Antigua Bike Rentals, Yoga and Cooking Classes

Meet the eco-bikes, Mexico City’s latest and greatest in public transpo! These fabulous bikes are available to anyone who buys the year membership ($25). You just pick one up and leave it at any eco-bike stand, which are conveniently located all over the city.

Mexic City is a huge metropolis that relys heavily on public transportation and has a rough history of high pollution levels. Plan Verde, the ‘green plan’, was implemented by the Mexican Government 15 years ago and it’s goal is to reach 5% of total transportation by bicycle. How cool is that?

Eco-bike started in 2010 and has 86 bike modules, that hold 1,114 bicycles in total. The bikes are pretty styling and can be seen all over town. Just one more reason why I love DF!

Do you think eco-bikes would be a success where you live? Is Guatemala ready for mainstream bike traffic?

Alright, so you have seen the masses in purple and you are now wondering what is going on. Well, the processions of Semana Santa have begun and there is no way you will avoid them, so you might as well take it all in. My trusty Prensa Libre guide informs me that these are that parades that will be happening… Here is a guide to the big guys leading up to Easter Sunday and the times you can catch them.

Wednesday, April 20th

• San Felipe’s Parade begins at 3pm at the San Felipe Sanctuary, en route to Jojotenango. The parade enters Antigua passing in front of La Merced and arrives at the Central Park around 7:30pm. From there it heads back out of town, past San Sebastian and ending back where it started at 10pm.

Thursday, April 21st

• San Cristobal El Bajo: San Cristobal is out past El Calvario and begins heading into the center of town at 11am. It passes the Escuela de Cristo at 2:30pm and La Merced at 7pm, before heading back and ending at 11pm.
• San Francisco El Grande: San Francisco’s parade departs at 12:45pm, passing through Central Park and later La Merced around 7pm and returning down 1st Ave. from 9pm-10:30pm.

Friday, April 22nd

• La Merced: Departs La Merced at 4am passing in front of El Chaman I might ad and continuing back behind the Alemeda Santa Lucia, then heading for San Sebastian around 8am. It then goes through the Central Park around 11am, and all the way back to San Francisco and returning at 2pm.
• Escuela de Cristo: Leaves El Calvario at 4pm heading down 1st Ave. and wrapping it’s way all the way around Antigua. It passes the Central Park and under the Arch, returning at 2am.
• San Felipe: This procession leaves the San Felipe Sanctuary at 4:30pm, passing first through Jojotenango and then entering through the west side of Antigua. It passes in front of Santa Lucia around 10pm and then goes through the Central Park heading north, then east on 1st Calle. After passing Santo Domingo and San Francisco it returns, heading west on 7th Calle and then north on 6th Ave. Returning to San Felipe at 6am.
• San Jose Catedral: This much smaller parade leaves the Cathedral in Central Park at 3pm and passes under the Arch, turning west at La Merced and heading towards Santa Luica (the market st.). Returning to the Catherdral via 7th Calle around 5pm.

Saturday, April 23rd

• Parroquia Nuestra Señora de los Remedios: This procession leaves at 3pm from the church Escuela de Cristo, passing first through the east side of town, then the Central Park, west side and returning down 6th Calle towards El Calvario. It returns at 12:30am.

Sunday, April 24th

• San Pedro: At 1pm this parade leaves San Pedro, over by El Tanque de Union, and heads east towards San Francisco, north on 1st Ave. and then straight through town on 4 Call to the Central Park and then La Merced. It hsould be at La Merced around 4pm and finish, once again at San Pedro at 5:30pm.

So that is the scoop on the parades. There are also other festivities going on all over town, for that you can always consult Que Pasa

The all and fabulous music video to the new song ‘Grown Ocean’ Enjoy!

Fleet Foxes – Grown Ocean from Fleet Foxes on Vimeo.

Alright, let’s be realistic, I’ve totally abandoned any blogger following that may have previously existed. I’m sorry. With a new year and a new location Don Quijote and El Chaman have been very, very, busy. I’m sure we are not alone one the busyness factor… Antigua already seems to be gearing up for Semana Santa and the floods of people in the streets does seem hold a high percentage of non-school uniformed bodies.

As time flies and Antigua holds it’s colonial grounds…Google has come out with a new magazine Think Quarterly, for your enjoyment. The hippy chic look is back in style.

And Lady Gaga recently did an interview at Google, very interesting really…

Beyond pop culture the rest of the world seems to be embracing major change on a revolutionary scale – power to the people.

On a more local scale I do have some fabulous recent finds. Ubi’s Sushi lunch special is not to be missed! Q50 for a good, deliciously filling, lunch outing. Also, Ashura, this little Asian/Thai food place on 7 Ave. right behind the Spanish Cultural Center, another great meal that won’t break the budget.

