Season's Greetings

Season's Greetings, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Dress Code

Dress Code, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Bath Time

Bath Time, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Ruffled

Ruffled, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Aristrocrat's Profile

Color My Life

Color My Life, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Should I?

Should I?, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

The True Meaning

The True Meaning, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Forest Faeries

Forest Faeries, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Curve Ahead

Curve Ahead, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Open for Business

Open for Business, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Sunny Side Up

Sunny Side Up, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Center of Controversy

Center of Controversy, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Front and Center

Front and Center, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Deep Throat

Deep Throat, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Looking for the light

Looking for the light, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

The Promise of Life

The Promise of Life, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Past Glories

Past Glories, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Do I Need Waxing?

Do I Need Waxing?, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Orchid Bloom

Orchid Bloom, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Rainforest Orchid

Rainforest Orchid, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Soak up the sun

Soak up the sun, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Life

Life, originally uploaded by PAL1970 - Catching up.

Day Out

Day Out, originally uploaded by PAL1970 - Catching up.

Guatemalan Handcrafts

Guatemalan Handcrafts, originally uploaded by PAL1970 - Catching up.

Take Time To Make Decisions

Take Time To Make Decisions, originally uploaded by PAL1970 - I'm back.

Green Slide

Green Slide, originally uploaded by PAL1970 - Slowly getting back.

Button

Button, originally uploaded by PAL1970 - Slowly getting back.

Sunny Side Up

Sunny Side Up, originally uploaded by PAL1970 - Slowly getting back.

Play Ball

Play Ball, originally uploaded by PAL1970 - Slowly getting back.

Standing Guard

Standing Guard, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Collares

Collares, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Lay Still

Lay Still, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Puente El Incienso

Puente El Incienso, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Construido a inicios de la década del 70, el Puente Martín Prado Vélez, mejor conocido como Puente del Incienso, dado que así se llama el barranco que dicho puente cruza. Este barranco es llamado de esta forma por la cantidad de nubes o neblina que se acumula por la mañana en la parte baja del mismo, dando la impresión de una nube de incienso. Ubicado como parte integral del Anillo Periférico (Norte - Sur) que comunica a las zonas 1, 2 y 3 con la zona 7 de la Ciudad Capital. Durante mucho tiempo representó el desarrollo urbano del pais, pero actualmente en sus bases se encuentran mucho asentamientos urbanos donde viven personas de escasos recursos.

Tradicionalmente ha sido utilizado por personas desesperadas para quitarse la vida. Sin embargo, en el transcurso del año 2009, la estadística de suicidios en este lugar se ha incrementado de forma dramática. El puente tiene una altura que excede los 200 metros en su punto más alto.

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Built in the beggining of the 70's, the Martín Prado Vélez Bridge, better known as El Incienso Bridge, as this is the name of the ravine it crosses. This ravine is called El Incienso due to the amount of low hanging clouds or fog that accumulates on the ravine in the early morning, giving the imrpession of a cloud of incense. An integral part of Anillo Periferico (north to south), that joins zones 1,2 and 3 with zone 7 of the Capital City of Guatemala. For a long time, this work of infrastructure represented the urban development of the country, but currently it is flanked by low income settlements at its bases.

Traditionally, the bridge has been used by desperate people to take their lives. However, during 2009, the amount of suicides in this place has dramatically risen. The bridge has an elevation in excess of 660 feet.

U lookin' at me?

U lookin' at me?, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Ate too much

Ate too much, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Tooth Fairy

Tooth Fairy, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Am I Smelly?

Am I Smelly?, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Waiting for Her

Waiting for Her, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Matilda

Matilda, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

This is Matilda, a 74 year old Maya woman of the Kakchikel ethnic group, one of the two main mayan groups in Guatemala. She has woven textiles all her life, and is very proud to be able to teach new generations her trade.

The Weaving Hand

The Weaving Hand, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Matilda is a 74 year old Maya woman of the Caq' chiquel ethnic group, one of the two main mayan groups in Guatemala. She has woven textiles all her life, and is very proud to be able to teach new generations her trade. Tomorrow I'll post a full shot of Matilda at work. You can find her at the Antigua Guatemala Handcrafts market.

Handbags

Handbags, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

These handbags or purses are handmade from the "huipil" a pure cotton blouse worn by Mayan women. The indigenous dress' colors and designs are specific to each village. Since these hare highly costly and the "westernization" process of our native culture has advanced a lot, mayan people are slowly abandoning their traditional garments.

Guatemalan Textiles

Guatemalan Textiles, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

These are handmade from pure cotton. In the picture you can see mantelpieces, napkins and hotplate holders. Guatemalan indigenous people wear a different type of dress according to the village of their origin. Each village has its colors and designs.

Mascaras

Mascaras, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Guatemalans of Mayan ascent celebrate religious festivities and happy occasions with a "Baile de Moros", these are representations of various stories, through their eyes. There is the "Baile de la Conquista" (Dance of the Conquest of the Americas), the actual "Baile de Moros" (Moors dance, an actual representation of the Christian liberation of Spain from moor hands) and several stories from the bible. In these dances, the actors, dressed in character, perform their moves and dialog. The dresses include the use of masks, which can take the form of a Mayan Lord, a Spanish Conquistador, a Moor, or the witch counselor. The witch is usually presented as an animal... such as the masks in the image.

The Red Baron

The Red Baron, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Black Stallion

Black Stallion, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Hunted Hunter

Hunted Hunter, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Threesome

Threesome, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

EcoStar

EcoStar, originally uploaded by PAL1970.

Rainy Greens

Rainy Greens, originally uploaded by PAL1970.