Jesus Nazareno de los Milagros - Preparing for the Procession

As a metaphor for spiritualism in the modern age, Gaby and I had a religious experience today.

Wreaths of palms adorn the metal railing on windows often adding to the purple sashes that indicate a procession route. Indigenous women weave and sell hand-held palm wreaths in various shapes adding flowers and grasses of all types. Our wreath featured a pyramid, but most are simply loops of palms with a tulip and a splash of baby's breath. Amazingly, Sam carried the palm wreath for quite a number of blocks.

We headed out bright & early (by our standards) to catch the Palm Sunday processions (see our previous entry on Semana Santa if you haven't already). We had the map of the route's procession, we had the will to see it, Sam was suited up & ready to go.

Well, we saw people preparing for the procession, we saw people cleaning up after the procession, but after 2 hours of wandering the streets, we finally gave up on seeing the procession itself. It remained frustratingly elusive, just around the next corner.

However, in the process we did see the activities that go on to prepare for the arrival: namely, how the community comes out into the streets and creates the really beautiful sawdust carpets over which the procession walks. The mood is lively and happy, and since the streets are blocked off from the noise and stench of car traffic, Guatemala city reveals a quiet charm that is not always apparent.