GUATAMALA: Lake Atitlan and the Guatamalan Highlands. Guest Post by Tom and Susan Weisner

Local market, Lake Atitlan, featuring tomatoes, corn, onions, avocados, chile verde and other locally grown produce.

A few weeks ago, our friends Tom and Susan Weisner traveled to Guatamala and have graciously shared some of their photos. Tom, an anthropologist at UCLA and specialist in children and families, is on the Board of ChildFund International. The first part of the trip to Guatamala involved visiting families and program sites supported by ChildFund along with other members of the ChildFund Board. In the second part of the trip, Tom and Susan went to Lake Atitlan, staying at the very nice Arca de Noé Hotel and Restaurant in Santa Cruz la Laguna.  This area is rightly famous for its natural beauty and colorful Mayan villages. Tom and Susan visited villages around the lake and took a hike with a local guide. Lake Atitlan is the deepest lake in Central America at 1120 feet. It sits in the caldera of an ancient volcano. The surface of the lake is at an elevation of 5125 feet. Here are a few of Tom and Susan's photos and comments about their trip.

Lake Atitlan. Our breakfast table view from the Arca de Noe Hotel and Restaurant, San Cruz Atitlan. No road circles the lake, so communities are reached by boat or mountain roads.

Santiago Atitlan is the largest community around lake Atitlan and is noted for its worship of Maximon, a Mayan saint-healer. An effigy of Maximon is carried through the streets during Santa Semana (Holy Week).

Back-strap weaving cooperative, San Juan la Laguna, Guatemala. Lake Atitlan is surrounded by many villages in which Maya culture is still prevalent and traditional dress is worn.

Susan with pictures of plants and fruits used to dye fibers for weaving.

Susan showing photos of our grandchildren to a local Mayan family, Guatamalan Highlands.

Mural showing a bone setter healing a youth, Lake Atitlan.

Our lovely hotel room at the Arca de Noé Hotel & Restaurant overlooking Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.

Tom enjoying breakfast. A typical breakfast at the hotel was veggie omelets with tacos and local bread and coffee.