Newsletter 04 english Servicios Turisticos Centro America S.A.

Guatemala

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No. 04 November - December 2013

Merry Christmas

Servicios turisticos Centro America S.A.

Zunil, Quetzaltenango Guatemala

Zunil and The Surrounding Area

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By Claudia Alvarado

uetzaltenango is a Department with 24 municipalities, one of which is Zunil. Zunil has a population of 12,000, altitud 2,076 msnm. People of Zunil speak Quiche and Spanish. It’s 15 km from Quetzaltenango. Their Patronal Fair is to Santa Catarina de Alejandria, on November 15th. It’s close to the volcanoes Santo Thomas, Santa Maria and Santiaguito (this last volcano is active constantly).

The proof of the existence of Zunil is recored in the manuscript of Francisco of Cuaga in 1689. The women of Zunil wear indigenuous clothes with many colors.

Made by hand, the prices are reasonable.

Most of the population work in agriculture.

The Places to visit in Zunil are: The Catholic Church, Municipal Market, and the Cooperative of Widow women, The Group is arms of conflict of Guatemala, and they has souvenirs typical for the region, and gifts as your memories from your visit.

Hiking can be done: from Alaska to Fuentes Georginas, Fuentes Georginas to South Coast with Avitours from El Quetzal, the national bird of Guatemala. Fuentes Georginas is where you can enjoy the Hot Spring water.

On your way from Zunil to Fuentes Georginas you can find secret places for Mayan ceremonies and also the “Black Hole”. The beliefs of the population say the activities in the black hole increase when the people are close to the hole, the movements are like boiling water. The hole is located 1 km and descend to a boulder close to Samala River.

My interview with a Engineer of Geothermic Activities explains to me, that we live in a area full of volcanoes. It’s the reason why we have such beautiful places with hot spring water and volcanic vents.

The black holes are volcanic vents of really high heat.

According to the Engineer of Geothermic Activity. The earth has different layers of texture some are waterproof and others are not. The water we use for all kinds of things are 80 mts under the surface it’s clean, but below 1500 to 2000 mts there is another layer of water turning for millions of years and has different chemical for the long time it has been in the layer. This is the reason we have sulfur in the water, it’s not recommended to drink this water, but it’s really good for medical treatment for the skin and body.

The geothermic plant has the job to take the steam out and decrease the pressure from the steam that can cause disaster or eruption of the volcano. It’s a bliss to live in la Sierra Madre, with the chain of volcanoes and warm weather, that`s semi-tropical, cold, and humid. We have flat land, high and low, mountains. That’s the reason the people call us “Eterna Primavera or Eternal Spring”. We invite you to come visit us.

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OUR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Chancol - Chiantla-Huehuetenango

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n many villages in rural areas of Guatemala. Youth suffers from a poor Public education system, lack of recreational activities, a strong immigration to the United States With their respective family disintegration and cultural identity, stigmatization of youth as a problem of gender discrimination, the early and unwanted pregnancy, and many situations that strongly affects the harmonious development of individuals and communities.

It is in this context that three years ago, several young Chancol communities were organized with the concern to “do something” and together with the Blue Unicorn Inn Bed located in the town, decided to create a library.

For two years, the library and playroom worked through donation of books (including a significant donation from Adrenalina Tours) and educational games, to a local community group and volunteers took turns to open

several times a week.

In 2013, unable to continue using the community locally there was an urgent need to build a separate room.

In order not to abandon this promising project, Adrenalina Tours decided to finance the construction material of this new local decisive contribution, and now accounts for half of the construction material. The land was made available by the Blue Unicorn who is also responsible for the construction. Very soon, a community librarian will be hired and start working through another donation and is in the network of librarians who receive training from the organization “Child – Aid” Adrenalina Tours decisively contribute to the education and improvement of children, youth and adults from the community od chancel and its neighboring communities the contributions will provide a toy library, library cultural center for about 10,000 people

Juan Matalbatz

Upside-down St. Peter

Wheel of St, Catherine

7 What do Juan Matalbatz, upside-down St. Peter and the wheel of St. Catherine have in common?

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By Patrick Vercoutere

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uatemala is a country full of interesting encounters.

It started when the Spaniards and the “indios” met centuries ago. Since over half a century, “indio” can no longer be said out loud in public. Just like the prohibition of forced labour on coffee farms, it was written in to law. However, as it is so often the case in plutocracies, enforcement of certain laws is almost non-existent.

Even today, after “13 Baktun” (1), encounters between differents cultures are an integral part of the average Guatemalan’s life, as the earth is still turning, only disturbed by the occasional earthquake.

The “noble” offspring of the “conquistadores” lack these encounters, as they never really bothered to get acquainted with the indigenous people and still think that being white and Spanish is the pinnacle of civilisation. Poverty and underdevelopment are invisible to their eyes at “Los Volcanes” raceway or the greens of La Reunion Golf Resort.

Not even from their helicopters with blacked-out windows, during their

15-minute flight from Guatemala’s capital. Every now and then, one falls from the skies, giving way to countless obituaries in the local press over several weeks.

