(continued from Part three: Lake Atitlán.)
The paved road gives way to gravel, which eventually narrows to a rocky path before disappearing altogether. Here, at the literal end of the road, lies a tiny island of Guatemalan cloud forest and the community protecting it. I was to be a guest of both in the coming days.
Step. Stop. Listen. See. Walking through the cloud forest with a skilled guide, it is abundantly clear how much of the ecosystem, teeming with life around …
(continued from Part zero: From here to there.)
Church bells rouse the city in the middle of the night, yet no one is woken. Restless with anticipation everyone is already up and waiting for this exact moment, because this particular April evening is not an ordinary one. The repeated clang of metal on metal rings out from the bell tower’s lofty nest above the city and beckons the community to gather at its feet. There, from the aged doors of the church-front, a formal procession…
When we hear a reference to “the north” an image of windswept tundra blanketed by snow and ice immediately rises to mind. That, or maybe Santa Claus. Even in the high arctic though, summer does arrive; the land takes on a very different look than that which we imagine and attracts seasonal animals that travel great distances to get there.
This past August I witnessed the brief northern summer for the first time with my own eyes and, of course, my camera. Returning…
Hello Angie! Thanks for the message.
In summertime there are less guided options than in other seasons, but I’m happy to say that the two major expedition companies operating out of the town itself at this time of year are both very good. Check out Sea North Tours for getting out on the water or Frontiers North for accessing the tundra with a buggy. Private guided options are always available if you have the desire and means, but I would start with the group options to get a taste.
Really enjoyed your story and pictures with my cup of coffee this morning. Amazing how they can make the topic of grief into one of beauty. Life is so short and also so very beautiful.
How interesting to get a verbal and visual glimpse into this custom.