La parte de Guatemala uno

I spent a week in Guatemala visiting my friend Jessie who will soon be returning to Florida. She has lived there since July learning Spanish, learning life and learning about herself. I met up with her and our other friend and former co-worker, Tristan, to see where she has been living all this time. Guatemala is a beautiful country. Although, I feel like I haven't had any time to process my trip, let alone look at any pictures from it. Life has been going pretty much non-stop since I got back and isn't showing any signs of slowing down. As I get time to look through pictures, I'll post stuff I like.

I have to say, I took pictures like a tourist, and I really think the pictures I love the most are of Jessie and Tristan. Their blogs can be seen here and here.

The view from our hostel.

Man on the street.

First time I realized her new accessory.

The hostel had the best light.

That which sets us free...

My friends Dianna and Zhi got married last weekend. I was not the official photographer, but you know I couldn't resist. They were beautiful and so happy. Congratulations to you both.








Touched by an Angel

We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.

Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.

We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love's light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.

— Maya Angelou

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

I love and hate this picture for the same reason. It is awkward. It makes ME feel trapped in a box, because HE looks like he's trapped in a box. Which reminded of a movie dialogue that I remember from a LONG time ago.

ROSENCRANTZ: Do you ever think of yourself as actually dead,
lying in a box with a lid on it?

GUlL: No.

ROSENCRANTZ: Nor do I, really... It's silly to be depressed by it. I mean one
thinks of it like being alive in a box, one keeps forgetting to
take into account the fact that one is dead... which should
make a difference... shouldn't it? I mean, you'd never know
you were in a box, would you? It would be just like being
asleep in a box. Not that I'd like to sleep in a box, mind you,
not without any air - you'd wake up dead, for a start and then
where would you be? Apart from inside a box. That's the bit I
don't like, frankly. That's why I don't think of it.

Because you'd be helpless, wouldn't you? Stuffed in a box
like that, I mean you'd be in there for ever. Even taking
into account the fact that you're dead, really... ask
yourself, if! asked you straight off - I'm going to stuff you
in this box now, would you rather be alive or dead?
Naturally, you'd prefer to be alive. Life in a box is better
than no life at all. I expect. You'd have a chance at least.
You could he there thinking - well, at least I'm not dead!
In a minute someone's going to bang on the lid and tell me
to come out. (Banging on the floor with his fists.) 'Hey you,
whatsyernaine! Come out of there!'

Things you might see

Sometimes you can find bizarre images in a firefighters training tower.