed "penitents" representing a collective sorrow for sins, participated in dozens of processions during Holy Week.  It takes approximately forty of them to carry life-size plasster figures on wooden "floats"  that weigh more than a thousand pounds.   Musicians dressed in black played somber dirges as they followed the processions of costumed participants, some swinging metal incense burners,  filling the the air with smoke and the aromatic resin of copal.

The bright bliss of Semana Santa in Antigua is the making of many dozens of fanciful long "carpets" for the procession routes, some of which are more than twenty feet long.

Using elaborate stencils, brightly dyed sawdust is pressed into the various patterns and then the alfombra is adorned with pine needles, flowers, fruits, vegetables and bread baked into animal and plant forms.  It is only the persons carrying the floats that are allowed to walk over the carpets, in effect trampling them.

Children run over immediately after the floats pass to gather up food into their t-shirts before the fast approaching trash compacting vehicles arrive.

"EL CERRO DE ORO," EL VOLCÁN MÁS PEQUEÑO - EL LAGO DE ATITLAN, GUATEMALA

After three days in Antigua, where the songs of birds in purple-blossomed jacaranda trees and pines mingled with the whistles of cotton candy and ice cream vendors, musicians,  firecrackers and the hum of the crowds, we drove three hours west to the quiet shores of Lake Atitlán.  Surrounded on all sides by high cliffs and three dormant volcanoes, the lake is astonishingly beautiful and usually calm in the mornings.  In the afternoons, the xocomil wind makes for thrilling boat rides. Lake Atitlán is dotted with small pueblos where the descendants of Mayans speak two different dialects, depending on which part of the lake they live.  Holding on to pre-Columbian traditions, women dress in embroidered huipiles (blouses) and handloomed cotton cortes (long rectangles wrapped to form skirts).   Men dress in the simple traje,  which usually consists of handloomed cotton striped pants and shirts, many of which are embroidered.

SAN JUAN, LAGO DE ATITLÁN, GUATEMALA

The small pueblo of San Juan has recently organized some good art and handicraft cooperatives with fixed prices, providing San Juan with opportunities for creativity and income.

HERMOSO COOPERATIVO EN SAN JUAN, LAGO DE ATITILÁN

CHICHICASTENANGO - EL MERCADO MÁS GRANDE EN GUATEMALA . HORA Y MEDIA DEL LAGO

VISTA DE NUESTRA HABITACIÓN - SANTIAGO, LAGO DE ATITLÁN (HOTEL BAMBÚ)

As we flew over Guatemala on our way home to Mexico, the tops of high volcanoes appeared above the clouds below us.  Guatemala has more than thirty dorman and active volcanoes, the most volcanoes per square mile than any country in the world.  The volcanoes of Pacaya, Agua  and Fuego are very close to Antigua.   We saw Fuego spewing ash daily while we were there, and at night, the volcano was crowned with bright red sparks.

UNO DE MÁS DE 30 VOLCANES EN GUATEMALA - FOTO SACADA DEL AVION SALIENDO DEL PAÍS

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COAPINOLE: 

Reached by driving northeast for about 25 minutes, the area in which the clinic in Coapinole took place was mostly dusty and poor.  The clinic was held in a vacated tortilla factory, so it was spacious, airy and centrally located.

CLÍNICA EN COAPINOLE - DR. POLI Y DR. ANTHONY

When I arrived on Friday,  42 cats and dogs had been registered, 15 of which were Pit Bulls, and of those, the majority were female.  Pit Bull fights are known to take place in the neighborhood (and in many other neighborhoods) on a regular basis.

RECOGIENDO GATOS DESPUÉS DE CIRUGÍA EN COAPINOLE

STERILIZATIONS IN COLONIA COAPINOLE  March 30-April 2: Male dogs - 30;
Female dogs - 75; Male cats - 25; Female cats - 30
TOTAL:  160!!!!!