St. Peter hangs on his cross in the church of San Pedro Carchá, upsidedown, his crotch up to the heavens.

It is an honour and a pleasure only bestowed in Nicaragua and Guatemala in the whole of CentralAmerica. Let us just hope he did not have his keys with him... Legend has it that he felt inferior to his heavenly master and for that reason, he did not want to be crucified in the same way as Him. Shaky knees instead of nodding slavishly... Humility is a lovely virtue, even more if you belong to the Catholic church and conveniently forget about the colonisation and its horrors.

Juan Matalbatz, an indian chieftain forgotten by time, hangs upright on the facade of the Catholic church of St. John in Chamelco, second corpse, first street to the right, next to a regal lion. Be careful, as one could easily loose one’s way without his bulging

eyes, looking frightened, chained to a wheel. This wheel looks a lot like the contraption Emperor Maxentius ordered St. Catherine to be tortured to death on. It has blades likes knives, greedily holding the sole indian chieftain, king of kings at the time of the conquest of the New World.

It must have been quite a shock for Charles V when he saw this halfnaked man, still soulless then, only wearing feathers in the European cold. He was the first indian ever to receive this honour. The Quechi’s Ah Pop O’Batz (2 & 3), who adhered to the local pagan belief, was converted by pious Dominicans and became a full member of the Christian community. The same Dominicans who imported their black fellowmen to work as slaves in their sugar factories (4), when the indians were almost exterminated and slavery was abolished for them, and for them only. The Lord gives and takes, and colour does make a difference when economic interests are at stake.

The wheel keeps turning. Every now and then, it loses a blade. Razor-sharp but just like St. Catherine, this people

cannot be destroyed. Even though they are small in numbers, their very own Ah Pop watches them, knowing his strategy eventually resulted in victory. In San Juan they still venerate Ah Pop and not Juan (John). The wheel keeps turning.

(1)13 Baktun, the end of a time period and the beginning of a new in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar (2)Quechi, one of the indigenous peoples in Guatemala, like the Quiche, Mam and Kakqchikel (3)Ah Pop, chieftain of chieftains, title for a local leader (4)San Jéronimo, sugar factory and winery for quite some time, until the Spanish king feared its competition.

Patrick Vercoutere Cultural guide Guatemala, for a different way of travelling www.adrenalinatours.com

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Loma Linda T By: Manuel Guillen

his farm has a population of 1,200 people, it is a community property, located in the town of El Palmar, Quetzaltenango, 76 kilometers away from the provincial capital, 90% of the road is paved and a small portion is a dirt road, which is passable throughout the year. This place offers tourists several options ranging from hiking trails with natural vegetation subtropical virgin forest, coffee plantations, pacaina and some citrus plantations, as well as river sources, streams and waterfalls. Due to the presence of endangered birds in the area, bird watching is also a popular activity.

Which Farm is administered by three entities which are governed by a general assembly: The cooperative, the coordinator of the church

and association called ASODILL (Association for sustainable and comprehensive development and tourism in Loma Linda), the main goal of ASODILL is to promote ecotourism and alternative activities to agriculture in the state, and is composed or equal numbers of men and women from the local community.

There are 3 hikes that are offered to visitors: 1. Hike to the Chilamate Waterfall The trail is a moderate level, at times hiking through creeks and thick vegetation of the rainforest. There are some steep ascents to reach the beautiful waterfall Chilamate called so because right at the top is a Chilamate tree. Another interesting fact is that right in the middle of this waterfall a cross of vegetation has formed. The

approximate length of this hike is 2 hours.

2. Hike to the beaches of the River Ocosito Also called route Janes - Katarin to honor two foreign volunteers who contributed much to the association and specifically with the creation of this trail. This is an alternative for those people who wish to have the experience of being able to swim in a river. During the walk you pass three waterfalls, plus crops and virgin forest. The hike lasts for just over 3 hours,the level of demand is moderate,and is not recommended during the rainy season due to the high water levels.

3. Hike to practice bird watching.

(Seven Hill) This route requires a demand level from moderate to difficult, and is not recommended for people with low fitness levels. Where

you will make a steep ascent to the highest parts of the farm, adjacent to the volcano Santiaguito and San Martin SacatepĂŠquez.

This hike takes a same route as the Chilamate waterfall hike and then continues with aascent of about an hour and a half, passing cultures and finally reaching a wooded area where there are bird species which includeTangara and Quetzal which would interestreachingbird watching enthusiasts. The farm has an IBA certification, such certification ensures that birds live there and it will be very likely tosee the birds.

The recommended dates for this route is from November to April and recommended times of departure are in the morning before 7 am and in the afternoon after 3pm.

DO YOU PLAN TO VISIT GUATEMALA ... CONTACT US !

13 Av 4-25 zone 1 Inside Pasaje Enriquez Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, Tel:(502) 7761-4509 PBX: (502) 7932-5858 24/7: (502)5308-1489 www.adrenalinatours.com info@adrenalinatours.com