Well that’s all I’ve got for now, just wanted to shout out that we are back up and rolling. Any fabulous finds, discoveries or happenings please don’t hesitate to share!

Just when you were searching for the Guatemala City listings on craigslist… Tu Anuncio Es Gratis!

TuAnuncioEsGratis.com, your ad is free.com, is exactly that, free ads and free searching for whatever your heart desires. Whether that be cars, employees, pets or cell phones you can find it all. The site is relatively new and already boasting over 1,000 ads listed. In chatting with the site developers I learned that they have already had their first gay porn service offer and about four witchcraft service offers, so hurry over, things are getting spicy.

This coming Sunday the 22nd, Arzú, the mayor of Guatemala City will give a tour of Zone 1- Guatemala City’s historic center on bicycle!  Don’t miss out, the group will be meeting up in El Parque Centenario at 9:30am.  From there you can take in all the beauty of Zone 1′s remodel from the seat of your bike.  If you don’t have a bike of your own, not to worry, you can reserve one of ours for this epic ride! Check it out:

via Huffington Post

Hey backpackers, flashpackers and locals alike, if you don’t already know the beauty that is Semus Champey, here is your chance. Garage Funk will be taking a small, select group to Semuc this upcoming weekend. Contact them to get onboard, here is all the trip info:

Garage funk present Semuc Champey Adventure Tour (3 days 2 nights)

Deep in Guatemala´s Alta Verapaz department, about 70 km (45 miles) from Coban, lies a jewel of stunning natural splendor that relatively few travelers visit: Semuc Champey wich in mayan language means “where the river runs under the earth”

This hidden paradise is one of the countries most exotic natural spots with one of the richest, most diverse and complete ecosystems of nature.

Join us in these adventurous journey in which we will be visiting Semuc Champey natural pools, the ancient limestone caves of Canva and the Quetzal Biotope, a protected area of cloud forest that´s home to an incredible variety of birds.

We will also be visiting the local community and will hand some donations to community leaders to help support and develop their local projects.

A weekend full of adventure, fun & social conciousness!!!

Tour Price $95

Includes

- Transportation
- Local bilingual guides (danish & english)
- Entrance fees
- 2 night accomodation in Eco Lodge (next to Semuc Champey)
- Tubing in Cahabon river
- Visit to local community
- Box Lunch & drinks (just the 1st day)

Note: 10% of the revenue will be donated to support and develop local projects.

For more information and full itinerary please contact us at:

gftours@garagefunk.com

or call us at: 5341-3567 or 4768-1433

info also on facebook here
www.garagefunk.com
www.lazos.dk/ne

With Social & Enviromental consciousness!!!

Check it out, this Sunday Panza Verde is hosting K’aslam Mandala’s fundraiser to help plant 50,000 trees around Lake Atitlan… 50,000!  So here is the scoop, Lake Atitlan, in all its glory, is getting the brut of fertilizer use, garbage disposal and sewage drainage.  These damages, along with global warming have severely hindered water quality, fishing and tourism at the lake. K’aslam Mandala’s goal is to take pro-active steps towards diminishing the ecological degradation affecting Lake Atitlan and it’s residents by reforestation and education.

The 50,000 trees will help reduce the fertilizer runoff, improve water quality and decrease the risk of mudslides.  The K’aslam Mandala program focuses on the development of a sustainable agriculture community, which involves not only the planting of the trees but also education.  The trees will be part of an after-school program for the local youth illustrating: the ecological importance of having forested areas round the lake, creating long term economic alternatives, continued care for newly planted trees and creating a community state in the reforestation of the surrounding area.

So, back to the event, not only are 50,000 trees getting planted but you will enjoy a three course meal and wine in La Cueva de Panza Verde. A silent auction will accompany the dinner as well as live music and fire dancing- truly en evening not to be missed. There you have it, food , wine and trees, see you there.

Tickets on sale for Q275 through Meson Panza Verde, 7832-2925. The dinner will begin at 7pm, Sunday August 1^st, 2010

DON QUIJOTE CRUISERS PROUDLY ANNOUNCES A “NEW” FUN MODE OF TRANSPORTATION!

COME TRY OUR UNICYCLES!!  YES, LADIES AND GENTLEMAN!  UNICYCLES!!!

CRUISE THROUGH THE COBBLESTONE STREETS OF ANTIGUA IN A VERY UNIQUE STYLE.  USE YOUR UNI TO GO GRAB A COFFEE OR SIMPLE RIDE DOWN THE MOUNTAIN!  THE IDEA IS TO ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE OF JUST ONE WHEEL ANY WAY YOU WANT!

THERE IS NO NEED TO GO TO THE CIRCUS!  NOW, YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO BECOME THE CLOWN OR THE HERO!

* * * CLASSES AND VOLCANO TOUR AVAILABLE @ DON QUIJOTE CRUISERS * * *