CLÍNICA EN COAPINOLE

PLUS pregnancy terminated for 1 dog with 8 fetuses

ANTES DE CIRUGÍA-COAPINOLE

LLEVANDO SUS GATITA DESPUÉS DE CIRUGÍA - COAPINOLE

THE COAPINOLE CLINIC WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY A GENEROUS GRANT FROM
THE HUMANE SOCIETY (ALICE MORGAN WRIGHT-EDITH J. GOODE TRUST).

DONATIONS AT COAPINOLE CLINIC:  1,480 pesos

DONATIONS TO PEACEANIMALS: 
Martha Stanek - 1,400 pesos (earmarked for Bucerias clinic in May)
Stephanie and Paul Madan - $500 USD
Elaine Ortiz - 26 new dog collars and 10 new dog collars

ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA - SEMANA SANTA

Maré Hansen: Maré and her husband, Dr. Conrad Zagory, became friends after Maré admired our dog Charlie walking on the malecón when we first moved to Vallarta, almost ten years ago.  Intelligent, irrespressible and lovable Maré felt an intense love for dogs and made very generous donations several times a year to PEACEAnimals and to the SPCAPV.   While we were still in Guatemala,  Conrad emailed to say that Mare´s heart had failed and that she had died very suddenly.  She will be missed by all who knew, admired and loved her.

Conrad sent me this quote on Friday:

"Mankind's true moral test, its fundamental test (which lies deeply buried from view), consists of its attitude towards those who are at its mercy: animals. And in this respect mankind has suffered a fundamental debacle, a debacle so fundamental that all others stem from it."  -Milan Kundera, novelist, playwright, and poet
 



DONATIONS TO PEACEANIMALS EARMARKED FOR EL TUITO CLINIC ORGANIZED BY KAY DOYLE:

Suzanne Ragghianti - $100 USD
Kim Sieno - $300 USD (in 2015 and held for 2016 clinic by Kai Doyle)
Kim Sieno-   $200 USD

PREPARANDO UNA ALFOMBRA PARA LAS PROCESIONES EN ANTIGUA - SEMANA SANTA

CLINIC SCHEDULE/HORARIO:

April 6-9 - La Peñita, Nayarit - (PETS FOR LIFE CLINIC)

April 13-16 - el Tuito- From Puerto Vallarta south on carretera 200 - one hour driving time.  After passing through el Columpio, you will soon you will see a sign saying “La Hermosa.”

Look for the next right, which is a wide road that veers off to the right. There is a large, blue sign that says "Cabo Corrientes" right before you veer off to the right. (There are a bunch of tow trucks parked on the right side.) Take that road.

Proceed on that road. Soon you will cross a little bridge. Continue straight for approx.1 block. Turn right at the stop sign. Go approx. 2-3 blocks, (you will pass the supermarket on the right). When you see the church, on your left, go to the end of that block. Turn right onto Calle Jalisco. (there is a vacant lot on the corner with a cyclone fence & a “Se Vende” sign).  The clinic will be held in the first house on the left, recognizable by a cement bottle wall.

APRIL 20-23 - San Vicente, Nayarit - en el salon de ejido

APRIL 27-30 -  Las  Juntas  - en la delegación - Puerto Vallarta

LESLIE  Y DR. POLI EN COAPINOLE

CALENDAR FOR SPECIAL SUNDAY ONE-DAY CLINICS ON THE ISLA CUALE, WHERE SO MANY CATS AND KITTENS ARE ABANDONED.  PURO GATO WILL HOLD ADOPTIONS ON THE ISLA FROM 11-2 ON THESE SAME DATES.

    

Mayo 8 - domingo -  PV ANIMAL

Junio 5 -domingo -  SHANNON BESTON
July 3 - domingo - PEACEAnimals

Agosto 7 - domingo -  SPCA

Septiembre 4 - domingo - ANGELICAT

Octubre 2  - domingo - PURR PROJECT

Noviembre 6 - domingo -  PV ANIMAL

            Diciembre 4- domingo - PURO GATO

DR. ANTHONY - COAPINOLE

THE ABOVE GROUPS HAVE HIRED AND WILL PAY PETS FOR LIFE 4,500 PESOS FOR THE STERILIZATION OF 30 ANIMALS.  IF NUMBERS ARE GREATER,  THE SAME ORGANIZATIONS WILL REQUEST DONATIONS FROM THEIR SUPPORTERS TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.

