POLISH

GUATEMALA 2019




The church La Merced in Antigua.


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Antigua's cathedral was begun in 1545, wrecked by the quake of 1773, and only partially rebuilt over the next century.


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Antigua.


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Antigua.


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Antigua.


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Antigua.


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Early morning, it is possible to buy milk directly from a goat.


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Corn was the staple of the Maya people for millennia and remains the main ingredient in the cuisine of Guatemalans.


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Antigua.


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The older buses, colloquially called, "chicken buses" are very popular mean of transport. The name chicken bus is a nickname that derives from the cargo taken taken by passengers in those buses like livestock ie. chickens.


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Antigua.


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Antigua.


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Antigua.


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The church La Merced in Antigua.


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An active Volcano El Fuego.


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An active Volcano El Fuego.


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Antigua partially in the shade of inactive volcano De Agua.


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Library building in Antigua.


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The communal graveyard in Antigua.


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The communal graveyard in Antigua.


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The communal graveyard in Antigua.


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The communal graveyard in Antigua.


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There are many churches in Antigua centre and suburbs. Many of them declined and ruined by frequent earthquakes in the region.


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Extinct volcano Tolimán (3258 m a.s.l.) adjoining lake Atitlán that lies at the altitude of 1563 m.


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Evening cruises on the lake Atitlán.


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The town Flores is located on an island which is part of the lake Petén Itzá. The level of the like rises up permanently, submerging the shore of the island.


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The centre of the island Flores, atop a small knoll, rises a double-domed cathedral, Nuestra Senora de los Remedios, in front of which local meet to socialise.


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The wheel on the right side is part of an ice grinder. The vendor shreds blocks of frozen water in to a cup adding different flavours of juice and sometimes topping it with dried fruits and nuts.


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On the island of Flores, a few times a day, locals participated in spectacular parades with dancing effigies and live band playing on large cymbals and drums.


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During Christmas time, according to some tradition, some shopkeepers cover the floor of their shop with a layer of needles from pine trees.


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Local market in Santa Elena. The vendor sells hens suspended in the baskets.
After killing the birds, the unformed eggs are sold separately in plastic bags.


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I stopped in a former biological field station in "Bocas del Polochic Wildlife Reserve". It used to be in the centre of big forest. Now it just a small patch of forest enclosed between swamps and oil palm plantation. In the picture a truck transporting fruits of oil palm.


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Semuc Champey. Natural limestone bridge, on top of which is a stepped series of pools with cool, flowing river water. The main stream of the river flows in a naturally made tunnel for about 300m.


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Water pools in Semuc Champey, are irresistible for tourist to have a dip.


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A girl collecting resin for burning as an incense in their church.


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In Guatemala system of recycling is almost non existent.
Most people burn the rubbish where the plastic is dominant.


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Ancient ruins in Tikal. In front of many temples there are small altars on which the Maya burned perhaps offerings or some incense.


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Temple V build around 700 AD. It is a second highest temple in Tikal complex, its height is 59m.


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The temples are not overgrown and many are rebuilt or reconstructed, nevertheless the presence of surrounding jungle gives an awesome experience.


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"The Gran Plaza" is the very centre of the ancient town of Tikal.


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Strolling through the ruins of Tikal we can see mostly walls, stairs or chambers but bas-reliefs or other ornaments are not a common site.


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When I was returning to my tent on the camp site a crocodile passed through.


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Along west coast there is a stretch of 20 km Nature reserve Monterrico. Among mangroves, ferries shuttle people, goods or lorries.


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Guatemala grapples with crime. Some coach companies implemented personal controles of passengers before each entry on the board.


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POLISH