Day #2 in Guatemala

Today we started with a 7 a.m. breakfast in the courtyard. Fresh fruit, eggs, plantains, pancakes, rolls, granola, cereal, yogurt, coffee, juice and more.

We left at 8 a.m. for a quick orientation at the Antigua Safe Passage office then we headed to Guatemala City. First stop was the overlook to see the dump and to learn about the history of the site and the people who work there. There are no words to describe the dump, the smells, the sounds, the vultures, its  expansiveness, or the sight of the workers and buzz of constant activity.

From the dump overlook we went to the Safe Passage buildings to learn about their programming: Early childhood, Phys Ed, the Arts program, English program, and Women's Creamos program. We'll see more as the week progresses.

The arts program

Creamos program

Today there was a special catered lunch for all the teachers and staff in honor of tomorrow's National Teacher Day. We ate with the staff in the comedor and listened to the awards ceremony.

We heard about the English program and Creamos program after lunch and by 3:30 p.m. we were quite weary. We returned to Antigua and different groups explored Antigua, exchanged money, had ice cream, bargained in the market or rested in the hotel.

We had dinner at Monoloco Restaurant in Antigua and some watched the Bruins game. There was a crew in another room cheering for the Black Hawks so there was a bit of competition in the air.

Tomorrow there are no programs running at Safe Passage due to National Teachers' Day (all teachers have a paid day off) so it's our free day. We'll have the Tour of the Traditions, followed by a tour of an organic macadamia nut farm and Filadelfia Coffee Plantation.