Calling all lovers of textiles and travel !!

Once again we are offering one of our most popular learning adventures ....

EXPLORING THE HIGHLANDS NEAR QUETZALTENANGO

WHILE LEARNING ABOUT MAYA CULTURE

THROUGH A TEXTILE LENS

11 - 20 March 2019

The focus of this tour is get a bit more

off the beaten track

and travel further

into the highlands of Guatemala.

Along the way, we will learn about specific

types of weaving, such as

jaspe and ikat dyeing

practiced in the

Quetzaltenango (Xela) area.

We'll visit cooperatives and weaving families

in their homes, and poke around in Salcaja

where ikat dyer's spread their threads

out along the river.

We will also visit the fabulous markets in

Chichicastenango

and San Francisco el Alto.

We start out with a short stay in lovely Antigua,

visiting our friends Lidia and her family

in their village home for a

backstrap weaving demonstration.

It is here you'll have the opportunity to

try backstrap weaving for yourself.

Then we'll head out to Chichicastenango, with a stop in Xenacoj, to visit Magna

and her natural dye cooperative (it is right on the way).

Next we'll press on Quetzalenango, where we have visits scheduled with cooperatives and weaving families.

And then, because we are lucky enough to be

in Guatemala during Lent,

we will return to Antigua to witness one of the

incredible Lenten processions that Antigua is famous for.

Devote Catholics celebrate Sundays in Lent with enormous processions, carrying an anda (float)

on the shoulders of cucuruchus,

that wind through the streets of Antigua

and many of the small villages.

People (including us) make beautiful alfombras

(carpets of pine needles and flowers or colorful sawdust) in the streets in honor of tradition and Jesus.

And finally, because, of course,

we can't skip LAKE ATITLAN,

we will visit and stay at our home away from home, the POSADA SANTIAGO.

The lake is an incredibly beautiful and

spiritual place with a peaceful energy. We will build a spirit house, and learn more about how

women weaving ties into their spirituality.

It is important to know that there is so much

more to our tours than just

what you will learn about weaving.

We truly provide an insider's glimpse into

Mayan culture as people are living it today.

Please join us for an informative, heartwarming

and in-depth look at some of the

weaving communities in Guatemala.

We welcome all appreciators of fine fabrics

with an adventuresome spirit

for this fabulous cultural get away.

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