April

April 14th
We left at 5:30 am to go to Antigua for the big tourist oriented Easter processions.  We took lots of pictures of the carpets as the people were making them.  They took an incredible amount of time and talent to make.

This one would be the most difficult to carry the thrones over in my opinion.

Cabbages, onions, cauliflower, radishes, celery--you name it.

They even used corn on the cob and beets.

The colors and designs are lovely.  They are built right down the center of streets all over Antigua along the procession route.

Flowers, sawdust, pine needles and fruits and vegetable.  Anything natural.

It was like being at a bazaar with vendors and crowds of people.  The procession included horses and Roman soldiers, Pontius Pilate, Barabbas and every other character involved in the Crucifixion of Christ.

Crowds and vendors selling balls, hats, umbrellas and various souvenirs.

Roman Soldiers and priests.

Roman soldiers marched at the sides of the route to keep the spectators back.

Thrones were carried by 80 people who pay for the honor and privilege of carrying it.

Pilate and Herod talking.  Barabbas is on the far side of the street.

Priests lining the procession route

Click here for video

The huge thrones were incredible to watch go round corners.  Men with tall staves lifted electric wires for them to pass under.

Click Here for Throne Turning the Corner

We walked around town looking at more carpets along different routes enjoying the talents of these people.  Some of the alfrombras were a memorial to loved ones.

The beautiful carpet after the procession has passed over it.

Surrounded by mangoes.

Incredible artistry.

All in all it was an exciting day.  One of the curiosities we see on a daily basis is the young ladies in traditional dress with high heels.  They just don't seem to go together.  

The people were delightful and the carpets and procession were a wonder.  So glad we got to go.  Apparently this day was all about the death of Christ and Sunday they have more processions celebrating the resurrection.  Hope you enjoyed the pictures.

March

March 13
President took us shopping this morning early and then drove us to Antigua so I could see the chiropractor there.  We dropped the others off to shop and Eldon drove me to Ian's.  He did a great job of adjusting me.  We then picked up the others and went to Soberico for lunch.  It is a beautiful garden restaurant and Chocolateria. 

Lunch at Soberico.  Yummy!

Soberico restaurant.

Parakeets decorated the restaurant.

It was very quiet even though there was traffic just on the
other side of the wall.

I tried to capture some really cool pictures of the afterlife of the American School Bus.  They are totally awesome.  We could probably get more school bus drivers in the states if the buses looked like these!

Grills, lights and chrome are all custom.

Jacked up fronts make that first step a little high.

The drivers often own their own buses.

Bus depot in Antigua.  Usually 100 buses or more coming and going at any given time.

All have racks on top for carrying cargo.  The helper climbs up and
secures or unties loads on the move.

Least fancy one I saw.

April 5th

The Catholic school across the street did their Pascua parade today.  The carpets were laid out along the street. 

They start with colored sawdust or pine needles.

Stencils are use to make lovely designs.

Different colors of sawdust make the patterns.

The alfombra (carpets) start inside the school gate, along the street to the next gate.

The girls do a great job. 

After all that work they have a program and then the parade marches over the top of the alfombras carrying heavy "thrones" in slow swaying steps.

Adults help the young girls carry the thrones.

Then they sweep up the sawdust and are done.

With spring here again the flowers, which are here all year, come out in glorious abundance and the streets are strewn with petals.  Wish they smelled as good as they look but only a couple really have a smell to them.

The next section will have a lot of pictures of alfombras so will make a new entry.  That's all for this one.