November 2008 - Sumpango,
Sacatepequez
In Guatemala,
on November 1st, All Saints' Day, people visit the dead to give them a big party right in the
cemetery. Thousands of cemeteries are brightly decorated. Two, in
Santiago Sacatepequez and in Sumpango, each close to Antigua, are known for their "Giant kites", "Barrilletes gigantes", that they've made
for over 100 years. In Santiago, the kites are IN the cemetery. In
Sumpango, they are built and flown in the stadium just above the cemetery. Tens of thousands of people go to see them.
We visited Santiago,
and now, the amazing Sumpango. WOW! What a colorful country that is
Guatemala, we love it.

Sumpango, Sacatepequez ... we saw a kite flying
competition, as well as these huge stationary "barilletes" |

This is how the large kites are built, with huge
bamboo sticks, lots of rope and thin paper ... |

... and each kite carries a message, this one
talked about Guatemala's illegal immigrants in the United States, "our
brothers, they cry out blood", it said |

Can you see the size of the kite, compared with
people in front? |

The "new technology", gigantic kite that would have dwarfed all the
others being raised in the center, snapped in two. Next year,
better design |

Jennifer & Monica came along to Sumpango
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Watching kites also means eating fried corn with
salt and lime, delicious!
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This year, Sumpango was clean ... |

... although a lot of food and drink was being sold |
Here goes up another kite, with its own group of people ... |
... and it looks almost as if Frida Kahlo painted it |
Hello from Sumpango ... |
Jennifer wanted me to pose for a Gallo beer ad and took the photo ...
|
... as more and more gigantic kites were being put up, while smaller
ones flew overhead |
This kite was flying really high above the stadium and all way over the other
kites, on a strong rope, you can see it flying above all the ladies in
the photo just two rows above, the kite just stayed really high up there ... and I got a chance to try and hold it for a
while ... |
... and the Guatemalans were laughing at the "gringo" |
Jenny & Monica, now friends since 2003, enjoying
the kites ... |
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A wonderful day in windy, sunny, cloudy, Sumpango.
Everyone got a big suntan. 1st November 2008. |
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