NOTE:  PEACEAnimals, per our agreement with independent contractors, Pets for Life, is obliged to pay extra for driving time and gasoline for areas outside Puerto Vallarta.  We ask that private or government groups pay those extra expenses.

Please "like" PEACEAnimals and Calle Cero (national spay/neuter campaign) on FaceBook.

LUNCH DONATIONS NEEDED FOR VET TEAM:  PEACEAnimals has a budget of 70 pesos per vet team individual (three persons) per day for 4 days a week for lunches. 

CLÍNICA EN COAPINOLE

Please consider bringing lunches for our vet team to the clinics. If you can do this, please advise so we can create a lunch schedule. By having lunches donated, these savings can used for purchases of supplies and medicines.  

LESLIE - PRE-OP EN LA CLÍNICA DE COAPINOLE

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS AT THE CLINICS.    Please sign up:  Leslie Caratachea via FB or infopeaceanimals@gmail.com

If directions needed, please call our dedicated line (directions are only in Spanish) or refer to our website or this blog:   113 3955

COST FOR ONE SURGERY WEEK CLINIC IS APPROXIMATELY $1,800 USD. 

DESPUÉS DE CIRUGÍA EN LA CLÍNICA DE COAPINOLE

PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION VIA CHECK, CREDIT CARD, PAYPAL, BEQUEST OR STOCK TRANSFER.  Note:  Stocks are transferred at full value without the donating stock owner being taxed.

DONATION change effective Oct 1, 2015:

PEACEAnimals is under the umbrella of Banderas Bay Charities, Inc.,  a US 501 (c)(3) charity located in Portland, Oregon.   Please make payments payable to either BBC INC or Banderas Bay Charities, Inc.  Donations are tax deductible and should be earmarked for PEACEAnimals.

Banderas Bay Charities, Inc (BBC, Inc) offers tax-deductible receipts in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

www.bbcinc.org

Amy Welch, Secretary-Treasurer amywelchpdx@comcast.net

505 N Tomahawk Is Dr  Portland, OR 97217    

503 285 4007

Clinic schedule, including directions and other clinic information are always on website:  www.peaceanimals.org and on this blog:  www.gretchen-peace-and-pv.blogspot.com

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS: 
 

  

       Richard R. Reed Foundation  

 

Thank you for your interest and support.

            

Gretchen DeWitt – President – Board of Directors

www.peaceanimals.org 

www.gretchen-peace-and-pv.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/PeaceAnimals

            

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LINEA DESIGNADA PARA DIRECIÓNES Y COMO LLEGAR (EN ESPAÑOL) A LAS CLÍNICAS CADA SEMANA:   (322) 113 3955

NECESITAMOS LUGARES PARA NUESTRAS CLÍNICAS EN COLONIAS Y PUEBLOS. PRECISO:   BAÑO, ELECTRICIDAD, AGUA Y PARA ESTACIONARSE.

DIRECTORIO PARA ANIMALITOS RESCATADOS -  
http://gooddog.pw/my-account/

INFORMACIÓN EN ESPAÑOL SOBRE LA ESTERILIZACIÓN PARA MASCOTAS Y LAS CLÍNICAS GRATIS EN NUESTRO WEBSITE - www.peaceanimals.org

FAVOR DE DONAR ALMUERZOS PARA EL EQUIPO. NOS CUESTA 210 PESOS 4 DÍAS LA SEMANA Y CON SUS DONACIÓNES DE COMIDA, PODEMOS USAR ESTE DINERO PARA SUMINISTROS.  GRACIAS.

NECESITAMOS VOLUNTARIOS, PORFA.

GRACIAS POR SU INTERÉS Y SU APOYO.

Gretchen DeWitt – Presidente de le mesa directiva

www.peaceanimals.org 

www.gretchen-peace-and-pv.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/PeaceAnimals