Recently while Jerry and LeAnn Piering were in the country we took a side visit to our lovely (though dirty) little town of Santa Cruz del Quiché for the week long town fair. Essentially the majority of the town's residents take the week off to celebrate the Festival of Santa Elena, the town's patron saint. Quiché was unlike any other time we have been there, inundated with people, crowded with vendors selling everything from peanuts and churros to these little rings of bread that about 100 vendors were selling and about 3 people were eating. These are the kinds of things that just make us wonder about businesses in Guatemala. Such a lack of differentiation and diversity. Anyway, the week was crowded with events from traditional dances called Convites to nightly fireworks shows that never seemed to end, a large carnival with rides set up in the town bus terminal, and beauty pageants for a variety of titles. Being only in town for Friday and Saturday during the fair, we didn't have a chance to see it all, but indeed did see plenty.
On Saturday we went with Jerry and LeAnn to the top of Toby's fire station, a four storey building very close to the central park to view the main fireworks show. Although starting later than we expected, the show was one of the best we had ever seen with loads of fireworks both large and small that seemed to go one forever. Our amazing vantage point was to thank for such a great vista yet was far enough away to avoid the crowds, noise, neck aches, and danger of falling cinders, but high enough to tower above the surrounding buildings.
In addition we also took a gander at the carnival games and even tried our hands at one that looked like a good time. It was a game in which one had to land a Quetzal coin (.15 USD) on one of 5 or so large plates floating in a pool. Though both Jerry and Toby failed two attempts each, Brittany was victorious on her very first try. Her prize? Not a silly stuffed animal or a noise maker, no. Something much more practical, a 2.5 liter bottle of Pepsi (which we are still working on). Congrats Brittany! We also enjoyed snacking on fresh churros during the fair as the vendors only come out for special events.
1 comment:
I think you were exaggerating just a bit regarding those pretzel-like bread rings. There may have been over 100 vendors, but I only saw one being eaten despite the free samples available.
No hyperbole where the fireworks were concerned--they were fabulous! Though I didn't appreciate the morning versions at 5:30 a.m. Oh well,I was already awake from the music till 3 a.m. and the roosters chiming in at four.
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